Arya dragged her feet as she followed her father to the Great Pyramid. She was excited to meet her new mother, but Arya was worried that Missandei wouldn't like her, that maybe Missandei would think that Arya was too wild, like her birth mother did.
Ned turned and saw the worried look on Arya's face. He gave his daughter a sympathetic smile, "What's wrong, little wolf?"
"I'm afraid Missandei won't like me, Father. Or that she'll want to make me behave like a proper lady as Mother did."
Ned chuckled, "Missandei is not like that, little wolf. She is a pacifist and prefers not to handle weapons, but she does know how to use them. Queen Rhaesa made sure that Missandei could defend herself if she needed to her. And Missandei has been around the Queen and Princess long enough to know there is nothing wrong with a woman knowing how to use a sword. I promise you, little one, Missandei will not try to change you in any way."
With those words, Arya relaxed, though she was still nervous. Would she have to call her father's new wife Mother? Arya wasn't sure she could do that, even if Catelyn weren't much of a mother to her. She decided to ask her father.
"Will I have to call Missandei Mother?"
"No, Arya. You may call her whatever you are comfortable with," Ned assured his daughter as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
Meanwhile, in the Queen's chambers, Missandei paced back and forth, trying to dispel her nervous energy. Rhaesa and Dany watched their friend pace up and down while they fed the babies. The sisters looked at each other and smiled.
"Missandei, there's no need to be nervous. I'm sure Ned's youngest child will love you. How could she not?" Dany told her friend.
"I am nothing like her mother," Missandei fretted.
"I think that's a good thing, my friend; from what Ned said, Arya did not get along with her mother anyway," Rhaesa commented.
"You only need to be yourself, Missandei. You are a wonderful, caring woman. That's why Ned fell in love with you and married you. I know that you and Ned's youngest daughter will get along perfectly," Dany assured her friend.
Now that the babes were fed, it was time for their naps and Rhaesa and Dany to hold court. Missandei had no other excuse but to go and meet her husband's daughter. The girls hugged their friend and wished her luck. Missandei took a deep breath and went down to where she and Ned had agreed to meet. It was a large courtyard close to the nesting dragons; Ned was a little nervous about being so close to them, but Missandei assured him that the dragons wouldn't do anything. They may look in on them, but that was all, so Ned agreed.
As Missandei walked into the courtyard, she noticed that Ned and Arya had not arrived yet, which gave her time to have a blanket laid out in the grass under a tree and for the servants to arrange the food for their lunch. A few moments after the servants left, Ned and Arya walked into the courtyard. Missandei beamed when she saw her husband, and Ned smiled back. Arya looked at her father and noticed how happy he looked. There was a twinkle in his eyes that Arya had never seen before. Arya realized that she had never seen her father look so happy. In the North with her mother, Arya's father always had a somber look. But now, Arya could tell that he was truly happy with Missandei. She watched as Ned walked toward his wife and gave her a hug and a kiss. Ned took Missandei by the hand and led her toward Arya to introduce them to each other.
"My love, this is my daughter, Arya. Arya, this is my wife, Missandei."
Arya stuck her hand out, and Missandei shook it, "I'm honored to meet you, Arya. Your father has told me a lot about you. He said that you enjoy swordplay."
Arya stiffened, expecting to be lectured that it was unladylike. She was surprised when Missandei told her that it was beautiful that she knew how to use a sword, "You know Queen Rhaesa knows how to fight as well. She was trained by Ser Barristan and Ser Luwin when she lived in the Red Keep," Missandei explained.
Arya stared at Missandei owlishly, "She was? And you don't see anything wrong with me wanting to fight?"
Missandei smiled kindly, "No, Sweetling. As the Queen said, a woman can easily die upon a sword as a man. Therefore, women should learn to defend themselves. She made sure that Princess Daenerys learned and me as well. I may be a pacifist, but I can defend myself if necessary."
Arya grinned at her new mother. It was a relief to her to know that Missandei approved of her learning to fight. Missandei suggested that they ask the Queen if perhaps Ser Barristan could give Arya a few lessons. Arya was giddy with excitement thinking that she could learn from one of the greatest knights of Westeros.
After talking for a bit, Missandei informed the father and daughter that lunch was served. They began walking towards the picnic under the trees. The trio started walking toward the blanket, and Arya, on impulse, took Missandei's hand. Missandei looked at the little girl and squeezed her hand affectionately. They arrived at the picnic, and Missandei served her husband and stepdaughter their lunch. As they ate, Arya asked Missandei what she had done for the queen.
"I am the Queen and Princess's interpreter," Missandei answered.
"How many languages do you know?" Arya asked.
"I speak nineteen languages. If you want, I can teach you."
Arya grinned at her stepmother and accepted the offer. Just then, the trio heard the roar of two dragons, and they felt the ground shake. Missandei smiled, "I was wondering when they would show up," She told father and daughter.
"When, who would show up?" Arya asked.
"Balerion and Vhagar. The Queen said they were curious to meet my new daughter."
"Queen Rhaesa can talk to the dragons?!" Arya nearly screamed.
"Yes, since before they hatched, the Princess can do the same thing as the Khal."
"Can you talk to them?"
"They understand me, but I cannot understand them. That is only a gift the Targaryens have."
"Then how is it that Khal Drogo understands them," Ned inquired.
"He is the Queens mate, and the dragons tasted his blood, giving him the power to understand them. It will be the same with your son, Ned, when he and Daenerys marry. That is, of course, if the dragons consider Robb Dany's mate."
Arya looked at her father, stunned, "Robb is going to marry the Princess?"
"Aye, he is. It will unite our Houses, and their majesties will help us win this war."
Arya thought that was the greatest thing she had ever heard. She would be related to the Dragon Princess and Queen. As she was thinking about that, Balerion and Vhagar looked over the wall to see what was happening. Arya gasped at seeing the giant dragons so close. Missandei squeezed her hand in the reassurance that she was safe. Missandei stood and walked towards the dragons, who lowered their heads to greet their Missandei. Missandei petted their snouts and explained what was going on; both dragons looked at Arya; they seemed to have reached some conclusion, then departed. Arya let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She wondered if the dragons liked her and asked Missandei, "Yes, they do; they only wanted to see my new hatchling, as Queen Rhaesa said they call children."
Arya blinked and then started laughing. She thought it was hilarious that the dragons considered her a hatchling, and she also laughed to relieve the stress she felt being stared at by two gigantic dragons.
"Do you think I can see the dragons up close," Arya asked?
Ned was about to forbid her, but Missandei subtly shook her head at him, "We would have to ask the Queen and Princess, but I don't see a problem. Now shall we finish our lunch, then we can tour Meereen."
Arya agreed, and they ate their lunch and continued to talk. As they spoke, Arya realized she felt more comfortable with Missandei than with her mother. Missandei was kind and understanding, which Catelyn never gave Arya; she favored Sansa for looking like a Tully and being more of a lady. At that moment, Arya decided to forget all about Catelyn Tully, she had a new mother now, and her name was Missandei Stark.
