A/N: Hey all. My honeymoon is done, and I have found out since that Mrs. Longclaw is gonna have a little Princess or Prince. As you can imagine, I am very happy :D

Now, let us hope that Dany and Sansa survive the arrival of Rhaella.

Enjoy and comment!

Chapter 11: Queen Mother

Yet again did the ship lurch as they passed through the Shivering Sea just off the Fingers. Rolling above the massive swells of churning water that left the hammocks swaying and anything not nailed down likely to topple on the ground. Hence why anything glass was kept snug in nets or webbing.

And yet there was another drawback… "Make way! Make way!" Scramble did she towards the main deck, hand clasped over her mouth as the first time sailor braved the rain in order to not stink up the hold with more vomit - plenty having done so prior.

Swinging aimlessly as she tried to read by lanternlight, Daenerys rolled her eyes. "Some people are just annoying. It's just a bunch of waves." Gods take whomever would sail for the first time and ruin it for the others.

Spoon breaking the crust of a steaming meat pie, Sansa shook her head. "Calm down, Dany. Not everyone can take to it like myself." It was her first time aboard ship, and the daughter of Ned Stark absolutely loved it… apart from the smell. Scooping out a healthy helping of cheese, meat, and what she was sure were carrots and leeks, Sansa devoured it and moaned. "Absolutely delicious… chicken, I'm sure. Would you like some."

"I already ate."

"Just some bread and cheese, come on."

"I'd rather not spend all our coin on meat pies, Sans," she replied, idly patting the sleeping Moonlight's furry head. "I believe we should avoid Volantis when we get to Essos with Jon. Stick to Lys and the other Three Daughters. Less crowded."

Sansa furrowed her brows. "Braavos is crowded yet you want to go there."

Dany nodded. "Braavos is further North, so the heat and humidity should be less of a problem. A few cold winds from the sea should lessen the stifling smell."

"Is that why you like White Harbor over King's Landing?"

"One of the reasons." The Princess smiled. "Also is closer to all my family in Winterfell, including a rather cheeky girl with hair kissed by fire who is my best friend."

Blushing, Sansa looked down at her pie. "You… you of all people should not call other's cheeky."

Her brow rose. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I'm sure you can guess." Both girls ended up giggling, Sansa glad the rather… warm moment had passed. Another spate of emotions she'd rather not deal with at this time. They were already quite nervous at the prospect of Jon or Arthur discovering them before they could properly get past the point of no return. Baelon was a rather adventurous boy that very nearly came across them as he explored the ship. Arthur was more reclusive either on the deck or his cabin, but the playful direwolves were harder to hide than even they were.

Not to mention… "Sans," Dany began, leaning up to crane her neck at her. "I think I figured out what caused you to withdraw from reality during the blizzard. And why you felt like you could see through Lady's eyes." The pup in question was chewing on a chicken bone discarded by one of the crew, ears perking up at her name.

"Oh?" Truth be told, Sansa was increasingly thinking it was just a dream. A weird dream, but a dream nonetheless. "And what do you think?"

"I think you're a warg."

She hadn't expected that. "A warg?" Sansa shook her head. "Wargs are myths. Just… magic from the stories papa always tells me."

To this Dany grew annoyed. "Truly, Sansa? After all that has been gifted to the realm since my brother hatched the dragons - after you watched Baelon and I hatched six of them, you still deny the magical aspect of the world as those of the Faith?"

Sansa recoiled. "Don't call me a southerner! I'm a northerner!" It was… a sore spot for her, from a young age. Yet she calmed. "Sorry, Dany, it's just…" Sansa winced, looking down at Lady who had climbed upon her lap. "I know that I am the supposed blood of the Warg King, the descendent of Bran the Builder, and you of all people know of how I've connected with the Heart Tree. Yet… there hasn't been a reputed warg in centuries within the North."

"I've heard there are some wildling wargs."

A sigh. "They were always more connected to the Old Gods, or so I've heard - given how primitive they are compared to those of us within the Seven Kingdoms."

"Think of it this way." A roar bracketed the side of the ship, churning waves and howling winds attacking them, but Daenerys didn't miss a beat. "The dragons abandoned House Targaryen for a century and a half, yet my brother brought them back thanks to the blessings of Tessarion." At least that was how Rhaegar told it… and Rhaella… and Elia… and Lyanna. Dany believed them even though she hadn't yet had a vision of House Targaryen's patron goddess. "Could be that magic that abandoned your House has returned."

Sansa smiled. "A wondrous explanation." The smile dropped. "Yet one that can suggest worrisome developments." Just like her mama, analyzing every possibility. Pie devoured, she leaned against the hull - hating how grimy she felt. The cold helped, but not the dampness nor the pervasive smell of salt. "Perhaps I am a budding warg… perhaps that dream was me sharing Lady's mind."

"Imagine if Lady shared your mind." Dany snickered. "You on all fours and sniffing everywhere and stretching would be both comical and adorable."

"Ha ha." Sansa rolled her eyes. "Well what about you?"

"What about me?" Dany was confused.

A groan. "You mean you don't remember? How you essentially turned into a portable brazier?"

"Oh, oh that?" Daenerys chuckled. "I am blood of the dragon, remember?"

"No, I've cuddled up to you on cold nights before. I've cuddled to Baelon, to Rhaenys, to Alyssa… all of them are warm as you normally are, but not that warm. You banished away the cold, I was sweating." Sansa pushed herself to her feet, walking to her hammock but nonetheless watching Dany with piercing grey eyes meeting her beautiful violets. "Tell me I'm wrong. That this is something different, potentially wondrous as my supposed warging?"

Opening her mouth, Dany found no words coming out. In honesty, she couldn't. Not with the recent history of her family. Not with the memories of Syrax hatching from her egg while she felt flickering flames all around her unharmed body.

She couldn't discount the possibility of something else afoot.

But before she could respond a rather creepy laugh rang out. "No dress, wee ladies?" A surly looking fellow approached them, unwashed and unshaven. Unlike Daenerys and Sansa, he hadn't made an effort to keep himself clean. "Wearin' trousers?"

A side effect of trying to stay away from Baelon and Arthur was that Dany and Sansa kept to themselves, not attracting attention from the crew or other passengers. Something finally noticed. "We don't want our dresses dirty," Sansa announced, trying to further their low profile. Hoping he'd go away.

He didn't. "Yer' would look pretty in a dress, little lady." The man smiled, showing off a set of teeth missing half of them. "Wouldn't they'ook pretty?" he announced to his comrades seated at a table behind him.

"Mick, reminds me of that whore ye fucked back in 'Aight 'Arbor, with the red 'air." Dany inconspicuously reached for the dagger she hid in her saddlebag for just this moment.

Shaking his head, 'Mick' stepped towards Sansa. "Nah, that bitch was pretty but old." He reached out, running his fingers along Sansa's red locks, making the young girl shudder in disgust - hairs on the back of her neck rising from apprehension. "This one's innocent, arentcha wee babe?"

Feeling his hot breath on her ear, Sansa reacted. Taller than all but Robb and Egg in her family, she had learned from a young age how to defend herself against those stronger than she. The two and ten girl rocketed her knee upward, slamming into the man's unprotected crotch. Mick grunted, falling onto his knees. Behind, a girl raced towards the cabins while Mick's buddies rose, anger on their faces. "Get the bitches…" Mick groaned out.

"Gonna enjoy takin' this one's maidenhead," one of them said before Lady and Moonlight jumped him, both the size of a mid-sized dog at this point. Teeth sunk into flesh, making him scream.

Another went for the wolves but Daenerys lashed out with the dagger. Screaming at the top of her lungs as she buried the blade in the man's shoulder. He cried out, pitching back but before she could retrieve her dagger. Leaving her defenseless for the final man. He was swarthy-skinned and reeked of onions. Cracking his knuckles as silver hair was exposed. "Never fucked an itty bitty girl from Lys," he grinned darkly.

Gulping, Dany was backed up against the deck - Sansa behind her. "I'll… I'll pay you…" she stammered out. Suddenly terrified. "You'll buy a girl in Gulltown, older and better."

"Nah, I like 'em itty bitty like you." He lunged, Daenerys screaming and raising her hands up as if to push him away. Eyes fusing shut.

It was momentary, over in a blink of an eye. A flash registered and when Dany opened her eyes, she wasn't being defiled by the bruiser but instead he was on the deck. His hands were covering his face, screaming his lungs out as his upper body gave off smoke - burned badly. "FUCK! FUCK!"

Mick finally managed to rise, fists clenched as Moonlight and Lady surrounded Dany and Sansa - growling. He picked up a hammer. "I'll fucking kill you…"

That was cut off when a sword ran through his gut from behind. Mick staggered, spitting out blood before he collapsed dead. Revealing… Ser Arthur Dayne.

"What's going on here?!" called out one of the ship's officers. "What the fuck?"

"These four were trying to rape the girls," Arthur said evenly, thrusting Dawn into the man Dany wounded with her dagger, leaning down to draw it out. "I took care of it." He tossed the officer a silver stag. "I'd suggest dumping them overboard." The officer nodded and gestured for some of the sailors to help him. Eyes falling back on the girls, Arthur handed the blade to Daenerys. "I believe this is yours, Princess."

Gulping, Dany took it back, trembling. "May we… may we sleep in your cabin, Ser Arthur?" The knight's glare could've frozen Blackwater Bay.

As the latch for the cabin door opened, Jon stood up from where he sat on the bed. "Well… what was all that about… Ser Aron?" He asked, using the alias Arthur had adopted for himself. But as Arthur came into view, Ghost immediately perked up. Quite perceptive, for two other pups bounded into the cabin. Jumping on Ghost as the three yipped and played with each other.

Lady? Moonlight? The direwolves were instantly recognizable, which meant…

"Jon!" Right behind Arthur were two blurs of silver and red hair, immediately enveloping him in a tight embrace.

Jaw dropped as his cheeks and forehead were peppered by kisses, Baelon couldn't believe his eyes and ears. "Dany… Sans… what are you doing here?"

His voice must've set something off in them for suddenly Daenerys struck him on the shoulder. "Coming after you, you stupid idiot!" She hit him again.

"How dare you leave without telling us!" Sansa slapped his cheek. "You know how worried we would've been?!"

Arms raised to feebly protect himself, that just led to the girls striking him on the chest and stomach. "How… how did you know?!" Rhae… damn you why did you blab…

But it turned out not to be Rhaenys. "We heard you through the roof."

"The roof, what in seven hells were you doing there?"

Sansa bit her lip… now wasn't the time to talk of her possible warging. "Not important, but you were gonna leave without telling us!" She started to tear up.

In spite of her fierce demeanor, Dany's slaps slackened and instead she clung to him, head buried in the crook of Jon's neck. "Leave without us there… all alone."

"I have Ser Arthur…"

"No, not enough." She pulled back. "You and I and Sansa - Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys, remember."

He sighed, kissing her forehead. "I remember." They all managed to sit, Sansa on one side of him and Dany on the other. Jon wedged between so tight as if the two were not intending to let him go. A fierce direwolf and fiery dragon, two that no man should think of underestimating. "So you came here, snuck away from Winterfell with the knowledge you could get hurt or kepa or grandmother or aunt Cersei would kill you… just to lend me your protection."

"Well of course, you dummy." Sansa smacked him on the shoulder before hugging him. "As Dany said, we are a team."

Chuckling, Jon squeezed their hands. "I am grateful… though you could've told me once you got on board ship… rather than sneak around as you likely have done."

Having long since barred the door, Ser Arthur snorted. "That is an understatement." He turned and leaned against the door, crossing his arms. "Both of you realize that your parents… your mother… and the King are likely looking all over Winterfell for you."

Daenerys bit her lip. "I… I left them a letter telling them where we were going."

"What?!" Sansa was incredulous. "Your mother will never let us leave, and she has a dragon! She'll come get us!"

"Aye, that sounds like grandmother," Jon chuckled, only for a glare from the girls to make him quiet down again. "So she'll visit Gulltown. By the Gods, I don't doubt she's already there waiting for us with Lord Elbert."

"Lord Elbert?" Dany blinked. "I thought this was going to be us traveling like common smallfolk."

Arthur, massaging the bridge of his nose to ward off an impending headache, sighed. "It will… but we were traveling through Gulltown anyway in order to head to Braavos, and his Grace felt that we could do some cleaning up after the last time the Dowager Queen visited the Vale… oh, with her there again it will only be perfect." Best not to revisit that if Arthur hoped to reverse his headache. "The two of you simply made this more complicated… especially since you decided to travel here alone, leaving you vulnerable to cunts like the ones that tried to rape you just now."

Jon's eyes widened. "What?!"

"We were taking care of them… especially Dany," Sansa remarked softly, to which Dany could only look away.

"Where are they?" Both met his eyes to see fire burning in them. "Tell me now."

"They're dead, my Prince," Arthur mused, myself, the direwolves, and Princess Daenerys saw to that."

"You killed one?"

"Burned him to death… don't ask why, cause I don't hardly know." Dany shook her head. "Must've picked up a torch and shoved it into his face or something."

Arthur sighed. "Regardless, we're stuck with each other… and I do believe that the only proper option going forward is to take the Princess and Lady Sansa with us, lest the crown look more humiliated than it does now." Sensing the quiet elation in the girls, he shook his head. "Do not find this to be some dream come true, girls. You will listen to my orders." He pointed to Jon, and then himself. "I am Ser Aron of Torrentine, a Hedge Knight, and this is my son young Eddard Snow."

"Eddard Snow?"

He shrugged. "Pretty much the most anonymously Northern bastard name these days." His uncle Ned was a hero to the North. "I'm not a girl, so I cannot be Alysanne."

Daenerys giggled. "You are pretty enough to be a girl." Jon stuck his tongue out at her, to which she giggled again. "So what name should I be, then… Ser Aron?"

Thinking for a moment, Arthur pursed his lips. "We'll have to hide your Valyrian features in plain sight as a Lysene servant to me. Pick a Lysene name."

"How about Larra? After our ancestor, Larra Rogare?"

"That should work… as for you, Sansa, you will be Alayne Snow, sister of Eddard Snow."

"We're the same age, so I suppose we'd be twins, Jon." In another life, perhaps Sansa would've been Jon's sister… they certainly shared a lot of the Stark features. "Well, thus begins our adventure the proper way. The three of us, together."

Arthur silently groaned. Gods… I hope Queen Rhaella doesn't burn me alive for this…

"Really, both of them snuck out through the side entrance?"

Prince Aegon shrugged. "They must've… no other way to get out without arousing suspicion or getting the notice of the guards. Uncle Ned's not paranoid as Lord Tywin or the Boltons, but he doesn't run a lax household."

Asha snorted, shaking her head. "A side door is ridiculous. Some enemy could just use it to sneak past the defenses and sack the keep."

"It's for sallying outward… not visible from the outside and should be guarded." Gods, Aegon was sure his aunt Cersei would geld the watch commander for that night over this. "But they didn't do this alone, that I'm sure."

Both were walking through the keep, having left the great hall once polishing off their lunch of meat pies and potato and onion soup. Asha was sure her breath smelled of onion, but nothing the saltwater mixture in her bedchamber couldn't fix. Prince Aemon may be a withered old man, but best take his advice.

Even nearing a century, his teeth were still shiny.

"You're right, they didn't do this alone." She looked around before lowering her voice. "Your sister thinks Lady Margaery helped Daenerys and Sansa out."

Egg's eyes widened. "Gods, that little…" There were rumors and rumblings about a potential betrothal between Aegon and Margaery Tyrell, but with one word to Queen Lyanna from him and they were quashed. She was sweet, but not his type. She and cousin Robb can have each other. "Why hasn't Rhae told anyone?"

Asha rolled her eyes. "And have her set lady in waiting embroiled in a scandal that would humiliate a loyal Warden of the South? Seven Hells, you're worse than Rhaenys in political acumen."

"Well…" He deflated, accepting defeat. "That's one matter uncle Oberyn will have to teach me of."

"Aye, one matter." There were other things he would need to learn, but Asha was afraid that Egg wouldn't learn them in time. Those whores and trollops of Dorne will eat him alive, and in a way that will make him beg for more while he gives away the Realm. She and Rhae had discussed it, but Asha herself was coming to a closer and closer conclusion of what she had to do.

Least I'll be able to enjoy it. Even she had to admit that Prince Aegon was comely.

Turning a corner, they heard the loud yells simultaneously with seeing Rickon, Visenya, Joanna, and Serena Dayne with their ears pressed to the door leading to Cersei Stark's private solar. Across, Ser Lyn Corbray watched the children with a smirk on his face. "What the…" As they approached, Asha could pick out the individual voices.

"How could you let this happen?!" Cersei.

"Me?!" Lyanna. "You are the one in charge of the guarding of the fucking keep!" A slap followed by a muffled grunt rang out, the tenor of the male groan placing it as Ned Stark. Queen Lyanna is not in a kind mood.

More angry, unintelligible shouting female voices continued to echo shrilly out of the solar as Asha and Egg approached the gaggle of evesdroppers. "What are you doing?" Egg whispered.

"Listening to the show," was Visenya's response. She was trembling, as was Joanna, a fact quite surprising given their haughtiness. "Munas are angry…"

"None of you know how to be mothers!"

"Neither is grandmother…" murmured Rickon, his brother quite pale.

Eyes narrowed, Egg looked to Ser Lyn. "And you're letting them listen to this?"

The Kingsguard shrugged. "Who am I to deny the dragonlings anything?" A thin yet jovial man, Ser Lyn had been a favorite companion of his when he was younger due to his more permissive nature - letting them sneak from their bedrooms to play with the dragon skulls or pilfering sweets from the kitchens for them… Now, as he grew older and even possessed a knighthood, Egg saw such measures in a different light.

There have to be better knights in the Vale that could be a proper Kingsguard than him. "Get them back to their chambers before my parents catch them here."

As if on cue… "You're the one that made us send Jon away!" screamed Queen Elia, likely directed at his kepa. Something crashed against the wall. "I should've never listened to you and Arthur… and now not only he, but Dany and Sansa are in danger!"

"Get them out of here, Ser Lyn," Aegon hissed.

"No, I wanna see what's gonna happen to Dany and Sansa," complained Visenya.

But Serena Dayne took her hand. "Come on, Senya. Let's do something together before you have to go back to King's Landing without me." That managed to convince his sister, but Aegon could see Senya bite her lip, worry in her eyes.

"Muna, don't do it. I'll write Lord Elbert and…"

"No." Rhaella's voice was firm. "You've done enough, my son. I'll do this myself."

Hearing the Dowager Queen step towards the door, Egg and Asha rushed towards his own guest chambers. Shutting the door quickly before Rhaella could see them. Aegon shook his head. "Gods… Daenerys and Sansa are going to be in quite boiling water for this little stunt."

Asha smirked. "Can't believe that they did it, but good on them."

"Good? They gave my parents and grandmother a fright out of nowhere."

"Look, Egg, I talked to Rhaenys about this… and your little sister Alyssa." The younger dragonrider was quite jealous of her aunt and cousin. "They think, and I agree, that since the two of them are gonna marry Baelon one of these days that it's good for them to gain some bonding time… and learn about the world."

"I still don't think that's set in stone."

"Their future wedding? Oh yeah, it is. That's why they went - they love Jon and want to claim him in all manners even if they'd say differently if asked for the reason they snuck away." Asha nudged Egg playfully. "It's more you that I'm concerned about about marriage."

He blinked. "Me? I'm only three and ten."

"So?" she shrugged. "Plenty of people marry, or at least get betrothed, at your age. Do you have any… experience?" Asha knew the answer, but wanted to hear it from him.

Egg flushed red… "Um… I… no." He looked at his feet. "Who would want a cripple?"

Expression softening, Asha drew him in for a friendly hug. It surprised her, given her rather abrasive personality, but she was his friend and Rhaenys' friend… he was like a brother to her. "You're not a cripple." While he had his aches and bouts of fatigue, not to mention the recurring rashes, Egg had truly come into his own. "You're a knight at your age, nothing to scoff at."

"Still, I know the girls at the Red Keep think that."

"Pish, you're gonna be flooded with plenty of cunt… or cock if that's what you prefer." He blushed an even darker shade of red. "Gods, Dany and Sansa have more stones than you."

"Shut up," he glared.

Asha laughed. "Don't worry, I'll have your back." Oh, she most certainly was. Not going to let anyone take advantage of you, Egg. She just needed to vault his confidence as high as his dragon flew.

"Ser Arthur, I hope my desire to treat the Prince to a welcome dinner in the Vale hasn't bothered your schedule?"

Shaking his head, Arthur cleared his throat. "Not at all, Lord Elbert." They were in the keep of the Lord of Gulltown, the guest quarters that was essentially a massive suite of chambers for any guests visiting the fourth largest city in the Seven Kingdoms. "You've been circumspect in protecting our identity here, which is all that I can ask for."

"Nonsense." Elbert laughed. "Anything for the son of Rhaegar Targaryen." He looked to Jon, who was seated a chair down from the head of the table. "Your father, Prince Baelon, he saved my life more than once during battle. The debt I owe him is quite significant."

Baelon beamed with pride. "I am sure he wouldn't seek to collect."

"My brother is the sort that would call it part of his warm nature." Such came from Daenerys, dressed tastefully in a white dress that matched her silver hair. Not yet of age, she still looked beautiful, as did Sansa in her black dress. "You need not worry."

Elbert clapped his hands. "They say a Lannister always pays his debts, but they never met an Arryn. The Seven command such and that is what I deliver." A snort from across the table caught their attention. "Something you wish to say, Lysa?"

While Elbert was a delight - sort of like Robert Baratheon but cultured and without the inappropriate, bitter mood swings - his wife on the other hand… She makes her sister Catelyn look like Ashara. Where from his conversations with Ned had derived Catelyn's rigidity with piety and a sense of guilt at Brandon's death, Lysa was altogether worse and enough so for the diagnosis to be of simply being a horrid person. Bitter and shrill, she hadn't smiled once since their guests were seated… except for doting on her son by Elbert, Lord Robin Arryn. A sickly, fussy boy that Arthur greatly pitied.

And she hated her husband, quite openly. Many wives did, but never openly. Even Cersei would try to hide it, I think. Looking up from their son, she grimaced at Elbert. "An Arryn's word is his bond, then, according to you?" She laughed a bit. "Then why is she in existence, let alone at my table."

The woman in question was Prince Aegon's age. Young Sharra Stone, daughter of Lord Elbert's late mistress, who died giving birth to her. Oh, did Elbert love her, as evidenced by the expensive clothes and glittering jewels. Daenerys and Sansa had been chatting her in conversation for an hour, enjoying how witty she was. But she cowered before Lady Lysa, who hated her more than she did her husband. "Do not speak of her that way, Lysa," Elbert warned.

For once, Lysa complied, only for her to smile… quite malevolently. "It is a shame that the planned progress to the Vale was postponed, Princess." She daintily ate, though there was little on her plate. Likely why she was thin bordering on emaciated. "This… is no real keep. The Crown Prince and Princess Daenerys should come and see what a real noble house looks like, correct, Elbert?"

Eyes not lifting from his auroch steak, Elbert shook his head. "The King makes his decisions. It is the King's choice where to make a royal progress… and it is not like your last hosting of Queen Rhaella held a proper conclusion."

Daenerys bit back a scowl at being reminded of that. Lysa's hiss soon making it clear to all why the Princess still simmered with anger. "Is it enough that I have to share a keep with your… your… bastards?" She gestured to Sharra, who shrank back into her seat. "This one, her sister, and that… boy. You have already affronted me enough, only for the Dowager Queen to bring hers into the Eyrie. I've had enough of bastards!"

"My. Sister. Is. Not. A. Bastard." Each word was said calmly but firmly by Daenerys - only Jon quickly squeezing her hand keeping her composed. "She is a legitimized Targaryen."

"Truly she's a Lannister, and the baseborn daughter of Ser Jaime."

"They are married in all but name."

"Exactly, they are not married." Easing a stray curl of young Robin behind his ear, Lysa clucked over him before glaring at her husband. "At least Ser Jaime is the paramour of the Dowager Queen. Not like you."

Elbert groaned softly. "Aye, wife. Aye." It was not clear that he truly cared. The man had obviously stopped bothering to deal with his wife - from how Jon saw it, he sympathized with Elbert, not Lysa.

Looking up from her plate, Sansa shook her head. "Aunt, it is not the fault of the child that they are born in this manner. And as for the parents… speak what you will of more baser persons, but my brother Robb is the trueborn son of two highborn nobles. Would you call him that?"

Blinking, suddenly Lysa laughed. "Not only your looks make you a perfect copy of Catelyn when she was your age." Sansa stiffened, to which both Jon and Daenerys noticed - Catelyn Tully was a sore spot for the redhead. "Just like my idiot sister, you are. A rosy view of the world. Even when angry she never erupted. Never let a single strand of that perfect perfect hair fall out of place." She glared at Sansa. "Everything was always presented to her on a silver platter, and now you are the same. Beloved of the North, already set to be Queen by arrangement of my father and his Grace." The letter of Rhaegar's promise to Hoster Tully sent by him to her never strayed from her mind. Of course dear Catelyn has everything.

"Queen?" Jon was confused - much as he enjoyed speaking with Lord Elbert, he just wished this dinner to be over. But this was something he hadn't heard of. "What is she talking about?"

Before anyone could answer, Robin provided a perfect distraction. Hands shaking, the young heir to the Eyrie brought a spoon of soup slowly to his mouth. Only to cry out in pain. "Hot! Mama hot!"

Lysa quickly grabbed him and cradled him in her arms. "My sweet! Sweetrobin!"

"Mouth fire… mouth fire," he babbled. Apparently the soup was too hot for him, and somehow he hadn't learned how to blow on it.

"Fetch the maester!" shrieked Lysa, the naisal, piercing voice making Jon wince.

Elbert shook his head. "That boy is going to be the death of me. My uncle was at least close to seventy namedays before his health began to fail him."

"The boy is sickly?" Daenerys asked in a whisper, so as not to attract Sansa's aunt's attention again. Once was enough.

"More like never allowed to thrive. Some mothers dote on their babes… Lysa…" The Warden of the East's eyes fell on Sharra, sparkling with love and pride before looking back upon his guests. "She still nurses him, I'm afraid."

Jon's lips curled in disgust. "Truly?" Seeing Lysa cradle Robin to her breast as she murmured some sort of lullaby to the fussy child, hat information gave the gesture a whole new light.

"I wish I was lying… it's easier to just leave them to their devices and go about my business." Downing his goblet, he looked to Jon. "There's a reason I have mistresses, my Prince. Sharra's mother was from good stock, which is why she's the new Flower of the Mountain." Sharra blushed modestly. "Take some advice from your Warden of the East, make sure to marry someone quiet and with a gentle demeanor… at least around you. If politics gets in the way of that, better find a quiet lover.

Sansa scowled. "My cousin will be like his father… and my papa. Never strays from his bride."

Elbert smirked. "Or brides, given his pedigree, my niece." Sansa only rolled her eyes. "As your uncle," he continued. "I hope you never be a screeching harpy to your future husbands… a word of wisdom for you as well, Princess."

Unfortunately, however, Lysa had heard that. "Harpy?" She flung an apple core at Elbert's head. "Harpy?! Our son is hurt and you would spend your time fawning over a whore's daughter!"

Jovial demeanor turning to anger, Elbert stood. Chair clattering to the floor. "Call her that again and I will toss you out the moon door. No one would believe it an accident." Both simply glared at each other before Lysa grabbed Robin by the arm and led him away. Bidding the newly arrived maester to follow. Poor bastard.

Deep in his cups, Arthur glibly remarked, "While the vows of a knight demand we protect women... I would find it tested repeatedly with that voice grating my ears so often." He had only spent an evening with Lady Lysa and he was already considering abandoning his vows. Lord Elbert had his sympathies.

Dacey was tough as nails, but gods could she be sweet and delicate. That loving look only reserved for him…

He swore that Daenerys and Sansa had such for Jon.

As for Jon… "I am confident that my future wife will be as you describe, Lord Elbert," he said, sneaking glances at Dany and Sansa. "Was my Aunt Catelyn this way?"

Sansa rubbed the back of her neck. "I don't remember much of her well… She loved me, I know, but I can't think of a time where she and papa were affectionate like mama and he."

Elbert sighed. "I knew her fairly well. She was a sweet girl, but shouldn't have went north - a southern bride, she was bred for." He picked up his chair and sat. "Honestly, she should've been my wife. Lysa's fit for nothing but the Silent Sisters." Suddenly he laughed. "Silent Sisters… I walked into that one." Laughs turned to chortles.

Dany giggled, watching as Sharra granted her a tiny smile. "You can rest assured, Lord Elbert. Of course we will never give the man we marry that sort of grief. We have only the best of role-models in our munas."

"Queen Lyanna, Queen Elia, Queen Rhaella… they are everything they should be. King Aerys was a foolish man for not appreciating what he had in a wife, and thank the gods King Rhaegar does." He pounded the table with his palm. "A good man to have beside you in battle."

"No better than my kepa. The greatest King since Aegon the Conqueror."

"I saw the sunrise dragon emerge, my Prince. Fully agree."

The jovial mood had returned, Sansa beaming at her uncle. "We appreciate the advice, uncle Elbert." Gods, her aunt keep getting worse if her mother was to be believed on what she said about her. Lysa's conduct was an insult to everything Sansa was taught a lady should be. She's the fish Joanna should insult, not dear Rickard. Neither she nor her brother - and thanks be to the gods her birth mother as well - were like that, to which Sansa was grateful.

Her eyes then locked with Dany and they both nodded, implication clear without words. We will never let Jon go through what poor Lord Elbert does.

Not when they were his Queens.

A cloudless sky hung over the coastal mountains that bunched up the lowlands of the south Vale to a minimal strip, but the howling alpine winds made Rhaella as chilled as she was during a Winterfell blizzard. A hostile welcome for any arrival to the most mountainous kingdom in her son's domain, but one she held a great insistence in coming to.

'Shall we scare the rabble as we did when we last left, muna?'

Rhaella suppressed a chuckle, instead smirking draconically. "No, my sweet," she spoke to Jaimexes in High Valyrian. "This time we need to be circumspect, lest your sister's bone-headedness gets the crown into trouble the way she has for herself and Lady Stark."

'Big sister is bold, muna. Much like yourself.'

There was a time where Rhaella Targaryen had been the opposite of bold… instead a shy, meek, and frightened woman always in the shadow of her brother and husband. No more, and never did she ever allow Daenerys or Myrcella to grow up as such. The latter was naturally quiet but with a spine of steel while the former… "Perhaps I made her too bold, girl."

'Can never be too bold… though the wolf and nephew seem to cool her down at times.'

Hmmm… Baelon and Sansa had the wolfsblood and Baelon had enough dragonfire for any Targaryen, yet with that wolfsblood also came the pensive ice that Ned Stark had in abundance. They were good for Dany, grounding her a bit. Made one think.

Spotting the series of torchlights flickering in the forest clearing growing ever darker as the sun began to fall behind the mountain range to the west, Rhaella clicked her tongue. "Land girl, in that clearing." Jaimexes roared understanding and began to circle. I'm coming for you, foolish daughter. While Jaime and Rhaegar advised to just have Lord Elbert send them back, Rhaella insisted on going herself.

Even if it meant entering Gulltown - just visible in the distance beyond the trees - incognito.

Flapping her mighty wings, the dragon eased herself to land with a thud, Rhaella jolting but more than used to it. Swinging her legs off astride Jaimexes' back, she climbed down without getting a single tear or nick in her riding dress. "Good job, girl," she cooed, straightening out her hair before stroking her sweet girl's snout. The dragon purred, loving the attention.

"Ummm… your Grace…" She turned around to see several knights waiting for her - and trembling slightly by being close to the great dragon. And by being close was standing at least thirty feet in distance. One stepped forward, underneath the banner of House Arryn but with the runes of House Royce emblazoned on his surcoat. "Ser Robar of House Royce," he announced. "Lord Elbert has entrusted me with escorting you to Gulltown."

She nodded, patting Jaimexes' snout once more before pulling the cowl over her silver hair and walking towards the knights - seeing a riderless horse undoubtedly for her. "Thank you, Ser Robar." He was the second son of Lord Yohn Royce, and from the looks of him a promising and cultured warrior. "I trust no one knows of my arrival."

He shook his head. "None but us… and Ser Elbert's closest household."

"Good." Without difficulty she straddled the horse. "Let us go then."

"What about the… um… dragon, your Grace?" Robar seemed unsettled. "Shouldn't we…"

Rhaella laughed. "She'll be fine, waiting for me in the forest."

"Well, what about food? What do dragon's eat?"

She grinned wickedly. "Whatever they want." Squeezing her thighs, she sent the horse into a gallop.

The Keep of House Grafton was quite large and overlooked the bay, but Ser Robar directed them to what was rather a massive manse. "That of House Arryn of Gulltown, your Grace," he informed them.

"I thought those of the Eyrie disliked their merchant cousins?"

"Lord Elbert's mother was of the Gulltown Arryns, his uncle in need of funds after some financial downturns… he owns the manse just as he owns the Eyrie. That's where your daughter and Lady Stark are… as well as Ser Arthur and the Crown Prince."

Her eyes narrowed as their horses trotted onto the grounds. "If you speak on this, Jaimexes is always hungry."

Robar chuckled. "Well aware, your Grace. My mouth is shut."

The manse was designed in the style of the many villas along the Honeywine in the Reach, albeit with more cold-weather features given the winds that poured from the mountains. It wasn't that cold a night as Rhaella entered, the servants seeming to give more deference to Ser Robar than her… it was, slightly refreshing not being the center of attention.

"Your Grace." Lord Elbert greeted her outside his solar, bowing before kissing her hand. "I made sure that my dear wife was elsewhere for this."

"You were always a gracious host, Lord Elbert." Gods, she hated that woman. "Are they in there?"

"Waiting with Ser Arthur, aye. Just… please don't yell too loudly. The servants gossip, and I'd rather them not be involved."

"Alright." Rhaella took a deep breath and pushed open the door. As soon as she saw a thatch of silver hair on one of the plush seats, her promise to Elbert was severely tested. "Princess Daenerys," she began with a scowl. "I hope you have some explanation for yourself!"

The Princess almost fell out of her seat as she scrambled up. "Muna!" Likely having not expected Rhaella to show up, she began shaking. "I… I…"

"Don't play stupid, Daenerys. I've let you get away with much, considering you're dutiful when you need to be and go above and beyond your duty when you wish to, but this… this is beyond the pale!"

"Your Grace…" Sansa spoke up, herself quite scared. "It isn't fully on her. I am just as much to blame."

Rhaella shook her head. "It is not my place to punish you, Lady Stark, but I have been authorized by your parents to bring you back with Daenerys."

"No, grandmother!" In an instant, Baelon was at her side, hugging her. "Let them stay with me, grandmother."

"Baelon… it is risky for you to be out there, let alone your aunt and cousin."

"But please, I don't want to be alone there anymore… they're my family." He puffed up, trying to look powerful in spite of the pleading in his expression. "Dany and Sansa will never come to harm, grandmother. On that I swear my honor and name as Baelon Targaryen, Crown Prince of Westeros, Prince of Dragonstone, Heir to the Sunrise Dragon and Knight of the Realm." In the corner of her eye, Rhaella saw both her daughter and Lady Sansa swoon at Baelon's words.

"If I have leave to speak, my Queen?" Arthur Dayne stepped forward, bowing. "While these two additions to our plans were certainly unexpected, your Grace," he glared at the duo who shrink a little but nonetheless remain firm.

Rhaella was incredulous. "You approve of this, Ser Arthur?"

"I know, it was not planned and there is danger, but thinking on it I have come to the conclusion that it is for the best. I am certain that seeing the real world alongside Crown Prince Baelon will be a great opportunity... especially considering future plans." Rhaella wasn't lost at what he was hinting at.

Rhaella shook her head. "No… I cannot allow this. For you to leave was risky enough, but for my daughter and Lord Stark's daughter… if something happens to you, the realm will bleed."

"And would not the realm bleed had it been I that died?"

Blinking, she looked up and could have sworn… "Kepa?"

It was as if time stood still, but walking about the chairs both occupied and unoccupied was the glowing figure of her father, Aegon V. Aegon the Unlikely in his prime, tall and handsome… "Hello daughter," he spoke, smiling. "It has been a while."

Judging that no one could see her here, Rhaella ran into his arms. "I missed you, kepa."

"A lot happened to you, dear daughter, but you are finally happy and that brings me contentment." He cupped her cheek. "Let Daenerys and Sansa go with Baelon, Rhaella."

"But… but… it is no place for them."

"None of it is a place for a Targaryen, that is what my own kepa argued to Dunk," he said, sighing. "But I was but a fourth son of a fourth son. Worthless in the scheme of things until I wasn't. In the end, being among the smallfolk prepared me in a way that no royal education could for the conflicts that followed, as it would for these three. The three heads."

"So you know… that they are to marry?"

He shrugged. "I cannot be sure, only that their destiny is intertwined." Her father smiled. "Do not worry, I know they can care for themselves. All of you taught them well."

"Grandmother… grandmother!"

Rhaella was jolted out of her reverie to see Baelon staring at her. "Oh… what?"

"You were staring into nothing for a moment, muna," Dany said, slightly worried. "Are you alright."

Walking to her daughter, Rhaella enveloped her in a hug. "Is this what you want, Daenerys?" She kissed her forehead. "You'll be away from your family, away from basic comfort and Syrax. Do you truly wish to go through with this?"

Looking up, there was a firmness in her violet eyes. "I can speak for Sansa as well as I when I say that none of it matters, as long as we can be with Jon and protect him."

My darling girl. Rhaella hugged her tightly, peppering the crown of her head with kisses. It appears I will have to ensure my gooddaughters don't burn down Winterfell from their anger. Cersei was Lady Stark. If she wished to burn it down then it was all on her.

A/N: So Aegon the Unlikely comes back from the afterlife to convince Rhaella to let them accompany Jon... while Dany saves herself and Sansa using... we still don't know what yet.

Lysa certainly hasn't changed one bit. Poor Elbert, though he clearly is getting his companionship elsewhere.

Till next time. Be sure to comment.