RISKS
Dany sat at the kitchen table… a goblet of water between her hands as she stared into her reflection off of its surface. She breathed a shaky breath. All of her children were already at their lessons and today was parents day in which they had high hopes that she would attend.
Tai entered the dining room and saw his wife sitting nervously at the table. She was almost shaking. He walked over to her and knelt down so he was at height level. He gently smiled and grabbed her hands to stop them from shaking.
"Are you okay?" he asked her in a sweet tone.
Dany's chin quivered and she nervously nodded.
"It'll be alright. You're doing the right thing by coming."
Dany was quiet… thinking about that statement. Was it the right thing? It was risking being exposed after her hard work to conceal herself so that her family would be safe. It seemed whatever she did they weren't safe either way… because now they were being treated badly at school and she needed to put an end to it.
Dany gulped and straightened up trying to get herself together. This was real… she would be leaving the house for the first time in a decade. She knew she had no right to, but she asked the God's for help as she slowly stood up to get ready to leave.
TRUST
Today was parents' day. Lyanna, Ed and Jai waited inside of the classroom with the other children at school. Most of their friend's and the other pupils' parents were already there and with every passing minute, the trio became more and more anxious as they waited, looking around for their mother and father.
It was a formal day. The children and adults were dressed in their best and the rest of the adults looked on at the beautiful looking siblings looking around to see who they belonged to… no one was there.
Lyanna fiddled with her fingers nervously… her mother had announced that she would be coming and yet, she still was not here. Had she broken her promise?
"Ahem." Septa stood in front of her, her hand clutching the same wooden ruler she had used to strike her with the other day tightly. Lyanna shuddered looking at it.
"Where is your mother? Didn't you promise me you would ask her?" Septa said.
Lya couldn't bear to look up at her… she clutched her hands together nervously as she could sense the other girls snickering out of the corner of her eye.
"So this is the child who savagely attacked my daughter." A woman with the same blonde hair and blue eyes as Elisia had said.
It was her mother. A middle class commoner who was considered well off and more wealthy than average. She glared daggers at little Lyanna, eying her up and down.
"Is her mother here, I'd like to… have words with her…" the woman said sternly, her hands on her hips.
Septa narrowed her eyes and shook her head with anger.
"No. The woman hasn't bothered to show up, as always…"
Elisia's mother rolled her eyes. She reached out to roughly grab Lyanna's chin. Lya flinched and whimpered in fear and pain.
"Umf" she quietly squeaked.
"What are you doing?" asked Ed who now had his hands in fists, ready to fight anyone who dared touch his sister, even if it was an adult.
"Strange…" the woman said, looking deeply into Lya's terrified violet eyes. "What a peculiar colour… Septa… you don't think this child could be a witch do you?"
The woman still clutched Lyanna's jaw tightly as she turned back to look at the Septa who raised her eyebrows thinking it could be possible. Lyanna felt hopeless as if she couldn't do anything against adults… she welled up with tears and brought her hand up to grasp the woman's wrist, making her turn back. She looked down at her with a slight look of jealousy.
"And the village thinks it's beautiful… hmf. How does one come to inherit such a unique set of eyes without the work of witchcraft? The same for this one here." Elisia's mother said, now turning her direction to Jai who had smokey coloured hair that was silver but darker at the roots and the same eyes as Lyanna's. He innocently pouted and looked down at the floor having been used to people pointing out his unnatural features.
Ed gritted his teeth, glaring at the woman. He was fuming for his siblings. He was the only one who appeared seemingly "normal" looking, though he was very handsome. He had dark hair and grey eyes, like his father's.
In the corner, Elisia was snickering and giggling along with the other girls. Lyanna wanted to burst out in tears. Just as Ed felt the need to step in and stop the awful women…
"What are you doing?" a warm voice spoke.
"Mama, Papa! You came!" said Jai as he ran over to his parents and reached up to be held by his father who welcomingly picked him up yet looked at the strange woman who was holding his daughter's face with grave concern. He looked at Dany who looked as if she were containing a heated rage but still came across as calm and classy.
Both Septa and Elisia's mother looked at the exotic looking silver lady almost in shock. Their jaws were slightly opened as they came to meet Lyanna's mother who wore a long black cloak making her silver locks and violet eyes stand out.
Dany walked up to them and as she approached, Elisia's mother immediately took her hand away allowing Lya to run away from her in tears. There was a red mark left on her chin and Dany, once again, was mad that someone had hurt her child. Lyanna reached her arms out for Dany and Dany picked her up and held her protectively to her chest, stroking her dark waves of hair.
"Are you alright my love?" Dany asked her whimpering daughter while glaring at the Septa and Elisia's mother, still waiting for an answer from them as to what they were just doing and more importantly why.
They were both speechless… there was a long and awkward silence. Ed walked over to his parents and stood at Dany's side as he scowled at the bad women. Dany smiled at him and ran her fingers through his hair while still holding Lya.
"You must be Lyanna, Ed and Jai's mother… Apologies for what had just happened… you see, your daughter had struck another child and-" Septa began but was interrupted by Dany.
"From now on if any of my children have done something wrong I would wish for you to inform my husband and I and we will ensure that they are punished accordingly if we think it right... I don't want to see my daughter or any of my children return home again with bruised knuckles caused by you or anyone else." Dany said calmly yet sternly.
Septa was left speechless. She gulped feeling nervous. She had never expected Lyanna's mother to be a well spoken and an intelligent woman…
"Your daughter struck my daughter! She made her nose bleed! What do you mean to do about it!?" Elisia's mother angrily asked.
Dany looked at her showing genuine concern and then leaned her head back to look at her daughter who was nuzzling into her shoulder. She spoke high valyrian, asking what had happened. Lyanna explained to her the truth of the situation. Septa and Elisia's mother looked on again in shock and annoyance as the two spoke in a language they did not understand.
Dany had taught all of her children to speak high valyrian since they were old enough to speak the common tongue. Once finished, Lya went back to burying her face in her mother's shoulder after she had explained the truth of the incident.
"My son tripped your daughter after she shoved Lyanna to the ground. My son was only protecting his sister and my daughter lied because she was protecting her brother out of gratitude and she did not want him to get hurt."
Septa looked on in question, grasping her hands together. She had to admit that she now felt backed up against a wall while Elisia's mother did nothing but scoff.
"Nonsense. My daughter would never. She is a good girl… Elisia, is it true?"
The small girl who had been listening and watching the entire time nervously gulped as she shyly looked back and forth from Dany to her mother. Dany eased up her eyes as she looked at the girl making Elisia gulp and shyly blush. She quietly stood up and dropped her head down.
"It's true… I'm very sorry Septa… I'm very sorry Mother…" Elisia said. She sadly looked up at Lyanna. "I'm very sorry Lya…"
Lyanna turned her head to look at her wondering what had gotten into her. Elisia never apologises…
"That's okay." she gently said with a small smile.
Dany smiled at Elisia and then at her mother and the Septa.
"Your turn." Dany said to her son.
Ed looked up at her as if to ask why he should apologise. Dany only needed to give him a stern look in order for him to obey her. He subtly sighed and rolled his eyes.
"I'm sorry too…" he said while crossing his arms. Elisia blushed turning pink in the face. She fluttered her lashes at Ed whom all the girls had a crush on.
Dany ran her fingers through his hair again and then put an arm around his shoulder.
"Well then… that's that I guess. I don't mind leaving this all behind us if you agree to my previous conditions of informing my husband and I if our children misbehave rather than you going ahead and punishing them with violence." Dany kindly suggested. "Can you promise me that it won't happen again?"
Septa and Elisia's mother looked at each other and then looked back at Dany, a little speechless and taken aback.
"Erm of course… I never usually strike the children. I can assure you that it won't happen again."
Dany smiled and Lyanna smiled too hearing it. She hugged her mother tightly, appreciating everything.
"My children tell me that you have been wanting to meet me Septa… I apologise for my absence but I have my reasons." Dany politely said.
No matter how hard she tried she could never quite get the commoner accent right. She spoke like a high born person and it wasn't ideal considering she was trying to pose as a commoner, it just came naturally. Septa was still a little stunned and in shock, she almost forgot to answer.
"Erm… yes. I have been wanting to meet you… Your children are very bright and now it is clear why…" Septa said, eying her up and down but more so in an admirable way.
Dany raised her eyebrows and smiled, happy to hear that. She knew that the Septa wouldn't be harming or targeting her children any longer. She was relieved more than anything. Her children meant the world to her and she would protect them at all and any costs.
NORTH OF THE WALL
Jon Snow sat in a hutt holding the piece of parchment between his thumb and finger. He was reading the words over and over again… he sighed.
Ten years… It had been ten years since he was first exiled… Now they wanted him to return to Westeros. Jon breathed heavily thinking it over.
Jon was an important part of the wildling community that Tormund was chief of. He was essentially second to Tormund. He helped to make decisions and to keep everyone safe as a high ranked officer.
Life was not exactly good but not exactly bad either… it was just… neutral. Jon was waiting for his time to come, for his life to end. There was nothing that he lived for. No honour, no legacy, no family… he felt… as if he weren't living at all but rather going on day by day and doing the same job he had been doing since the start of his exile.
Jon was still handsome, fit and now more a man than ever. He kept his hair trimmed back short making him appear younger. Many women had tried to bed him and each time he had rejected them one by one.
Even though it had been close to a decade… he still thought about her every day… Daenerys Targaryen… who died by his blade… it didn't feel right… it had never felt right… but it was for his family. She would've burned Winterfell and killed the Starks if they hadn't bent the knee, which Sansa would have never done.
Jon was serving his sentence beyond the wall with the wildlings… now this letter meant he was being granted an exception. He didn't know if he wanted to return South… This was his punishment for his crimes and it wouldn't be right to return. He sighed, scratching the back of his neck.
Bran needed him to return. Jon wondered what for. His brother was summoning him to the Keep… after all these years… it must be for something important… he just hoped that no one had died…
"Snow… what are you doin' in here?" Tormund asked as he entered the hutt.
Jon looked up at his ginger friend with a look that Tormund knew all too well. A look of concern, guilt and pondering all mixed in one. He stretched out his arm to give him the piece of parchment.
"It's from Bran… he wants me to return to Westeros…" said Jon who still felt unsure about it.
Tormund finished reading and then looked at Jon who looked into space absently… thinking about it all.
"You should go back Snow." Tormund said without a stutter.
Jon turned his head at his words. He looked at Tormund, having not expected to hear that.
"You want me to leave?" he said.
"I want you to find some happiness. I know that ever since you were exiled you have been miserable. What kind of friend would I be if I made you stay…" Tormund said.
Jon sighed. He owed Tormund a great deal and they were like brothers. He closed his eyes and rubbed his palms against his face stressfully.
"Go on Snow. I know you want to see your family again and now is your chance. The wall will always be here and there will always be a spot for you North of it if ever you wish to return."
Jon could honestly feel tears welling in his eyes. He missed his family so much. He had wanted to see them for the longest time. To see how everyone was, to watch over them and make sure that they were alright. He was lonely here by himself… he would be lying if he said otherwise.
"I'll think about it…" was all Jon said… and that was indeed what he did for the next couple of days.
NIGHT THOUGHTS
It was a similar night to most of her nights… sitting on the clifftop and staring out across the ocean. Dany hugged at her knees thinking about her deep and concealed past. She mostly thought about Jon Snow… the father of her two oldest…
She buried her head in her knees as she tried to push the thought of him aside. She didn't know what became of him… apparently he was exiled for murdering her… she felt pain in her chest… right where he had fatally stabbed her.
Dany began to cry as she remembered the moment… it brought back horrific feelings and emotions. The feeling of having been betrayed… a feeling she knew all too well…
She looked up and glared across the sea towards Drogon who was always there… flying every night… She had impulses and frustrations being heavily built up that she had to breathe through in order to control. Her crave for power was always strong and sometimes she didn't feel at peace with herself and where she was… she needed to rule… she needed to fulfil her destiny…
She hated Jon Snow and the Starks… her love for her children and the life that she had here was all that was keeping her from letting go and burning all of her enemies once again…
Dany snapped out of it. She gasped heavily, breathing hard and quietly panicking as she realised that she had been in another one of her terrifying trances that filled her mind with horrible thoughts and temptations.
"No… no… please…" Dany quietly whispered through sobs putting her hands up to the sides of her head.
Her inner Targaryen was being unleashed at these moments and she felt she had no control. She breathed trying to contain herself. She feared she was going insane… just as her father did… just as many previous Targaryen's did…
'I will never use my dragon to take the lives of innocents ever again. It isn't who I am. It isn't what I stand for. My family is my world now and I must protect them.'
Dany thought.
'Jon Snow was right to murder me. The Starks were right not to trust me. I was going mad… I burned a city… I slaughtered children…'
"I'm so sorry… I'm so so sorry…" Dany said while crying as images of charred and burned bodies of innocents filled her mind.
'I'm okay now… You're okay now… You're okay… You're okay… It won't ever happen again.'
Dany promised herself while tears uncontrollably slid down her cheeks.
'You'll never hurt anyone again. The dragon won't ever take over, you won't allow it. You must protect your family and control it. I love you Lyanna, I love you Eddard, I love you Jai… your mother will always be here for you.'
In the distant corner, behind a tree... Lyanna was listening and watching her mother closely.