A/N: Warning: Intense chapter ahead. Mature version with...more colorful wording will be reposted over on Archive of Our Own.
This IS Game of Thrones after all, so that's to be expected.
We've hit eight hundred, so here we are.
That said, can anyone see this? Seems the site broke again last night *sigh* so I'm not entirely sure this is visible.
I know this story isn't all that popular compared to the rest, but still, I'm fond of it, and since it hit seven hundred reviews, here we are, another update.
If this makes it to Nine hundred -hopefully- I'll update again as promised. I'm still alive, still here, still kicking...for now. Claws of a Lion, Demon of Ashford and Son of the Stag are FIGHTING me.
In other news depression's starting to hit real hard these days. Sometimes I wonder why I do anything at all. I can't claim to understand what's going wrong with my head. I don't even know why! One moment I'm fine, then my mood craters for a few hours, then I'm back again for a bit, and the cycle repeats. Its rather annoying; as though I've become a prisoner in my own mind sometimes. Sure, what's one more mental problem on the pile. Not like I don't have enough, what with already being this old. Feels like every day is a battle sometimes. My doctor is of no help at all.
Take a walk he says, go outside more he says, you'll be fine he says. *siiiigh* Don't bloody feel fine. Maybe I should see someone else...
With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.
And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.
Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Feels like everyone's lost their minds, the world over. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.
Not Q&A for a bit, as someone complained. Ah, well. Can't please everyone I suppose. Trying my best to keep everyone entertained here.
Alight, I've kept you long enough. As ever, I own no quotes, references, quotes, themes or memes!
They're simply tributes to legends far greater than I; an old man who writes as a pastime.
Now, then...Shall We Continue? I do hope you're prepared.
Verbatim for season seven here.
"There is a saying. Once bitten, twice shy."
"I'm afraid I'm not at all familiar with that saying, Lord Oberyn.
"It is an idiom from my homeland; one who has been hurt when trying to do something becomes fearful of doing it again. Some might say that is perfectly natural. We fear that which pains us, even moreso that which we do not understand. But there need be no fear here. I can see it in your eyes. You love my nephew. As he does you. Give him but a chance to prove it, and you won't be disappointed."
That boy would go to the Seven Hells and back with a smile if you but asked him.
You should talk to him. This kind of discord only serves our enemies."
...I will take your council into consideration."
~An Old Serpent's Advice to a Young Dragon.
Once Bitten, Twice Shy
"Have you taken leave of your senses?!"
Cersei tried not to flinch; she made a good showing of it Tywin thought, but some instincts were ingrained too deep even for her to shake. The moment he threw the severed heads down at her feet, she winced. In many ways, his daughter was a child in a woman's body; one who never truly grew up. He'd oft despaired of her ghastly behavior in the past, but never like this. Never to this extent.
Three heads they were, fresh from the gallows.
The Mad Queen regarded the gaping faces at her shoes with a blank expression. "They were insurrectionists, pandering fools who spoke of the Dragon Queen and rebelled against the crown."
Twyin's cane clicked down. "THEY WERE BOYS! Harmless servants indulging in a bit of gossip. And yet you saw fit to slaughter them, and their family, in full view of the city!
She didn't even seem to hear him. "Everyone who isn't with us is against us, Father."
Gods save him from vicious idiots! He knew well the reason for this latest bought of mania. Jaime had returned to the capital; battered, beaten and worst for wear, but with news. Four dragons. Men burned and torn apart. Their army routed, while Highgarden stood strong. He'd sickened since and hadn't left his bed in days. Qyburn wasn't certain he would survive.
Cersei had become increasingly paranoid hence.
The city was starving, the people frenzied.
And now she did this.
He'd told her, he had TOLD her not to execute the servants, for that was the mark of a foolish and thoughtless ruler. She had disobeyed him, of course. Blast, but why had he ever thought she would listen?! Now he towered over her, leaning heavily upon his cane, yes, but still well within striking distance. He contemplated it for a moment, then thought better of it. No. He mustn't. No matter how gratifying it might feel, striking Cersei-the Queen-would only destabilize their position yet further. Instead, he fixed her with a look colder than all the seven hells combined.
"Leave us."
The guards hesitated, looking amongst themselves in their shiny new armor.
On the contrary, his men, good Lannister men carefully cultivated over the last week, stood ready.
"Leave," he growled the word out at them like ground glass, "or I shall have you all beheaded come sundown."
They needn't be told twice. One broke ranks and the others followed; without the imposing terror of the Mountain at their back, their wills were weak. They scarpered and shut the door behind them with a ponderous boom, leaving them alone with naught but the Iron Throne.
Twyin limped up the steps to meet his daughter.
This time, she didn't flinch. Foolish of her. Most foolish indeed.
The moment he reached her, he struck her across the face with an open palm.
Cersei recoiled, clutching her cheek. "You dare?!"
"Get out."
Her face darkened. "I am the queen! You cannot command-
Tywin's temper sparked and his cane cracked across her face, breaking her nose. "OUT OF MY SIGHT!"
Cersei did not walk; that implied some small smidgen of dignity on her part. She fled.
Tywin watched his spawn go with hate in his heart and shame in his soul.
He sank down into the Iron Throne with a weary sigh and took his head between his hands. This was his legacy. One son bedridden, another a traitor, and his daughter a vicious idiot. Small wonder Joffrey had gotten it from her. At least he had been able to control this one. He'd pay dearly for that outburst just now, he knew it. Such weakness. Such corruption. It made him sick. Maybe Aerys had the right of it after all. Maybe it should all just burn.
And King's Landing would, when the Targaryen girl came to call.
Who knew what she was plotting now?
Fire and Blood, no doubt.
(.0.0.0.)
"May we talk?"
It was a classic standoff.
Naruto stared at Daenerys. She stared right back.
Nobody moved. No one even seemed to breathe. Westeros, nay, the very world itself seemed to hold its breath, balanced on a knife's edge, waiting for one of them to make a move. That last bit was perhaps something of an exaggeration Naruto found, but one that fit the situation all the same. Daenerys watched him and he watched her right back, two dragons wary of one another.
She patted the empty bed with one hand. "Won't you come in?"
He made a face. "That depends."
She frowned. "On?"
"You."
That drew a blink from her, accompanied by a slow tilt of the head. "Have I done something to offend you?"
Not especially, he just couldn't read the look in her eye and he wasn't sure what she was up to. "You're still running laps around the yard."
Dany huffed a little at that, but otherwise didn't refute him. She'd lost their bet fair and square. "I'm not here to talk about that. I wanted to discuss...other things."
She made no move to discard her dress. If she expected him to disrobe before her and put on a show, then she had another thing coming. "And what is it you want, hmm?" he cocked his head. "Besides the Iron throne, of course; because you made yourself look like a proper fool out there for it."
Daenerys bristled, full of righteous indignation...then deflated. "Was I truly that bad?"
"You were acting like a brat," he chided her. "The both of you were. I wanted to smack you upside the head." a rueful smile tugged at the corer of his mouth. "I nearly did."
She regarded him with a quizzical expression. "Did you? I couldn't tell.
"I'm good at hiding my anger behind a smile when I want to. And you? What do you want to do?" A pregnant pause followed and he seized it like the madman he was, heedless to any danger; for if nothing was ventured, nothing could be gained. "Not just right here, right now, but once the war is won? How do you intend to rule? Because I tell you right now, if you go around trying to bully people like you did Jon Snow, its not going to end well for you."
He could already see her digging her heels in, preparing for what she no doubt thought to be a fight. "We have enemies. You can't expect me to be kind to them all."
"Some, yes." he allowed, granting her a nod. "But you nearly made an enemy out of a potential ally today. If I hadn't stepped in, the King of the North might be sailing home right about now...
She stiffened a little at the insinuation but he didn't relent, if only because he knew she respected boldness. Besides, he wanted to get a better feel for the woman who would be his beloved, his queen, and might one day become the mother of his children.
"I would rule fairly, of course-
"Yes," her interjected kindly, "But how? What laws would you pass? What would you enforce? To whom would you listen?"
Daenerys scowled angrily his way. "If this is your idea of bedside-manner, then it leaves much to be desired."
She hadn't refused him outright, good. He met her stare evenly and folded both arms before his chest.
Hesitation was, as they say, defeat.
"Well?"
Daenerys squirmed under his gaze and whined a little, a noise she'd never made in public. "I don't know. There. I said it. Are you happy, now, Aegon?"
Naruto felt a brief flare of irritation spark to life in his chest. He rode it out with the patience of eternity.
"Do you think I enjoy this?" he shook his head. "I'm not doing it to make you uncomfortable."
"Then why?"
"Because you need to be better than me." he planted his feet and refused to approach, not yet. "A proper ruler. You'll have to be more than you were in Meereen. Much more. Westeros will eat you alive if you let it. I can help, but I'm pants when it comes to making laws and big decisions. If you want something smashed or burnt, maybe even annihilated, then I'm your man. But laws? Peace?" Now it was his turn to pull a face. "You'll need to listen to your advisors, trust your own judgement and choose the best path yourself and even then half the folks here will fight you. If you want to make the Realm for all and break the wheel you've been on about, then you'll have to drag them to it, kicking and screaming. For that, you need a plan."
She fell silent for a long moment. "You've put a great deal of thought into this."
"Strategy in battle is my strong suit." And it was. "Courtly etiquette, not so much." He shrugged a shoulder "Its easier if you think of it all as one big battle."
For some reason that drew a small, sad little smile to Dany's pale face. "So your quarrel isn't with me, then?"
"It has not, nor will it ever be with you. I'm loyal." he lifted his chin. "Loyalty always matters."
"Why?"
His brow furrowed. "I'm afraid I don't follow."
"That's just it." her voice piqued for a moment before she managed to master herself. "Why do you follow me? Why do you tolerate me at all? Everyone here owes something to me in some way, shape, or form. But you? You owe me nothing. You could take the Seven Kingdoms by storm if you wanted. Dorne would surely support you, even if you sought to stake your claim alone."
This again? "But I don't want to. I'd rather be with you.
"Which baffles me!" her eyes met his, holding them. "I admit, I enjoy your presence and you are pleasing to the eye." he didn't miss the way her face flushed at that. "You have done much for me all without asking for even the smallest repayment. And for what?" A little hysterical laugh fled from her lips before she could cover it. "There are days I feel that I don't deserve this. I don't deserve to be happy. I don't deserve you." her shoulders hunched as she hugged herself, head bowing in despair. "I fear I will wake one day and find this some passing dream or worse, a nightmare. That I will be alone again and-
Shite. They were doing this now, then.
He crossed the threshold, latched the door behind him, and sat beside her.
"Its not a sin to be happy." Draping an arm around her shoulder, her held her close. "Or to fall in love."
"Love." She nearly scoffed then seemed to think better of it. "Is that what you call it? I no longer know what love is. And did you see the way Jon Snow looked at me? He thinks I'm mad."
Which was part of the reason he hadn't defended her. He'd wanted her to hear how she sounded to others; to those who didn't owe her their lives. "You're not."
"Maybe not now," she argued, "But one day I might be. When I'm older, just like my father and-
"You need to stop that!" He took her by the shoulders and gave her a stern shake. "If you spend your life worrying about what may happen, you'll never know what can happen."
She sniffled a little. "You've been listening to Tyrion. Are you a philosopher now?"
"A bit. He confessed with a shrug. "The Little Lion's not so bad. like him. He has sound advice most of the time...when it doesn't involve his family. And speaking of family," he shifted his grip on her, moving his hands to hers. "Remember what I promised you? I said I would never forsake you and I meant it."
She warble a little. "Even if I go mad?"
"Even then." He tapped a finger to his skull, then poked hers. "Which you won't. If you lose yourself, I'll snap you out of it. The world already has one mad dragon too many. It doesn't need another."
"I really don't deserve you."
"Its not about deserving." he squeezed her hands in his. "We're both...not quite right."
She sighed...but still gripped his fingers tight. "Is that another word for mad?"
"Hey, hey! I prefer beautifully broken."
She looked at him for a long moment. Then she burst into laughter. "Seem he was right about you after all."
Confusion reared its ugly head in his hear once more. "...and who is he, exactly?"
"Oberyn." she smiled a little, happier this time. "I believe he said something along the lines of being once bitten, twice shy. Gods know I've been dancing around this long enough."
Naruto nearly sighed.
Darn sneaky snake of an uncle. You just had to meddle...
"He has a way with many things." he looked away with a grimace. "Words are but one of them."
"Spoken like one with the blood of the Dornish in them."
Had he a hat, he would've tipped it. As things stood, he could only shrug. "My mother would've liked you, I think."
Daenerys frowned, misunderstanding him. "Elia Martell?
Kushina Uzumaki. His lips twitched, though he didn't say the words aloud. She wouldn't understand just yet.
She would have taken to Daenerys like a duck to water; in short she would've been all over her. He could just imagine her response.
"Eeeee! I just knew you'd go for a blond! She's beautiful! Look at her eyes! And that hair! Oh my goodness, you have to tell me EVERYTHING! How did the two of you meet~?!"
He could see her now in his mind's eye; she was more real than anything else in this world-
"Aegon?"
Naruto blinked, drawn from his pleasant thoughts.
A lone tear had rolled down his eye; he scrubbed it with the back of his hand.
"You were staring." he looked back to find Dany's face flushed, eyes half-lidded, her gaze flecked with a hint of concern.
He leaned forward.
"Wait." she touched a hand to his chest. "Before we," she faltered for a moment. "I want children."
Was that all?
"Alright," his head bobbed. "How many?"
"As many as we can have." One couldn't miss the longing in her voice; she clearly wanted to make up for the family she'd never truly had, and he didn't begrudge her that. "Whatever our firstborn may be, boy or girl, they will have equal rights. If our firstborn is a girl, then she shall be Queen of the seven kingdoms and to hell with that the lords and ladies of Westeros think. Rhaenyra for our first girl and Daemon for our first boy." her gaze meet his, blazing with intent. "I won't budge on this."
There was a weight to those names; history had not been kind to either. Even so, he didn't have the heart to say no to her.
...alright."
"Good." tension fled from her face, replaced by a searing heat he recognized all too well. "I don't want to say anything else about about the future right now." Her hand came up to cup his cheek. "I'd rather dwell here, in the present, with you."
Her hands reached down, fingers curling against his.
She leaned up, tilted her head and kissed him.
"Be with me."
Naruto shivered a little despite himself; the pleasant sort of shiver one feels when the object of their desire is finally within arm's reach. He wanted to be with her, too. Ravish her; drag her down and drive all those awful doubts out of her head. But he wouldn't do that unless she wanted him to.
Daenerys kissed him again.
"Be with me," she whispered once more, "As I want to be with you."
Her words were the spark, igniting an inferno. They collided. Their was no other word for it.
His lips sought hers hungrily as she did his, their breaths coming in little gasps as they closed the distance between them. Their hands fumbled for purchase and failed to find it beneath their thick outfits. She made an annoyed noise and pulled him closer, dragging his face down to hers. He had absolutely no idea how to remove her clothes properly -too many layers- so he didn't bother; she had many more outfits like this, losing one wouldn't be remiss. It would be their first time, not being intimate, but being together; they were neither of them virgins; they knew what they wanted, and with whom they wanted it to be.
They'd been dancing around it for days now; no longer.
She tore at his clothes, even as he did the same unto her own. Layer by layer they undressed one another until they finally found what they sought. Her nimble fingers peeled his tunic away while his palms found her bare back and drew down her dress to caress her bottom. She tugged off his trousers with one hand and freed her hair from its braid with the other. Pale tresses tickled his nose and he found himself smiling as she climbed atop him. The gesture bespoke of domination, but he wasn't about to let her have her way, not completely.
Her lips met his again, pressing hard enough to bruise.
He returned her affection tenfold as his palms settled on her flank and squeezed, drawing a pleased noise from the Mother of Dragons as she laid her hands across the scarred plane of his chest. Not content with that, he reached up to caress her breasts, not roughly as a fumbling fledgling might, but gently, light teasing touches that had her gasping Emboldened by his behavior, she planted herself right atop him in his lap, then spread her legs on either side of his hips, all but straddling him. There was a dark hunger in her eyes now, an itch demanding to be scratched, a carnal need tamped down for far, far too long.
Then she began to move.
Oh yes, Daenerys Targaryen knew what she was doing, exactly what she was doing, precisely what she was going. Her bright eyes met his, half-lidded in wild triumph, lips parted in the most wordless of sighs as she ground herself against him. Someone had taught her and taught her well. Each movement of her hips was designed to distract as much delight, every act dragged out to maximize their pleasure. His hands settled against her hips as she rode him, as her body pressed into his
Naruto was a generous lover; he let her have her fun.
Once, twice, thrice now. Three times he allowed Daenerys her way.
Then he surged up, grabbed her and pivoted, rolling her onto the bed with such force that she audibly gasped.
She gazed up at him, somewhat surprised, breasts pushing up against his chest, nipples hard and terribly aroused. This close he could feel her heart hammering against his; feel her every frantic breath on his face as she gazed deeply into his eyes. She tried to say something -he knew what- but the words failed her. That was alright. He could be patient. Lust was one thing, but love took time. Here and now he was content to hold her here, pin her down, stroke her face with one hand until she calmed down. From there, she linked her hands behind his neck and puled him closer...
.
..
...until she locked her legs around his waist, urging him on.
Well, that was all the encouragement he needed now, wasn't it?
"Don't you stop," she gasped up at him. "I'll never forgive you if you stop now."
No more words were needed after that display. Nor, for that matter, were any given.
Naruto dove down to kiss Daenerys anew and together, their world descended into a carnal haze.
(.0.0.0.)
"I wouldn't do that, were I you."
Tyrion paused before the door, fist raised, just shy of knocking.
"Do what?" He looked to the speaker with a bemused sigh. "I have news for our queen."
"That may be," Oberyn regarded him with a smirk from where he leaned against the wall. "But I expect she won't want to hear it."
"And why is that?"
A look of scintillating sardonic amusement flashed across the older man's face. "She is in talks with out dear prince."
"Whatever they're discussing, I'm sure they'll want to hear this. Euron Greyjoy has been sighted on the coast-
A low moan reverberated through the door. It belonged to their queen.
But that would mean...oh. Oh, dear.
Tyrion blanched. "Bugger."
"You should be happy, Lannister." Oberyn planted a hand on hi shoulder and steered him away. "We'll soon have little dragons running about once more, with no lions to chase them, nor mountains to fall upon them." He had a telltale gleam in his eyes now, one that spoke for itself. "Today is a day for celebration, wouldn't you agree?"
...not exactly the words he'd use.
Obery's words sounded like a promise as much as a threat, a warning of the future.
You cannot keep them apart now, he left the words unspoken. It is much too late for that.
Tyrion grimaced at the implicit reminder, yet let himself be steered away nevertheless. "...lovely."
"Now, then!" Oberyn drawled as they traipsed away, "Tell me of this wayward Kraken you saw. I'm sure we can prepare a surprise for him...
A/N: Aaaand scene.
A little Targaryen may be well on the way...
Well? Should this remain a story? If so I'll endeavor to update it weekly with the rest. If not...well, I tried.
As ever, the Embers rule remains. If people don't like this story? If they don't enjoy it? Well...I'll not continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with two jobs; basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore. My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.
By all means, speak up! Make yourselves heard!
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the Previews!
Well, potential ones.
As ever:
SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
Read at your own risk!
As ever, these are from the far flung future...or are they~?!
They're most the same, don't want to spoil things...
(Previews!) AKA Season Seven...
"How was it?"
Oberyn's smile was decidedly sly.
Naruto elbowed him in the ribs. "I didn't need your help...but thanks."
"What in blazes does Euron Greyjoy want...?"
"Again." Aegon traced her thigh with the padded sword.
Daenerys drew in an aggravated breath. "You did that deliberately.
He winked. "Did I?"
She tried to thump him with her own practice weapon, only for him to nimbly sidestep her once more.
"So close!'
You're stubborn, I'll give you that.
I prefer persistent. He laughed at that, not at her, but for her.
Oberyn chuckled. "You see how she pursues him? Our queen is smitten.
Jon Snow wasn't the only one new arrival.
A dothraki stepped aside. "This man claims his your friend, Khaleesi.
He is indeed. This is Jorah Mormont. My dearest and oldest friend....welcome home, Ser Jorah."
We will not take Casterly Rock with the unsulied.
A pall fell over the room. Tyrion waited for the other boot to drop. Eventually, it did.
Surely you do not mean to burn it?!
No, it will fall.
It has no value. The matter is not up for discussion. I have heard your counsel and-
The doors bust open.
Make peace? With Cersei? You're joking." he looked to Tyrion. "Tell me he's joking.
...I'm afraid not."
Aegon rose from his chair. Jon stood his ground.
In hindsight, that last decision might've been a mistake.
"I would sooner," he touched one hand to the side of his scarred face, "Gouge out my other eye and hand it to you on a silver platter than make ANY sort of peace with Tywin Lannister and his bitch of a daughter. The only reason I don't count Jamie Lannister among that number is because he frankly did the world a FAVOR when he killed Aerys all those years ago. No. I'll kill every other Lannsiter I cna get my hands on, present company excluded of course." He granted a quick nod to Tyrion.
"Your war won't matter when the dead march south!"
"And how are they going to come South, hmm? Last I looked, there's a Wall in the way. We have time. If your "Night King" can raise the dead, the last thing we want to do is dangle a dragon in front of him. No, we need to be smart about this. You want a wight, send me over the bloody wall. I'll grab the first one I find, and come back!" he thumped a fist against the table. "No faffing about, no grand heroics, none of this stupid horse piss."
"You love her." it was not a question, though the words were pained.
Naruto lifted his chin and stared him down. "I do."
Jorah stared back. "And you will be true to her?"
"Of course I will."
"See that you are. If you are not, your neck will meet my blade.
"Its too late now. Don't you see? Look at them. She loves him. And he loves her. We can't tell them."
"Tell who what?"
Sam nearly jumped out of his skin.
Arya quirked a brow. "You can fight?"
"When I must."
She drew Needle. "Show me."
"You have spirit." he patted Sansa's head then laughed when she scowled and squirmed away. "I like that. Really, I do. But if I catch you trying to undermine my wife again...we'll be having words."
"You're content to be her mad dog, then?"
Dragon, actually." he tapped his eyepatch. "I never said anything about being sane...
EDIT: Hope this chapter put a smile on your face! Have a great day~!
Looking forward to chatting with you later!
Sincerely,
~Nz.