Chapter 8

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Catelyn laughed, "Ned, you could no more pass on your duty than I could fly."

"You are not angry?"

"Angry, no. Frightened yes."

"I'm not going to fight but to see what is happening," Ned tried to reassure her.

His wife was not convinced but sighed and moved closer to him. "Promise me that you will take good men with you."

"I promise."

oOoOo

Kingslanding

King Robert Baratheon disliked Varys. Skulking thing that he was. But he supposed that the eunuch served a purpose, no matter how distasteful.

"A Valyrian, in Winterfell? Be careful how you speak Spider."

"My little birds rarely fly north but after a woman with the Valyrian look was spotted in White Harbour I received reports. She's a swordmistress and has been training Lord Stark's daughters."

Robert frowned; he didn't like the sound of that. "She's not the Targaryen girl?"

Varys shook his bald head, "No, your grace. She is too old, and she travels with a Braavosi. My little birds sing of travel from Bravos."

Robert grunted.

"She could be a bastard of House Velaryon. The current Lords of the Tides and Master of Driftmark is ah…a man of vigour."

"Maybe, find out."

"Yes, your Grace."

Robert sipped his wine, "Why is Ned training his daughters to fight?"

Varys adopted an expression of regret, "I believe that I have uncovered the reason."

"Well?" Robert prompted with his habitual impatience.

"There was an incident, Lady Arya was stabbed defending a girl being assaulted."

"And we didn't know the daughter of a Lord Paramount, Ned fucking Stark's daughter was stabbed!"

Varys bowed his head, "As I said, your Grace. My little birds struggle north of the neck."

Robert visibly reined in his temper, "Find out what happened, and I'll write to Ned. We should have known about this Varys."

oOoOo

Essos

Daenerys Targaryen truly feared for her life when her brother was in one of his rages. Their host, Illyrio did nothing but placate him, which all too often failed and then she would often bear the brunt of his anger.

The evening had started well enough. A feast and several skilled performers had been a diversion from the talk of her betrothal to a Dothraki Khal. Not that she had any part in those talks. She didn't matter, well her body mattered. It was payment for an army. It would be used to help her brother take the throne.

Tears formed in her eyes; she was thirteen namedays…she could not believe that nobody cared in the slightest that she was terrified of the prospect of some barbaric warrior taking her as a wife. Her brother had made it clear she had no choice and her nascent protests had dried up when he struck her and threatened worse.

Now guards watched her. No doubt Illyrio feared she would run.

Where could she go? That was the bitter truth of the matter. They were hunted by the usurper, and she had no money, or resources save the gowns gifted to her. She had no skills to earn her way and no friends to help her. Tears welled up again as she saw a shadow on the wall. A guard watching her in case she tried to...tried to what? Stab herself, run…she was so sick of being fearful.

She glared up at the figure on the raised walkway.

To her surprise, the figure slumped and fell at her feet.

The moment passed and she realised that she was now alone and potentially being hunted. Her brother's fear of assassins might have been mostly in his head, but it wasn't totally unfounded.

She tensed ready to run and scream when a petite figure dropped out of the shadows, It landed lightly and turned to face her.

She had not expected it to be a woman.

"Your Highness," she bowed and then gestured at the dead guard. "I'm sorry for frightening you but I doubt he would have allowed us to talk."

Daenerys gathered her courage, "Who are you? If were to call guards would be here in moments."

The figure tossed back her hood releasing her long auburn hair from its confines and smiled.

"My name is Tamo, and I am here to save you."

The woman had an odd accent and was armed with two long thin and curved swords and various daggers.

"Save me?"

Tamo grinned at her, "You don't want to marry this Drogo fellow, do you?"

"I…I don't want to marry anyone!"

Tamo laughed softly. "Good on you, Princess." Tamo's expression grew serious as she stared directly into her eyes. "Your brother is insane, and I hope you realise that Illyrio is using you both. If you stay, you will end up married to the Khal and I don't think I have to tell you what your life will be like then."

Why was this Tamo saying these things? She probably wasn't an assassin as she could have easily killed her. That she seemed to be offering her help didn't make sense. "Who are you, why do you want to help me?"

Tamo seemed unoffended by the question, "I was asked to see you safely away from here and then keep you safe while you learn how to use your abilities."

"What abilities?"

"You are one of the last of the true children of your house, Princess. Your friend that sent me here, he knows of two others with that blood. He said to say that the dragon must have three heads."

"My brother…"

"Is not one of those that shall bring dragons back into the world," Tamo replied firmly finality.

Daenerys shook her head, "We are all that is left."

"No, you are not. Your brother Rhaegar Targaryen set aside his first wife and married Lyanna Stark. She died giving birth to a son. He is the heir of the Iron Throne, although right now he knows none of this. His uncle lied and claimed him as his bastard. This kept Jon safe, and he lives in Winterfell alive and well. The other is a woman named Cat who is no Targaryen but has dragon rider blood in her veins and is an ally of your friend and potential saviour."

Daenerys found herself rendered speechless.

Tamo shook her head, "It's a lot to take in, I know. Sadly, you don't have long to decide. I killed the guards and can get you out safely. But all too soon someone will raise the alarm."

"I…I…is this real, why would someone do all this?" Rising hope of an escape was mixing with her fear that this was some trick, did she dare trust this stranger and flee, leaving her life behind?

"You have a destiny, Princess Daenerys. We can ensure you get the chance to show everyone that you are the dragon they should be worried about."

Before Daenerys could reply, there came the sound of alarmed shouting.

Tamo held out a hand, "Coming Princess?'

"Yes."

oOoOo

"What was that?" Daenerys demanded as she tried not to vomit.

"A spell that moved us from one place to another. I had to fight my way in, there was no way I was fighting my way back out," Tamo smiled at her and offered a waterskin. "A drink will help."

"Was that magic?"

Tamo simply nodded.

"I thought magic was…well, gone."

Tamo laughed, "Do you still think so?"

A wide-eyed Daenerys shook her head, which had Tamo giggling again. It was so unfeigned that Daenerys couldn't help but giggle as well. After a few moments, she looked around. There were trees and there was green grass growing on the banks of a narrow stream. "Where are we?"

"On an island, far to the south of where you were," Tamo explained.

"Are you truly going to help me?"

Tamo sighed, "Lucky for you, yes, I am. It was brave of you to run off with a stranger. Next time be more careful."

Daenerys took a sip of water before glaring at Tamo. "That's not fair."

"No, I suppose not. I am glad you chose to come. Your future in Essos would, I'm told, have been unpleasant."

Daenerys slowly nodded, "Then I'm glad too."

oOoOo

The island, Tamo claimed it had no name, was nice enough. Nobody lived here or at least nobody lived here now. There were fruit trees and a large stone building with a well. Someone, Tamo was evasive about who had left supplies, furniture, beds and clothes for them. Chickens and wild pigs and goats wandered the island and Tamo caught fish easily enough from the rocks. After a day or two she had found herself helping Tamo with the daily chores.

Tamo was an interesting companion. She laughed a lot and was a good storyteller and sang odd songs. She was a very good cook and to her surprise lacked any modesty whatsoever.

She swam naked, slept naked and wandered about the building unconcerned about her state of undress. Daenerys wasn't near as daring even though she had been comfortable naked in front of servants and the like. Men frightened her, not that she had been naked save for when with her brother. Being naked in front of her brother had been…uncomfortable. She had not recognised the look in his eyes at first. But this last year she had become aware that his gaze had lingered on her crotch and breasts when he made all too frequent visits to watch her bathe. His gaze and hardening manhood had frightened her enough to tell Illyrio.

That foolish mistake had 'woken the dragon' and earned her a half dozen slaps and she had been forced to listen to him mistreat the silver blonde prostitutes in his rooms.

"Must you walk around naked?"

Tamo shrugged, "It is just us girls here, we might as well enjoy the peace." She grinned and walked over to poke her gently in the belly. "I have nothing to hide."

Daenerys snorted, "Clearly, Tamo this is nice enough and I am grateful but why are we here?"

"Because you needed to grow used to me. I will train you at first and then others will take over. I needed to determine what your strengths were before we began."

"Begin what?"

"Training."

"I don't understand."

Tamo sat on the wooden log they used as a seat outside the building.

"Well then, perhaps I should explain. It started when I was tricked into a magical gate…"

When Tamo had finished explaining Daenerys sat silently, her eyes considering the person…no, the entity sitting opposite her. Turning into a fox-woman and then a fox and back again had been startling but not really frightening. Finding that two of her people's Gods were looking out for her, however, was stunning.

"Why did they not answer my prayers?"

Daenerys asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

To her surprise a strange voice replied.

"Because we were remiss in our duties."

She turned to see a girl child of Valyrian stock standing behind her. Then she saw the silver reptilian eyes and realised that it was not a child at all.

The not-child smiled, "Daenerys Targaryen, I am Liaxes, the goddess of children and the patron of those that teach."

Daenerys dropped to her knees in shock and bowed her head respectfully.

"No, enough of that Daenerys," commanded the odd voice of the Goddess. To Daenerys it sounded as if several voices were talking at the same time, saying the same words. "My Brother and I need your help and in turn, we will help you."

"My…my help, divine one?"

"Tamo has done well to help you on your way here and now it is time to tell you what you face and what you must do."

Daenerys dared to look up and saw that both Tamo and Liaxes were watching her. "What I must do?" She was struggling to get over the shock of seeing a deity.

Liaxes sighed and waved her hand. She let a little of her magic play over the figure of Daenerys. It would calm the young woman and nudge her toward believing the truth being shared. It was cheating but this was too important for all that free will rubbish, "Take a few deep breaths," She paused to let Daenerys get some composure back.

"The gods of Valyria were never truly united. Not in the way the other pantheons were, and your ancestors were far more secular than other peoples. In the end, we had little influence left. That contributed to many of the ills that plagued the Valyrian people and in the end, our inattention and indifference helped bring about the doom." The child-like goddess let out an odd-sounding sigh. "Arhhhh, thanks to the doom the most powerful among the Valyrian people died. With them died the knowledge of many things. Some of those things should remain lost," she admitted. "But some of that knowledge will be needed, soon."

"If I am to retake the Iron throne?" She asked nervously.

Liaxes shook her head, "Put that aside for a moment. There are some things you need to know, and I cannot…tarry, here for too long. There is a very powerful…entity. It has long been an enemy of humanity. It was defeated, thousands of years ago but not destroyed. Since that defeat, it has hidden itself away and rebuilt its power. Now it waxes."

Daenerys was wide-eyed, enthralled by the story.

"It is a being of darkness, cold and hate. It seeks dominion over everything, and that dominion would mean that every living thing would perish. Even its most devout servants. It wants everything and it must be defeated."

"What can I do against such a thing?" whispered Daenerys.

"You will play an important role, Princess of the house Targaryen. You will be the one that brings back dragons who will be the key to fighting against his allies. Here on this island, you will hatch the future defenders of the world."

"Dragons…there are still dragons?"

Liaxes nodded, "There are, they await the call to return."

"But how, will you tell me how?"

"Of course, I will, but first I want to tell you of your people."

For Daenerys, what followed was a mix of horizon-expanding, eye-opening and shocking. She listened as the diminutive goddess told of the rise and fall of the Valyrians. Of opportunities squandered and ultimately the demise of their empire.

The rise of house Targaryen, Daenerys realised, was not as simple as the storied she had grown up with. Her brother's version of history had been laughably tainted by his imaginings and ego. Yes, her family had brought stability and growth, but they had also inbred themselves into madness and the realm had paid in blood.

She had heard a great deal about the rebellion against her father. Now she heard about it from a far less biased source.

She listened in growing horror as the sins of her family were laid bare.

Her father had been a mad man. He had forced the Seven Kingdoms into rebellion. The nobles rose up against a man who was sexually aroused by burning people alive.

She had been physically sick as she heard of the fate of Rickard and Brandon Stark. The foolish actions of her brother the Crown Prince and how his reliance on a prophecy had led to his death. Setting aside his wife to marry a girl barely older than Daenerys was all done in secret and ultimately it cost Lyanna and nearly all her family their lives.

It had led to her cousin Robert Baratheon seizing the throne.

It had led to the death of her niece and nephew. Her mother and many loyal men and women.

When the goddess stopped speaking, Daenerys sat, eyes downcast.

Liaxes sighed, "I did not tell you this to hurt you. As I said there are others alive who share your blood and abilities as well as being people of honour and duty. Jon Targaryen, known as Jon Snow, was saved by his uncle Eddard Stark. That good and honourable man has kept him safe, and he is surrounded by family in the north. Aemon Targaryen serves as Maester of the Night's Watch and is considered a knowledgeable, wise and compassionate man. And then there is Darkheart, a blademistress of incredible skill, who is the lover of your tutor Tamo. All can link with a dragon." She reached down and gently raised the face of Daenerys to meet her eyes. "You will be the mother of dragons and the world will see that the blood of old Valyria has not all been spent."

Daenerys shook her head, "I don't want to be queen anymore."

Liaxes laughed softly, her expression compassionate as she stroked the young woman's face, "Good, because I fear that path might be closed. Instead, you shall be the saviour of Westeros."

"I…I don't understand," admitted Daenerys.

"Tamo will train you and you will no doubt blossom under her tutelage. But there are other stories that wrap around your own. Men have for the most part forgotten that there are forces the seek their destruction. That the myths and nightmares of the past might hold some truth. There is one story that is vital for you to understand because you and your dragons might just play a key part in defeating them. I speak of the Great Other…"

oOoOo

Daenerys was wondering why her hands did not shake.

She had spent half a day with a goddess.

A goddess.

It boggled her mind.

What she had been told, had changed…everything.

oOoOo

Tamo gave her that evening to contemplate what she had heard. She had appeared once with a plate of food and left her again after patting her on the shoulder.

She had been sure that she would not be able to sleep but was asleep minutes after she closed her eyes.

oOoOo

The next morning, she helped Tamo prepare breakfast and the two ate in companionable silence. They washed their implements and completed the other daily chores. Once they were finished, Daenerys sat opposite the woman that she was told would be her tutor.

"Where do we start?"

Tamo smiled.

oOoOo