A/N: WARNING! Intense chapter. There we go, that's the disclaimer done.

Just a note, Slifer is helping with Blood Upon the Snow. We're making progress~!

We should have that ready by the 17th. Additionally, Love Bites should be updated tomorrowish.

Speaking of impending updates, this chapter...just might be my magnum opus, because its RAW. A LOT went into this making this, more than I can ever hope to describe. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to surpass it. Really gave it one hundred and ten percent despite my head problems and now I'm feeling drained.

That said, Depression's starting to hit real hard these days.

Sometimes I wonder why I do anything at all. Bloody annoying, it is.

At this point, even 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. But when I go to the docs and try to talk to someone, they say oh no, you're fine, you're just tired. HA!

*siiiigh*

Don't mind the rambling of this geezer...I've been at this for fifteen years and I'm still here, still trying to beat this thing. Writing helps...sometimes.

So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Fan feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.

Once more, I own no quotes, references, or memes. Not a wit or a one. NOT! A! THING!

They're all tributes to legends far greater than little 'ol me. Now then...

Brace yourself. This IS Game of Thrones, after all...

We all know the title card reference.

Time to finally let our boy loose~!

"...I don't know what to do."

Neither do I."

~?

They Know Nothing

The Cannibal slept.

His was a restless slumber, but rest the old wyrm did, having chosen a sandy shoal to recuperate from his injuries. He had retreated to the southern side of Dragonstone to gnaw on old whalebones and lick at his wounds -alongside a damaged ego besides- all the better to recover tonight and prepare for his next great fight; for that final confrontation he so furiously craved.

For you see, the Golden One had surprised him.

It was not purely prey as it had assumed, but dangerous as well. It had fought back, rebuffed him, hurt him, even. Mere prey could not do such; indeed it could no longer remember anyone who had. No dragon ever had and he was not a Dragon. Nor was he prey. He had become a Rival. An enemy to face and respect, but also one to be wary of. They would face one another again, and when they did the world would tremble! Only then would it have its desire meal, only then would it finally find a feast that would satisfy it once and for all.

Something landed atop his back, squarely between his shoulders.

An eerie-yet-familiar voice filled his ears. "Hiiiii~!"

The night fell silent. And then:

Cannibal went wild.

Absolutely berserk, as he hadn't been in centuries. Screaming and snapping and snarling, thrashing for his very life, he utilized every inch of his body. Great muscles heaved to throw the impudent human off, only for him to cling to his back like a leech. Impudent mortal! How dare he?! A mighty gravelly hiss rumbled from his ancient jaws as he beat his wings, determined to shake him off, to no avail.

"Calm down! I just wanna talk!"

Talk?! There would be no talking! Only fire and blood! Ash and death!

"Hey, stop that!" he felt strong hands cling to the sharpened spines of his shoulders, heard the startled realization his voice. "No! Bad dragon! Don't you dare!"

Oh, yes! He dared!

The man's voice piqued into a startled yelp as the Cannbal reared back into the air and rocketed into the clouds with him still on his back. Each beat of his wings was a hurricane, slower perhaps than a smaller dragon, yet through sheer size he covered impossible distance that no ordinary dragon could.

In a matter of moments, Dragonstone was left far behind.

Yet still the fool clung on!

Cannibal kept flying.

Further and further now, twisting and turning in the air, trying to shake them off until they reached the mainland. They passed fields below and a great city, alive even at night. He soared over them all, higher and higher, the sheer storm from his wings battering down the unwary.

Little humans scurried about below, pointing and screaming at his majesty. He screamed at them and they fled into their houses.

A spindly bearded man watched from one of the tallest towers as he climbed higher still, haggard face pale in the full moonlight. He gestured wildly and shouted orders to armored men, trying to rally them in the face of his arrival...for all the good it did them. Arrows skittered off his black hide, bolts went wide, and still the man shouted on. His voice irked Cannibal. He barked a plume of green flame their way, forcing those noisy fools to duck back for cover or burn alive in their armor. Many of them fell from the oh-so-high-tower, shrieking to strike the cobblestones below, leaving a red ruin behind.

The Cannibal could smell his kin now, the unfamiliar stench of the Dragonpit. Hunger stirred in him, yet it was eclipsed by panic.

Because the Man wasn't letting go. And his strength was beginning to falter.

And so he wheeled away from the Capital.

"I'm not letting go!" The damnable oaf snarled at him. "You'll give out before I do!"

The Golden One was right. He flew and flew and flew until he could fly no more, until his wounds ached and his wings started to fail him. He circled back to Dragonstone, each beat of his wingspan growing heavier. He saw his lair in the distance, far at first, then growing close, closer, closest...!

He heard the Golden One swear atop his back. "Ah, shi-

Then he dove.

His am had been to shake the Golden One off with the force of his landing. In that, he somewhat succeeded. The sheer force of his impact rattled them both and tore a deep furrow in the earth and rattled their skulls. He heard his would-be rider groan atop his back and almost dared to hope.

It wasn't enough.

He failed; he knew it the moment a boot stamped down on his neck, smashing him to the ground. Something vaulted off his back. Cannibal whirled and flamed him with his breath in midair, bathing the boy in sheets of seething green napalm...

.

..

...why was he looking at scorched stone?

"Nope." A voice cried out to left, well away from the blaze. "Not getting hit by that again. Now just calm down! I wanna talk!"

Strong jaws snapped at him.

"Hey, hey!" he caught his snout, stopping him short. "Cut that out! I know you can understand me!" baleful red eyes glared up at him. "A wild dragon like you doesn't live this long without learning human speech! Can you talk? You seem smart enough for it!"

A low rumble was his reward. No. He would not speak the language of man, though he knew it. He was old beyond counting, never had he been broken, never would he be mastered. He was not the greatest of Dragons, but he was He Who Remained. Never would he yield, never would he submit, never would he-URK?!

In an instant he found himself face to face with the giant golden fox again.

Massive golden claws closed around his snout, holding his jaws shut.

"Not the answer I'm lookin' for."

What in blazes was he?!

"You're angry with me; I get it, but you know what they say, third time's the charm." he tried to thrash free, but the fox wasn't holding back this time and held him fast. "We've fought twice now. The third time'll be the last. Then you won't get to choose." he leaned closer, reflection gleaming in a giant iris. "You WILL be my friend...or I'll put you down. I'll regret it, and probably myself for it, but I can't have you attacking my precious people like that again. Think reeeaaal carefully about this.

Without warning, the pressure on his snout abruptly eased.

Cannibal thrashed upright, wings flaring. No use.

The Golden One was gone.

(.0.0.0.)

Naruto walked up the castle wall, found the window slit, and slipped inside.

With all the unnatural grace of a peerless shinobi, he crept down the halls to his-their!-room, guiding himself by moonlight and memory. No one saw him. No one heard him. No one challenged him. Really, after that wild fight and flight he had, it was almost anticlimactic.

His hand found the door handle and just like that, he was in.

The room itself wasn't a terribly large one, but it served his needs; it was cozy enough, and if one listened, you could hear the sounds of the sea from the window. He'd been asked by Viserys to share it with Rhaenyra and reluctantly accepted when it became clear the latter wouldn't take no for an answer. It spoke well of the King and Queen that they trusted him that much, but there were-thankfully-two beds on either side of the room and she was sound asleep in her cot as he closed the door behind him. He could see her pale hair from here, her face serene in sleep.

For some reason he found himself stricken by the urge to check in on her.

He stomped it down. She was fine...probably. Wouldn't do to wake her up now, would it.

Besides, she'd ask why he smelled like dragon again and that was a story he reeeaaally didn't wanna tell right now.

Yeah, sure. That was a good excuse, right?

Kurama heaved a hearty sigh. "Dolt. How long will you refuse to see?"

"How am I the dolt?!"

Verbal jabs aside, was rather pleased with his little excursion all in all. He'd made contact with the Cannibal -really needed to find another name for the old boy- and offered him an olive branch. Time would tell if the surly old wyrm listened to him. He hoped he would. It seemed a shame to hurt such a gorgeous beast. After all, he saw no reason they couldn't be friends.

"Naruto, that thing tried to eat you. Twice!"

'Meh,' he shrugged one shoulder as he kicked off his boots and tugged off his shirt. 'Some of my best friends have tried to kill me...

The blankets were blessedly soft; warm too, just as he remembered. He slid between them, tugging the covers over his chin with a sigh. Exhaustion was all too happy to claim him after that little misadventure and he gave himself to it gladly. He'd be sore come morning, he knew, but it was well worth it. Blue eyes drifted shut.

And then his sixth sense screamed.

Instinct took over.

"...?"

He reached for the knife under his pillow and sat up. When no attack was immediately forthcoming, his brow furrowed in confusion. There was no one nearby. Everyone was sound asleep in their beds, or nearly. Not a soul to be seen or heard. And yet he still sensed it, a bolt of negativity, a surge of panic coming from-

Rhaenyra bolted upright in her bed with a shrill startled shriek, eyes wide, chest heaving. "No!"

He quickly stowed the knife released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

Ohhh. She'd just been having a nightmare.

Must've been quite the dream at that; because Rhaenyra took one look at him and threw back her blankets, all but bolting to his side. She launched herself at him. Instinct won the day once again, leaving him to catch her shoulders with both arms as her head crashed against his chest. There was no time to think or protest, only to hold her.

"They died, they died, they all died!" she babbled at him, half-mad with fear. "I saw everything burning, dragons falling from the sky...!"

"No one's dead." he drawled patiently, idly massaging the small of her back. "You just had a bad dream. Breathe...

She didn't seem to hear him; she was too busy clinging to him for dear life, burying her head in his torso.

"They're dead, they're all dead, oh gods, I saw them die! Mother, father, all of them! I was eaten by a golden dragon!"

"Hey!" He gave her a quick shake, hating himself for the pained noise she made. "Rhaenyra! Look at me." his voice dropped an octave, commanding her attention. "There we go. Look at me. Only me. Nothing else. Do you see me? "She dared a quick tremulous nod and he leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers. "You. Are. Alive. Nobody killed anyone. We're here on Dragonstone with your family. Remember? You're safe."

She blinked once and slowly came back to herself, the glazed look of panic peeling back. "I...yes, yes of course, I remember...

"Good." he leaned back to smile at her. "Just...keep...breathing...?"

Mistakes were made.

Because he saw.

Rhaenyra stared up at him, sobbing softly-all but sat in his lap-legs sprawled out beneath her, tangled up in his. She seemed a pale ghost in the moonlight. Her eyes eyes wide and red, her cheeks wet with tears, chest heaving as she struggled to bring her breathing under control. Belatedly he realized she was only wearing a white shift and nothing else. He could see the barest outline of her breasts. She wasn't a girl anymore. He was looking at a young woman. The realization startled him.

Something flashed in her eyes.

Maybe it was the panic, maybe it was the nightmare.

Whatever it was, it had her leaning forward, tilting her head, and bridging the gap between them.

Her lips were softer than winter's first blush, then thrice as sweet. It was everything he'd ever wanted in a kiss. He didn't know what to do, what to say, how to respond. She'd done what he hadn't dared to do and now the world had change because he saw, because he understood, because he REALIZED-

He absolutely panicked.

His body jerked back from hers, leaped out of bed, and made for the door on the far side of the room.

"Naruto?" Her voice rose in a plaintive whine. "What're you doing? Where are you going?"

He covered his eyes with one hand. "I...I think I need some air."

"Please, don't go. I don't want to be alone."

Nine little words rooted him where he stood, left him gripping the door handle with such force that he physically felt the iron buckle under his grasp.

"Please." It sounded like she would shatter if he did. "Stay."

His already tenuous self control began to fray at the seams, bit by bit.

He waved a hand to her, words garbled. "Just...bed. Back in your bed, please.

"Why?"

'Because I can't control myself right now!'

He absolutely didn't trust his restraint with her looking like that. Not after what she'd just done.

He had thought he'd done a good job dancing around the subject, but seein her here and now, so exposed, so vulnerable, so very...no, no, no. He mustn't. It would be a betrayal of everything he stood for. You didn't just go and take a man's daughter after he'd invited you into his home. It just wasn't done.

"Unless he allows such." Kurama was ever the devil on his shoulder. "The king's been hinting at this for awhile now."

"Has he?! I thought he was being nice!"

"You blind bloody fool. You don't see. Or are you simply afraid to see?"

"Oi! I ain't afraid!"

"Then why are you cowering before a girl in a white shift?"

He wasn't sure what he wanted.

After all, he'd never felt this way about anyone before.

For so long now he'd enjoyed Rhaenyra's company. But this...he was out of his depth, here.

Rhaenyra must've seen the indecision in his face; or maybe just the tension in his shoulders, because she finally left his bed. Bare feet padded across the floor. She didn't touch him. Didn't say a word. Didn't do anything until he turned around and faced her of his own volition. She waited patiently as he took his hand away from the door. Lowered his palm from his eyes.

Then she stood on the very tips of her toes, leaned up, and kissed him.

...it felt even better the second time. She was bolder about it this time and not quite as panicked, daring to move her mouth across his for a moment before pulling away.

His hands twitched at his sides. "You don't want this."

"I disagree. And so do you...don't you?"

He might. Now that he thought on it further, now that he considered the possibility anew, he realized it; by the sage he'd never wanted something -someone!- so badly before. That nightmare had shaken something loose in her tonight; he could see the anxiety in her gaze, the need to be comforted, the desire to be held.

Truth be told, he wanted to comfort her too, he just didn't know how.

She reached up to cup his face in her hand and gently steer his face back to hers. Mercifully, she didn't kiss him again. He'd lose all semblance of control if her lips found his a third time.

But they didn't. She just...held onto him.

His hands settled around her waist in return. "I don't know what to do."

"Nor do I." The words burst out of her in anxious little laugh, caught somewhere between a sigh and a sob as she nuzzled his chest. "I'm as new to this as you are."

His eyes widened." So you're a-

Her head whipped up to glare at him. "Finish that sentence and I shall be very cross with you."

It was such a Rhaenyra thing to say; it made him laugh as well. And with the laughter, the tension shattered.

Was this love? He didn't know. It was too soon to know. But he was willing to find out. After all, he'd never know if he didn't try.

"That's the way!"

"Hush up in there, you!"

"I'm cold." Rhaenyra shivered in his arms, clutching at her bare shoulders. "Lets go back to bed."

Lets. He knew precisely what she was implying. What else could he say to that? He went first and she followed him, slipping into the blankets after he made room for her. No hesitation on her part. None whatsoever. She clearly didn't want to sleep alone tonight after that awful nightmare and he wasn't inclined to force the issue when she was in such a state.

A thought occurred to him, then. "About that dream you had-

"What of it?" she answered a tad too quickly as she snuggled closer. "It was just a dream; a nightmare, really. It won't come to pass." Her hands linked behind his back and she pressed herself against him, her every curve molding with his. "I don't want to talk about dreams." he felt her fingernails dig into his back. "I don't even want to dream tonight."

Her words sparked something in his chest.

Blue eyes flitted down to seek her.

Violet orbs gazed back intently.

He leaned down, then hesitated at the last second, just to be certain.

"Go on." she angled her head up to meet him, lips brushing his. "I want you to."

The last of Naruto's restraint broke.

With a low growl, he dove down the rest of the way and kissed her deeply. Rhaenyra inhaled sharply, moving her hands behind his neck, linking them there to draw her closer. His palms settled against her hips in return. That seemed to please her; he felt her smile against him, caught the delighted gleam in her eye. He dipped lower in a fit of frenzy, kissing her throat and she gasped before kissing him in return. Her lips sought his and there was a hunger to her now, an eagerness, a curiosity, all happily reciprocated. Why had he ever pushed her away? This was heaven? This was bliss.

His fingers found the straps of her gown as her hands seized on his trousers.

Her body pressed against his, skin to skin, her smile a pure delight. His hands found her rear as her fingers sought his chest, trailing across every scar there. She laid a kiss upon each one and he lavished attention upon her breasts in return; rendering her a moaning, squirming mess under his hands until finally, she climbed atop him.

He was ready for her, and she him.

No words were needed, nothing simpler.

From there, the night descended into a carnal haze.

A/N: Aaaand scene.

I had to cut a few thousand words for the next chapter, else this would've taken another month.

Weeeell? What did you think? Should this remain a story? Yay or nay? Really need to hear from you, here.

As stated, this has a high chance of being upgraded to M later down the line, but I need to know if folks want to see that.

Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. Meaning folks don't like this, it won't be continued. If the story itself ain't popular/well-received...well, I won't be able to continue it. I'm working two jobs, holidays are here too, meaning I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy.

So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.

So? Should this little tale continue? Or fall into oblivion?

By all means, speak up! Make yourselves heard!

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas…

...Review...Would You Kindly?

And enjoy the Previews!

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~?!

Previews are mostly the same, wouldn't want to spoil things now.

(Previews!)

He heard her voice in the dark. "I hear you."

"I'm tired of dancing around this. Aren't you? Can we not be free? Happy, even?"

"Is the safety and security of the realm not worth one life?"

"You'll never stop at one!" he righted himself with a grunt, turned his head, and spat out a bloody tooth. "I'll take you all on!"

Our lives are the sum of our choices. Good. Bad. Blacks and Greens. This is going to hurt you, Naruto.

"Let it. Pain's an old friend. I've gotten used to it. Their lives means more to me than mine."

"Your fate is already written. You'll die. All men do...why are you laughing?"

"Because! I stopped being human a looong time ago! Fire can't hurt me! I can walk across water for crying out loud! can't smother me. Whatcha gonna do, smite me with lightning? No? Didn't think so."

If you're that worried about the Stepstones, send me. I'll have them cleaned out in a year. Probably less. I can keep you and Aemma safe at the same time."

Viserys heaved a sigh. "You are skilled, but even you cannot be in two places at once."

Naruto smiled. It was a smile that would terrifying their enemies. "About that...

Smoke bloomed. Viserys blinked. He blinked hard. "I stand corrected!"

Otto's heart sank into the pit of his stomach. "This...complicates matters."

"You think this hurts? Compared to what I went through, being forced to watch you hurt innocent people, and even my own blood! This is NOTHING! Well? How does it feel? To be utterly hopeless and not being able to do a damn thing about it? Fools! How do you think they felt when you ganged up on him in the rain and he had no way out? Well now it's your turn. I hope you enjoy it. Do you feel defenseless? Scared? Good, now you know how they felt before you killed them!

"If you do this you will make enemies. There will be nowhere left for you to run!

"Run?" he tilted his head to look back at them. "Who's running?" Blue eyes bled into red, snapping into furious scarlet slits. "Where?" Golden radiance flashed around him. "And why?!"

The world burst into light.

Visenya whooped, leaned back in the saddle, and flung up her arms. "Dracarys~!"

Her dragon answered in a rush of fire. The girl grinned.

Riding on dragonback was the best!

"Faster, papa! Faster!"

His daughter bounced on his back, grinning from ear to ear as she tugged at his hair.

Naruto smiled despite himself. "Feisty as your mother, I swear...

EDIT: Hope you enjoyed! Have a great day!

Warm regards,

~Nz.

R&R~!