DISCLAIMER: Chapter prologue.
Chapter rating: T
XII
Rickon has become more uncontrollable as the more lords arrived. Rudy happily greeted his Lord uncle who was quickly reintroduced to Rhaenyra. A small girl he remembered that was more boy than girl, that got a howl of laughter from her and her friends. Rudy very much wanted to tell his family about the dragons but knew unless Rhaenyra accepted it they needed to remain a secret from the families arriving.
"My Lady!" A frantic maid called as Osha also ran along, distraught on both their faces.
"What's wrong?" Rhaenyra asked immediately.
"It's the little lord's wolf! The black one," the maid panted before Osha finished.
"He's bitten Gage," she claimed. The cook who had a soft spot for his lord's children and the three wild children who were usually apart of that bunch, the only others who are given special treatment is his child Turnip and even Osha who he's taken to bed from what Rhaenyra was told by Baela who knew the wildling. He had actually gotten to feed the dragons a few times when Theon and Baela be giving him the unused parts for food, helping in carving what they needed for the babies.
"Seven hells!" The white haired woman cursed angrily as she stormed through the two following closely along with Rudy. The frantic cries and screams of Rickon, snarls from Shaggydog and angry shouts from others deafened the Targaryen who covered her ears suddenly before shouting.
"Quiet!" With that only the cries of Rickon and soft grunts of Gage could be heard. The withered cook had the boy brought to his chest in comfort, he handled both the direwolves and dragons when he could so the animals knew the cook well enough. Alysanne loves when he'd give her spare meat so Rhaenyra knew the dragons could separate people they knew from strangers. Turnip, Gage's daughter was clinging to a guard's arm as he kept her safe from the angry direwolf. "What is going on?" Rhaenyra demanded. Angry that she has to get onto Rickon about his wolf, again.
"Nothing, My Lady," Gage tried before the stern look in her eyes made him stop. Robb ran in with Theon and Maester Luwin who gapped at the wound.
"Rickon," Rhaenyra growled out as the boy fearfully shrunk against the cautious cook who winced when Theon and Maester Luwin carefully showed the wound, thankfully it wasn't horrible. Robb calmly extracted his brother from the older man before leveling his little brother with a look of their Father's.
"What is going on?" he asked simply as Rickon looked down.
"I got angry when I overheard Gage talking to a guard and Turnip about you leaving," he mumbled but Robb heard him, frowning he stood.
"Go to your chambers, this is the second attack, the first was Mikken when you ran off and he was in the path of Shaggydog when he was acting out to you," Robb scolded the child who nodded and was escorted out by Rudy who tried to be stern but still comfort the boy. "And have Shaggydog bound to the kennels again," he demanded as the boy yelled back.
"Maester Luwin please-" Rhaenyra stopped he already was ordering it as he smiled.
"I'll have results as soon as I can My Lady," he bowed his head as she smiled softly.
"You truly are a Lady of Winterfell." A cool voice made Rhaenyra nearly leapt out of her skin when she shot around as Osha almost pulled her closer to protect her. This man made her skin crawl all of a sudden, his cool eyes studying her and greying features were noticeable. But when her eyes lowered to see the flayed man she felt her insides clench up in alarm.
"Lord Bolton?" she though decided to act the dumb wife for the moment to see his reaction.
"Yes, correct My Lady," he nodded with a small smile. Robb quickly came to his wife's side, knowing the man himself.
"Lord Bolton I am glad you made it safely," Robb greeted as the man turned to his liege lord's heir.
"Your father is a good, honest man and our liege lord, those who don't rally for him are not people of the North," he spoke in a quick and firm tone. To Rhaenyra, it was a true northerner's words. She remembered the history she was taught about the North; 'the lord who do not gain his revenge, are under the threat of their own men overthrowing them.' Ned wanted that ingrained into her mind along with 'Guest rights are sacred,' but she already knew that and did not understand why someone would spit in the Gods' faces after offering safety?
"Then we are honored to have you join," Rhaenyra smiled as Robb nodded along with those present.
XII
"I've been making corpses from men for 30 years, boy. I will lead the Van," the large man with greying features was known as Greatjon Umber, boomed. The man was large and very intimidating, Rhaenyra was doing her best to control her hatchlings underneath her cloak while sitting in between Robb and Bran among her husband's loud men. But charred meat could only do so much for these girls as they wanted to know where all these new voices were coming from. The northerners were very loud, especially the lords she was sitting with.
"I have decided for Galbart Glover to lead the Van," Robb decided, Rhaenyra knew very little about her political and battle tactics. Robb was helping in beginning her teachings, he was determined she would help, knowing she would be of true help when she knew everything.
"The bloody Wall will fall before an Umber follows behind a Glover!" he roared as Robb just stared. Growing up with a herd of siblings and two close friends, he was used to sudden noises and booming voices. Even Rhaenyra wasn't phased by it, surprising some, many assumed she was like Sansa, but her non reaction was still present. "I will march my men back home before I follow a Glover," he spoke which made Robb's features darken.
"You are welcomed to do so Lord Umber. But when we are done with the Lannisters, we will then march back to your Keep, root you out and you will be hung as an oathbreaker," Robb growled as everyone froze. Oathbreaker was a very touchy term in the north and those accused of it took high offense, and Lord Umber was one of them.
"Oathbreaker?!" he roared causing her hatchlings to tense. He surged up from his seating and leveled Robb with a look. "I will not sit and take insults from a boy so green he pisses grass!" Grey Wind decided enough was enough when he leapt up snarling and attacked the Greatjon.
"My Lord father taught me it was death to bear steel against you liege lord. I'm sure the Greatjon only meant to cut my meat for me," Robb eases everyone as the large man slowly stood.
"Your meat," the large man began. "Is bloody tough," laughing the Greatjon revealed his missing two fingers as everyone else joined in with Robb who enjoyed the small humor, while Bran just looked around startled as Rhaenyra smirked to the boy with a shake of her head. The fresh blood made the three dragons whine and growl, Robb heard and nodded, knowing they needed to be seen before anything happens.
"My Lords," Robb called as the Greatjon waved the healer away and just took some cloth for his fingers, not wanting to leave his people. "My wife and I would like to share something," he revealed and many wondered if Rhaenyra was expecting. But as she was dressed like Robb some figured not. "They have been seen for near a century and a half. First among them and possibly the only ones," he waved his wife to her part as she smirked. Rhaenyra carefully undid her dragons before they leapt out of her cloak shrieking and hissing as they did so. The men in true alarm jumped from their seats as Grey Wind placed his front paws on the table to see them. They were bigger now, the size of the ravens, Rhaella was a bit more deeper in her reddish color as her frills and teeth darkened to black. Rhaenys was a much darker gold, molten almost except for the pale white/cream color of her frills and her eyes a darker green then before and Alysanne became lighter almost becoming one color, she was now pale blue and her frills were pure white, her eyes though were a darker blue.
"Gods be good!" Rickard Karstark cursed when Rhaenys shrieked at him, they flashed their wings at the men who watched with wide-eyes as Bran smiled at their reaction. Petting Alysanne when she came closer to the boy and settled in front of him as charred meat was offered by Robb.
"Dragons?" Roose asked cautiously edging into his seat that was right next to Bran who nodded.
"They were hatched when Lannisters sent assassins after my brother and my wife. The attack in the stables is how they were born when the fire spread, taking the woman's life and the remaining horses," Robb revealed. Rhaenyra had wanted to tell the men all they needed and she felt how they came was one. "My wife is joining our cause and her dragons were as well, no one knows how fast or how big dragons truly grow and we hope that they could be of help," Robb claimed as Rhaenys came to Theon who light tapped her nose as Rhaella settled in front of her mother. Cautious of all the large men that was now in her home, they were loud and large, larger than the familiar man that had left with her father's mother. Rhaenys though seemed to be comfortable walking around the table to examine all the men but when one would move she'd watch it with readied movements.
"My children seem to startle easily so I do hope you will remember that when they come around," Rhaenyra spoke as she pet Rhaella's back. Alysanne purred as she finished her food while Grey Wind took the remaining pieces and returned to Robb's side.
"I overheard rumors from the Dreadfort but many were too few or not enough reliant to believe," Roose claimed watching the blue dragon that would occasionally look to him before curling back up, he'd already seen a man reach for the gold one only to almost lose his fingers when she came too close to biting him. They weren't friendly, he immediately surmised. But they trusted the Stark boys and the Greyjoy as well other than their 'mother.'
"We've tried to keep the knowledge of them quiet or silent completely," Rhaenyra had known that her dragons couldn't stay quiet especially when she started to take them out into the open. But now they would be brought out especially once they leave Winterfell.
"This is a sure sign," Rickard Karstark spoke in awe at the young dragons his kin was petting like their direwolves.
"Starks have their wolves and the Targaryen has her dragons," Smalljon Umber, Greatjon's son, claimed with amusement. "A fit pair." amusing everyone as they continued.
XII
Rhaenyra stood in the crypt staring into statue eyes of Lyanna Stark, sighing gently as she retrieved the feather that had blown out of her hand before laying it back down. Continuing to stare at the stone before feeling arms wrap around her waist as she leaned against his front while he kissed her temple.
"Is everyone ready?" she asked as he hummed a positive answer.
"The hatchlings?" he asked as she thought.
"They would cling to the new saddles Mikken had made, it'd allow the girls to cling to the leather better," Rhaenyra revealed as she remembered the saddle design that was given to her when she went to talk about Bran's saddle being fixed. He had surprised her when he showed her the first one, it had marks in it to allow the dragons a place to latch their claws and wings on either side while in motion.
"Can't wait to see them," Robb mused looking at his aunt's statue as well. "Come on," he ushered as she took his hand to walk side by side.
"Robb," she stopped him before they left. "I do thank you for bringing me. I know most would prefer their wives stay home to rule," she smiled as he grinned and pulled her into a heavy kiss.
"Together we rule, equals," he demanded as she beamed and hugged him before pulling him to exit the tombs. They decided to leave in the dead of night so the scouts couldn't see them coming. Osha was waiting for them as she watched them and beside her was Summer and Shaggydog, both calm as she stood with Maester Luwin and Hodor, Lynara was saying goodbye to her brother as he frowned.
"Safe travels My Lord and Lady," he bowed his head before smiling as he gave Rhaenyra a bound book. "My findings, you should ask if someone could record the dragons growth and developments. I would like to read it when finished," he smiled as she grinned and took the journal.
"I'll do what I can," she promised as he nodded. "Did you send it?" she asked quietly when Robb moved further away as the maester nodded a serious look upon his face. "Osha," she called as the woman looked to her. "Please protect them," she asked as the wildling nodded.
"I swear it," she promised as the pair went to their horses waiting with two stable hands. Edrick was riding alongside Rudy and his family who seemed to like the boy, Valaena and Baela rode alongside Rhaenyra who had the three dragons leaping in between them, but the men watched them with amazement and awe as their shrieks sounded out while Grey Wind ran alongside.
XII
The march was long as they traveled and Rhaenyra was grateful that she had a pouch of charred meat which kept her dragons fed and Baela always made sure that she offered more meat she had stored away. Theon originally suggested they could go see if the girls are able to hunt yet.
Robb instantly shot that idea down, not wanting the girls separated from the army. So they settle with the charred meat.
"Do they only eat cooked meat My Lady?" Lord Cerwyn asked, occasionally someone would trot alongside the dragons and look at them. The girls weren't uncomfortable and if it bothered the dragons then they'd leave them alone.
"Yes, Maester Luwin who has kept a record of their growth claims that when the parent burns the egg and a living animal, the meat is then possibly used for the hatchling's food," Rhaenyra told as the lord who was listening gave an 'oh.'
"Amazing," Greatjon muttered as he watched Rhaenys settle against Valaena who had her arm locked around the dragon who watched the large man with interest. Alysanne was moving the most while Baela easily countered her movements if it might topple her off, Theon seemed to ride close and would allow the small dragon to leap onto his saddle while he'd brace her and she'd jump back to the other. Many assumed it training to launch herself when she learned to fly, it was only when Alysanne almost slipped and would've fallen off had Grey Wind not caught her on his back before moving out of the march, carrying the shrieking youngling. Laughter went through the march as Rhaenyra rolled her eyes while smiling, she knew he'd protect the dragon who enjoyed the quicker movements of the jog the wolf gave. Robb grinned himself as he watched his wolf and the smallest bond, he could tell Alysanne had such a close bond to the direwolf she liked to cuddle up with him when they set up in their tents while Rhaella and Rhaenys would snuggle together, it seemed to be warmth the girls needed. But Robb could easily spot, they were becoming more assertive and started to have larger appetites, they liked patrolling the tents when they got set up but wanted to leave, only leaving when Rhaenyra would. But he knew that the host was making them nervous, Rhaella especially, suddenly being surrounded by 18,000 men and others in the army made them cautious and protective of their mother's space.
That night they made their location and Rhaenyra decided to have Corlys walk around with the dragons who purred in the cool air. The Targaryen woman gently stroked Rhaella's warm body, she could feel the rough texture of her scales were so similar to the eggs, but they felt rougher. "My Lady," a maester called as he approached, the younglings squealed at see him, recognizing the familiar chain sound. He paused for the moment and when he saw no threat he slowly approached Rhaenyra who smiled at his cautious nature. He offered the message he was carrying to her as Rhaella hissed at him, he carefully back away before looking to the woman who undid the seal, it was from Maester Luwin to her. This made her smile as she finished it and rolled it back up, looking to the maester she nodded her thanks as he returned it before turning back to return to his tent set up. Rhaenyra calmly turned her mare and guided her to where Robb was talking with a horde of his lords. Rudy instantly grabbed the reins to allow her to dismount, even allowing Rhaenys to crawl down his side while the other two clung to their mother's shoulders when she got off. He offered to return the horse to the section they kept the army steeds, Edrick went with to basically act as her helper for the horse.
"Robb? May I steal you for a moment?" she asked as he nodded with a smile as the others greeted her with nods of their heads, most of their eyes trailed to the dragons still who chirped to Robb as he allowed them to crawl over his feet.
"Please excuse me," he requested as he carefully walked away after moving the girls who trilled and squealed at him and their mother before following them to their tent as Grey Wind entered too, laying down on his pelt bed with the younglings who snuggled against his fur, enjoying the warmth, small purrs escaping them as the direwolf groaned, laying his head down. "What is it love? What's wrong?" he asked assuming something was wrong.
"N-nothing, really. But when I heard Lady Dustin sent so little men to our cause, because of an old resentment, I-"
"Love, stop," Robb ordered, amusement in his eyes, realizing she was stalling on this. Yes he was irritated with the men sent because one even said she should have sent more but did not, so he was dealing with the outcome as it happens. "What is it?" he repeated, wanting to know what his wife did. She assumes he might get angry if it was about the war, but he would happily accept her help and suggestions.
"I sent a message to Prince Doran of Dorne to see if he would possibly join our cause," she revealed as he narrowed his eyes for a moment.
"Why did not you not tell me this?" he asked as she sighed softly.
"I just wanted to see if he'd even answer after what Rhaegar did to his family-"
"The Lannisters murdered Elia Martell, not your brother," Robb stopped her sharply. Everyone knew the stories and his father told them when Rhaenyra was ten, she had wanted to know what they had done to her niece and nephew after overhearing a servant mention it when they spoke of the Clegane family. "Gregor Clegane murdered them and raped their mother before killing her. That is why Dorne has refused to aide Robert with anything because they blame the Lannisters, not your family," he defended her name as she smiled softly. "Now what did he say?" he asked as she showed him as he bulked.
"He's sending Prince Oberyn with some of his daughters and over 10,000 soldiers, maybe more if some join. They mean to land in White Harbor to meet up with us," she grinned as he laughed kissing her happily while she giggled.
XII
Rhaenyra stood in the war tent with her daughters as she listened to the men, many liked her idea to bring Dorne in, especially with the number joining. Greatjon and Rickard were helping her learning where everyone was, what they were meaning to do and she made sure to listen to her dragons for distress or agitation but they were peaceful and sniffing everyone, many made sure to check where the dragons were when they'd shift. One already stepped on Alysanne who shrieked and bit the offending clothing, Baela had popped in and retrieved them so they wouldn't be underfoot anymore, no doubt going to feed them as well.
"Jaime Lannister has the River Lords on the run, and Lord Tywin is coming from the South with a second army," Robb decided as he looked over the map. "A scout claims it's bigger than the Kingslayer's."
"One army or two, the Kings in the North threw back hosts ten times this large," Greatjon encouraged as Rhaenyra smirked, knowing how proud the North was, they had every right though. But seeing her good mother surprised the Targaryen woman who looked shocked.
"Cat?" she asked confused.
"Mother!" Robb greeted happily but Rhaenyra smiled as well to greet her.
"You look well," Catelyn returned as she also embraced Rhaenyra and smiled at her healthy look as well. "I saw the girls," Catelyn spoke, when she left they were barely the size of the cats around, now they were fatter and a bit longer in length, their coloring was changing too. "They are growing," she finished as Robb chuckled.
"You are a welcome sight My Lady," Greatjon greeted, happy to see the woman again.
"I would hope you would all forgive me in asking that I speak with my son alone?" Catelyn started before pausing when Robb looked to Rhaenyra who smiled and kissed his cheek before doing the same to a happy mother when the Targaryen woman led the men out. Catelyn saw Rhaella approach her mother and started to climb up her back as Baela joined when Theon allowed Alysanne to cling to his shoulder after clinging with her sister to the Valyrian woman's shoulders. "So you've decided to have them apart of the army," Catelyn claimed as Robb also watched the three walk off.
"It's a better plan then leaving them in Winterfell where they could be attacked," Robb claimed as his mother paused at seeing Rhaenyra greet a lord who smiled to her.
"And Rhaenyra? Does she really belong in a war camp? She's your lady wife, not some warrior," he cut her off with a laugh.
"Mother, she is more like Arya than Sansa anyday. She fights like us and is a strong minded person, but she's also bringing the Dornishman army our way," Robb revealed to her shock. "10,000 men, maybe more from Prince Doran's letter. Prince Oberyn was joining along with a few of his daughters," his grin made her gasp softly.
"10,000? Can they spare that many?" Catelyn asked worried it might cause a war with them and King's Landing should the Lannisters find out.
"Mother, not even Aegon Targaryen the Conqueror could suppress the Dornish, and he had three dragons fighting with him. Much larger than Rhae's," Robb defended as she smirked. "They only agreed when a sibling pair married into the Targaryen family."
"Oh, I remember the stories. The only ones you kids all wanted to hear most of the time," Catelyn did remember the Valyrian stories Valaena always told. "I remember when both of you were just small babes, she was so pale and quiet but you," she emphasized with a bright smile as he grinned softly. "Came into this world, red face and loudly squalling. Now your both leading an army. A Targaryen and a Stark," she laughed softly.
"No one else-"
"Who were those men? They're seasoned in battle and could comman-" this time Robb cut her off.
"But they are not Starks," Robb defended himself and Rhaenyra's choice to lead. Before sighing when he saw her about to fight more. "There's been a letter, from Sansa," he spoke offering it to her as she took it hopefully.
"The Queen you mean," she spat out before sighing. "There's no mention of Arya," she wished beyond anything her youngest girl was smart enough to hide out. "How many do you have?" Catelyn asked as she looked out to see all the men setting up.
"18,000. 28,000 once the Dornish get here," he reminded himself as a guard hummed happily overhearing the number. "If I go and bend the knee to Joffrey…"
"You'll be kept there. And your wife might be slaughtered simply for the fact that she has Targaryen blood, along with her children," Catelyn thought about what would happen when Rhaenyra would go to King's Landing. Many still called Baratheons usurpers despite what King Aerys did, they believed the Targaryen woman was a better fit as she was of the bloodline. But Catelyn also knew that any child the girl and her son were to have could pose an even higher threat if she birthed a boy. Many have rallied behind the grandchildren of the original Kings but she wasn't sure once the dragons were more known.
"That will not happen," Robb defied. Knowing it'd bring a bigger war should the Stark family be held hostage all together and the murder of an innocent woman.
"Do you know what happened to her niece and nephew?" Catelyn asked sharply as he sighed.
"They were butchered by the Lannisters," Robb snarled as his mother frowned.
"On Tywin Lannister's order. And the years have not made him kinder," she spoke as he sighed. "If you lose, your father dies, your sisters die, we die," she spoke as Robb looked to a laughing Rhaenyra and Baela who fed the dragons and some to Grey Wind.
XII
End of chapter! How was that? Now I know I haven't mentioned it in a few chapters probably but does anyone want to take another guess at Baela's father? She was conceived near the end of the rebellion so give that a shot!
NicoleR85: I'm glad! I hope you enjoy this one.
10868letsgo: I'm trying to lean in that direction.
LunaDoesArt: You're all good! ; ) Happy you were having a good time~ but I've heard that too and haven't decided, I might, sounds pretty cool actually.
UnknownReaderHasJoined: I'm half/half with with how all those are going to go when I get there, but believe me Walder Frey will get what's coming~ I hope I don't disappoint in their reactions!
Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967: I'm glad! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
StormNightSS: Cool, glad your enjoying it!
hateme101: I'm glad!
Isurus2317: Great, it's great that your liking this so far and glad that you like how Rhae and Robb are. I noticed that almost all of Robb/OC stories have the girls just being the wife and supportive person, I don't mind that but when it's every time, it's a little boring. Trust me, me too!
~Rusty14~