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Daenerys and Jamie tied up the deer, strapping it to her horse to drag back to the keep. "There we go," Jamie said as he tightened the final bond. "Ready to head back, princess?" he asked as he began to pack up their gear.

Daenerys knew they should, but honestly kinda dreaded returning. As soon as they did return, she knew Cersei would scold her, or bring up her names day. And she wanted to avoid that talk in any way possible. She knew she had duties and responsibilities, but she much preferred to be out here hunting. When growing up, hunting was the first thing Robert taught her to do. It was the one thing they bonded over.

Jon was never much of a hunter and never liked killing animals, so Robert turned to Daenerys for that. Cersei didn't like it though she would much prefer if Daenerys was with her. Learning to be a true lady of the realm like Myrcella.

"Yeah, I guess we should," Daenerys said reluctantly, letting out a heavy sigh as she mounted her horse.

"Come on, we probably missed dinner. Maybe there are some leftovers in the kitchen," Jamie reasoned as he mounted his white stead as they trot off back to the castle. The sun was barely peeking over the edge of the horizon offering little light as they marched back home.

"Uncle Jamie... is father really going to send me off to marry some lord?" Daenerys asked as she hung her head a bit. She heard a bit of what this tourney was going to be about. Robert to sell her off to some lord to be their wife and bare their children. She hated the idea of being sold off into marriage just for her father's benefit.

Jamie sighed as he heard the question and knew he couldn't lie to her. "Yeah... many young lords are coming to seek your hand," Jamie answered. "I'm sure the King will choose a worth suitor for you."

Daenerys just shook her head at that as she grits her teeth. "This is my home. I refuse to be just shipped off and sold like a prized mare," she said, feeling angry and betrayed.

Jamie wanted to console her and argue that she won't be, but he knew that would be a lie. Instead, they both fell into silence as they returned to the castle.

After dinner and the children went off to their rooms as the evening concluded. But before heading off to bed Jon approached Cersei as she walked down the hall. "Mother, could we... speak?" he asked softly as he stepped in pace with her.

"What is on your mind sweetling?" Cersei smiled at him as she held her hands in front of her.

"It's about the tourney... have you talked to father?" he asked plainly making the smile on Cersei's face fall. "I have... he said no," she said with a heaviness to her words.

"But why?" Jon said feeling his chest twist in disappointment.

"Your father said, and I quote. I would rather have the fucking seven kingdoms burn to ash before I have another Targaryen near the Iron throne," she said seeing her son's face fall at those words.

"Mother, he can't... I love her... I can't just watch father marry her off and send her away," Jon said in hushed tones as they walked. Jon and Daenerys were raised like brother and sister for most of their lives. They had trained together, played together, learned the same lessons, and shared the same home. They were family. But that didn't stop them from getting much closer than that.

Besides Sam, only Cersei knew of her son and daughter's secret love for each other. It reminded her so much of her and Jamie at their age. Though the circumstances were much different for them. "Your father's mind is set. No amount of words I give him will change his mind," she said sadly.

"There has to be something."

"There is only one thing your father understands and that is fighting," Cersei says turning to Jon as she stops him in the hall. "You want to marry Daenerys then prove it. Fight for her hand. Show the lords and the gods only you deserve her."

"Would that really sway him?"

"Your father is a proud man. If the other champions lose to you. Your father will have no choice or appear weak," she says as she placed her hand on Jon's cheek. "But this means you can't afford to lose... all your training, all your preparations have to matter."

"Yes, mother," Jon said as he nodded his head. Cersei cupping his cheek, brought his head close as she kissed his brow. "Good," she said with a soft smile seeing the determination in her son's eyes. "Now, off to bed, you need your rest if you are going to prepare for next week."

Jon returned the small smile as he pulled away from her arms. "Thank you I will," Jon said bidding Cersei goodnight as she walked down the hall towards Daenerys's bed chambers.

Once Daenerys and Jamie returned to the Keep, Daenerys dismounted and headed inside. She had completely lost her appetite and wanted to head to bed. The knights and Jamie were left to unload the buck as she headed to her room.

"Hello, Daenerys," Cersei said as soon as Daenerys opened the door. Cersei had waited in the girl's room till she returned. Daenerys sighed knowing she couldn't avoid this talk any longer as she was cornered. "How was your hunt?" Cersei asked her tone stead as she sat at the small table in the room. Her finger traced over the lip of her wine glass as she waited.

"Hello, mother," Daenerys greeted with a forced smile. "It went well, we took down a buck and a few rabbits," she answered walking over to her dresser behind the changing curtain. She started to undo her leather riding tunic.

"Good," Cersei replied before finally taking a sip of her wine. "Are you prepared to talk now, or are you going to avoid me some more?" she said getting straight to the point.

Daenerys wanted to turn and leave right then but knew it wouldn't solve anything. "Fine, let's talk," she said defeated. She pulled on some loose silk robes before making her way to the small table.

As she sat down, there was a moment of silence between the two royals. Each one of them waited for the other to start. "Next week is your names day. It'll be your tenth and seventh year," Cersei said as she drank her wine before setting the glass down.

"The King has already been sent many offers, by many lords around the seven kingdoms. To take your hand in marriage," Cersei began as she looked to Daenerys. Cersei saw many of the offers Robert was given. Some were land and gold, while others were just a few barrels of wine. What sickened her was Robert half considered the wine in exchange for his ward. "His final consideration of their offers will be their performance at the tourney," she said as Daenerys listened intently. Cersei saw the heartbreak in her eyes.

"Then that's it? I'm to be sold off and forced to leave my home," Daenerys said, leaning back in her seat as she looked at the woman that raised her.

"We are ladies of the seven kingdoms... we have certain, duties we are forced to fulfill for the prosperity of our house."

"But not for my house!" Daenerys snapped tears in her eyes. "Once I marry some lord. I'll be forced to take their name," she said bitterly as the feeling of dread consume her. "My marriage will be the death of my house..."

Cersei sighed as she heard the hurt in Daenerys's words. Cersei then moved from her seat and came to Daenerys's side. She then placed an arm around her in a sideways hug, letting her daughter's head rest on her shoulder. "Dany... it'll be alright," she tried to comfort the girl.

"No, it won't," Daenerys replied softly, letting her mother hold her. She had no idea how she was gonna tell Jon. "Who... who is most likely to win my betrothal?" she asked wanting to know who will her possible suitor will be.

"House Tyrell and House Stark are the favorites to win," Cersei answered softly as she rocked the girl in her arms. "House Tyrell promised your father farmland for your hand, and house Stark simply offered their continued loyalty."

Daenerys knew House Stark's champion would most likely be Robb. He was Jon's cousin. He was nice enough, but moving north wasn't very appealing. And for Loras as the champion of House Tyrell, even though Highgarden was a lovely place. The rumors of Loras's... tastes made a marriage between them even less appealing.

"Do I have any say in who I will be forced to marry?" Daenerys inquired.

"You can give your favor to whichever knight catches your eye," Cersei says looking down at her princess. "But most likely, whoever is named the champion will, in the end, win over your father."

Daenerys nodded her head. "Mother, if you don't mind I'd like to head to bed. I'm tired and there is a lot on my mind."

"Of course," Cersei said as she began to get up from her seat. "Goodnight Dany," she said kissing the top of her head before turning to leave the room.

"Goodnight mother," Daenerys said feeling sudden exhaustion come over her. She went over to the bed collapsing on top of the sheets. So much of her life was about to change and she had no control over any of it. Only the gods knew what would happen on her name day.

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