(Disclaimer: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire nor its characters. Those all belong to George R. R. Martin, aside from my OC.)

(Firmridge, the Riverlands)

Two boys peeked through the corner of a corridor as they awaited their target.

Unaware of the presence looming behind them while they conscriptly smirked at each other.

"What do you two think you're doing?" An imperious voice sounded.

"Hitting Rhaenys with this pie…" One of the boys answered before pausing.

Both boys slowly turned around to see a young girl standing behind them, unimpressed by their little prank. The blue-eyed boy immediately tried to hide the pie behind his back.

A little too late, considering she had already seen it.

The pale, violet-eyed valyrian girl could be none other than Daenerys Targaryen, one of the three royal wards of Firmridge.

A willful girl who cared little for those her age and preferred spending time in the King's office, watching him work.

"How is throwing a pie at her supposed to lighten her up to you." She deadpanned, earning an embarrassed look from both of them.

"It was Jon's idea." the young stag showed no hesitation and betrayed his former comrade in arms, who sent him an annoyed glare in response.

"A likely tale."

"Why cousin, how could such a dashing young man like me plan something so foul."

Jon stared at his friend with an incredulous look, giving Daenerys all she needed to know who came up with this stupid idea.

Then again, she doubted the stark had the balls to hit the future queen with pie, especially when he was already on her bad side for befriending Edmund.

Rhaenys could be so possessive sometimes.

Naturally, she conveniently ignored her behavior regarding the Mudd King.

The only reason she allowed the little shit to call her cousin was due to her King's request. He wanted both Starks and Baratheons as dependable allies to Edmund, thus she had to play along with this charade.

"So cousin, what do you want to do?"

"Read, preferably away from you mutts."

"Your words don't hurt me foul beast."

"It's Dragoness you imbecile."

The stag heir gave her a surprised glance, having expected her to become enraged at his words.

All she did was look at him in annoyance before ignoring him once more.

"She seems nice..ish." He whispered to his friend.

"I thought she would be worse." was Jon's response.

Said girl could hear them clearly but chose to ignore them.

"So, are you going to tell Rhaenys?" Steffon asked.

"I don't care what you idiots do, as long as you don't involve me."

This had the young Durrandon look relieved, he knew it was hardly going to make the tense situation between them and Rhaenys better, but by the seven did he want to wipe that stupid smirk off the Dornish princess's face?

Seven's damn it, how were he and Jon supposed to form a proper team with Edmund if she kept getting in the way.

Jon stopped in his tracks as if coming to a sudden realisation.

"You know… we could just swear to keep the other noble girls and ladies from Edmund," Jon suggested.

"Why would we do that?"

"We'd have a justified reason to let us hang out with Ed."

"Huh, that's a good idea." Steffon thought about it.

It could work, the girl was bound to care more about keeping the hags and girls away from her betrothed.

Also, Edmund would appreciate it. Mother save him, he got propositioned by a lady nearly twice as old as his father and he wouldn't wish that on anyone, maybe on Renly, that one needed to get his hair out of the clouds.

A shudder went through his spine at that particular horrid memory.

"Listen to the mutt, hoof for brains, his idea might help you."

Steffon gave the princess a surprised look, who rolled her eyes at him.

"You don't like us."

"Obviously."

"But you're willing to help us."

"The more time you spend with Edmund, the less time I have to make sure you idiots aren't doing anything stupid."

"But Edmund is just as bad as us." Jon protested. They had both been pranked by the little prince and it had only been a few days since the tourney started.

Naturally, both he and Steffon had teamed up to get back at him. Unfortunately, Rhaenys stood guard over the crown prince and allowed little chance for either of them to avenge their loss.

There was also the fact that they genuinely wanted to befriend their comrade in arms, but vengeance came first.

"I can't be bothered to care, you're all the same," Daenerys looked apathetic to his protest.

Steffon could sense some disgust in her eyes every time she looked at either of them.

Like she ate a particularly sour grape.

He suspected it was because of the original rebellion, but the princess never showed any signs that she cared about her mad father or foolhardy brother.

It was honestly unnerving.

"The King doesn't seem to mind."

"You should be glad he's so merciful." There was an odd tilt to her tone.

He had a vague idea of what she was thinking of, or rather who she thinking about.

It was an open secret within the fortress that Daenerys despite being so young was besotted with the Conqueror.

The only reason he was even aware of this little information was due to overhearing two maids giggle with each other over this information.

When he asked Edmund about it, the prince didn't seem to care.

The royal family had long gotten used to these oddities in the young dragoness.

She had been far too serious and intense since a young age, and it clearly showed.

Jon for his part was unnerved by her presence and did his best to use him as a shield against her.

Gee, it was like she would suddenly turn into a dragon and burn them both.

"I suppose I should congratulate you for your Uncle's victory in the Archery contest," Daenerys said.

Not certain whether she meant it or not, he went with the safe answer. "Ah yeah… thanks I guess."

"Ser Balon promised to teach me Archery." Jon voiced.

"Really?"

Jon seemed proud of it. "Yeah, he said I was a natural at it."

Good for him, Steffon wasn't all that good in archery, according to his Uncle, a blind goose could shoot better than him.

Tsk, what does he know, a good hammer could bring down an archer any time of the day.

The three youngsters turned as they heard incoming footsteps, it was Rhaenys and Edmund who stared at them in surprise.

Getting an encouraging look from Jon, and a bored one from Daenerys, he casually chucked the pie behind him and proceeded to walk to royal heirs with a confident look.

'This will work… maybe'

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