After riding for hours, and once they were sure enough they were far away from Renly's camp, they had all gotten off their horses, allowing them to drink by a nearby stream.
"It looked like Stannis." Brienne explained breaking the silence, making Visenya and Catelyn look at her in disbelief.
"To me, it looked like...a shadow in the shape of a man." Catelyn sighed.
"In the shape of Stannis." Brienne corrected.
Catelyn fell quiet, but Visenya sighed.
"I believe it." She stated, making both women look at her. "That woman Stannis was with...she looks...familiar."
"How so?" Catelyn questioned.
She shook her head. "I am uncertain. Perhaps I saw her in my father's court at some point...but what she was talking about...about Stannis being born amidst salt and smoke...it's impossible."
"How so?" Brienne asked in confusion.
"Because those words...come from a centuries year old story...in my family." Visenya quietly explained.
"What do you mean?" Catelyn asked.
Visenya sighed looking down at the ground, knowing she dug herself a deeper hole than she was already in...but in the back of her mind...Catelyn was like her mother, and knew what Visenya's Valyrian culture was like.
"Visenya?" Catelyn asked with caution, not wanting to provoke the girl.
Visenya let out another sigh. "My father, and Rhaegar, use to speak of this story. Only Rhaegar was supposed to know it, as it passed down from regent to heir from the time of Aegon the Conqueror. It told of this...Prince...that was born amidst salt and smoke."
Catelyn and Brienne stood in silence listening to Visenya, not understanding where she was going with this.
"According to Aegon the Conqueror, the Prince, born amidst salt and smoke is meant to be a Targaryen." She continued. "My question is...where did that woman learn of such knowledge, as it only was told within House Targaryen."
Catelyn frowned, unsure of the words Visenya explained. Brienne however, nodded in agreement, as she had become highly suspicious of the woman as well. After a few more moments of silence, Catelyn broke it.
"We should reach my son's camp tomorrow." She explained.
"Will you stay there long, my lady?" Brienne asked.
Catelyn shrugged. "Only long enough to tell Robb what I have seen. After that, I will leave for Winterfell. My two youngest need me. I've been away from them for far too long."
"You are like the mother I never had, Lady Stark." Visenya explained giving her a small nod. "I will accompany you to Winterfell."
"I never knew my mother." Brienne admitted.
Visenya frowned in sorrow. The memories she had of her mother were always sad. Her mother was always upset, but she could never understand why. She always cried, and while she put on a brave face for Visenya and Viserys, Visenya, being the highly observant sibling, could tell that she was dealing with something she didn't want to know.
Will she ever know?
Probably not.
"I'm sorry." Catelyn replied.
As they walked back to the fire, and sat down in front of it, Visenya felt a chill run down her spine, knowing they were about to speak about their mothers.
"My own mother died on the birthing bed when I was very young." Catelyn explained once she sat down.
"It's a bloody business." Brienne agreed.
"What comes after is even harder." She replied with a nod.
"Once you're safely back amongst your own people, will you give me leave to go, my lady?" Brienne asked.
"You mean to kill Stannis?" Visenya questioned from her position across the fire.
"I swore a vow." She immediately replied.
"But Stannis has a great army around him. His own guards are sworn to keep him safe." Catelyn began.
"I'm as good as any of them." Brienne sighed. "I should never have fled."
"Renly's death was no fault of yours." Catelyn explained. "You served him bravely."
"I only held him that once as he was dying." Brienne practically whispered as she looked down.
"Stannis is no King." Visenya began making Brienne look up from her feet and across the fire to look at her. "Renly is no King. Joffrey is no King. Any Baratheon that sits on that throne is not meant to be on it."
"How can you be so sure?" Brienne asked, curious of the Princess's answer.
"Because they usurped it from my family." Visenya confirmed. "And both of my brothers are dead."
Brienne's eyes widened. "Making you...the rightful heir?"
Visenya nodded. "Not that I want the bloody chair."
Catelyn let out another sigh, knowing how Visenya felt, before turning back to Brienne.
"He's gone, Brienne." She explained. "You serve nothing and no one by following him into the earth. Renly's enemies are Robb's enemies as well."
"I do not know your son, my lady." Brienne explained. "But I could serve you, if you would have me. You have courage. Not battle courage, perhaps, but, I don't know, a woman's kind of courage. And I think that when the time comes, you will not hold me back. Promise me that you will not hold me back from Stannis."
"I'm not going to stop you." Visenya smirked. "I may join you."
"Whent he time comes, I will not hold you back." Catelyn confirmed before glaring at Visenya.
Brienne then kneeled before Catelyn and drew her sword to pledge her loyalty.
"Then I am yours, my lady. I will shield your back and give my life for yours, if it comes to that. I swear it by the Old Gods and the new." Brienne began.
Catelyn nodded. "I vow that you shall always have a place in my home and at my table and that I shall ask no service of you that might bring you dishonor. I swear it by the Old Gods and the new."
"And I swear by the Old Gods and the new, that we all need sleep." Visenya explained. "Perhaps we shall continue this tomorrow."
Both woman nodded, knowing tomorrow's ride was going to be long and hard. The next day, the trio rode practically till the horses wouldn't go anymore, and thankfully, they reached Robb's camp before the horses broke down. After giving the horses to the stablehands, Visenya turned to Catelyn.
"I know you are to see Robb but may I..." She began.
Catelyn smiled. "Go, I'm sure Robb will understand."
Visenya smiled and hugged Catelyn, before walking in the opposite direction.
"Where is she going?" Brienne questioned.
Catelyn smirked before turning to the knight. "To see her dragons."
As Visenya approached the pen, two loud screeches were heard making her smile. As she reached the edge, instead of only Aegonar coming to nuzzle her, Sunspear as well came to see her.
"Issa gevie riñar. (My beautiful children.)" She smiled petting both dragons lovingly.
She stayed for hours in the dragon pen with them, just taking in their presence, before she noticed Robb and an unknown woman walking toward her.
"What's wrong?" She asked getting up from the ground.
"I ride to Crag on the morrow." Robb explained. "I am just uncertain as to why you didn't come see me when you returned, as I leave for Crag upon the morrow."
She gestured to the dragons. "They wanted to see me, and I missed them."
Robb smiled before gesturing to the woman. "Lady Talisa, this is Visenya, and her dragons, Aegonar and Sunspear. Senya, this is Lady Talisa, she has been attending to the wounded."
The woman curtseyed. "It is an honor Princess. Robb has spoken highly of you, and I have admired your dragons from a far."
Visenya nodded looking over the woman. "Lady Talisa..."
"Maegyr." Talisa answered.
"Of Volantis?" Visenya questioned.
Talisa's eyes widened as she nodded. "You know of Volantis?"
Visenya nodded. "Udrirzi valyrio ȳdrā? (Do you speak Valyrian?)"
Talisa shook her head. "I am able to understand, however, I have never been able to speak it."
"I see." Visenya nodded. "Robb, I wish you nothing but luck on your journey to Crag, but if you'll excuse me, I need to rest, as I am rather tired from the Stormlands."
As she walked away, she didn't know what to think of Talisa. She could tell that Robb liked her, but she had hoped in every means necessary that he didn't fuck over the Freys. That's all he needed was to mess with the Freys, thus causing him to loose the war. After taking a bath, and ensuring Maegor was alright, as she missed him as well, she opted to head to the cell where Jaime was being held to ask if he knew about Stannis's mystery woman.
Upon approaching the cell, with Maegor by her side, she noticed two people in the cell. The guards immediately perked up upon seeing her, and walked away from the door, allow her and Maegor to go in.
"If it isn't my favorite Targaryen." Jaime smirked.
Visenya rolled her eyes, and Maegor growled.
She frowned at the direwolf. "Daor, Maegor. (No, Maegor.)"
Maegor glanced at Visenya before laying down, respecting her words.
"Even the wolf understands Valyrian?" He questioned.
Visenya ignored his comment before gesturing to the younger man sitting next to him.
"And you are?"
The man gulped. "Alton Lannister, My Lady."
"It's Princess." Jaime corrected. "Learn your titles, cousin. I have been advocating for you, Princess. He had no clue on who you were."
"I should feel flattered then." Visenya said with sarcasm, making Jaime huff in amusement.
"What do you want?" He began. "Because I know you didn't come here for my company...unless you changed your mind?"
She narrowed her eyes. "I'd watch your tongue, or did you forget I have two dragons at my disposal?"
"She has two dragons?" Alton whispered.
Jaime rolled his eyes. "I've been telling you that for the past two hours! Where have you been?"
"Thinking about what she looked like based on your description." Alton replied. "You're right, she is quite the beauty."
Visenya's eyes widened in shock, before looking to Jaime.
He shook his head. "I never said that."
She turned back to Alton.
Alton nodded. "He did say that. He also said you were rather intelligent and bold...quite arrogant and headstrong."
"And what did i tell you?" Jaime interrupted. "If she comes here, do not mention it to her, as she will have my head."
"Enough!" Visenya ordered, quieting both men before turning to Jaime. "What do you know of Stannis Baratheon's Fire Priestess?"
Jaime shrugged. "What do you mean?"
"He was accompanied by this Fire Priestess when he spoke to Renly Baratheon. I am asking you again, what do you know of her?" Visenya demanded stepped toward him.
Jaime sighed. "Little to nothing. I know she is of Essos, and is a follower of The Lord of Light. There have been rumors that she practices Dark Magic, but I am uncertain...why do you ask?"
She shook her head, knowing not to tell him the truth. "Curiosity. I had never seen her before."
Jaime nodded. "Stannis tried to convince Robert of her knowledge and teachings, but Robert followed The Faith of the Seven."
She rolled her eyes. "Loosely, when he was not entertaining his whores."
"And you follow it so closely?" Jaime asked. "Or did these Northerners poach you into believing the Old Gods?"
"No." She sighed and shook her head. "I tend to turn towards the Valyrian Gods in times of need."
"And how many were there?" He began, challenging her.
She smirked. "The Fourteen Flames. Vhagar, Balerion, Syrax, Meraxes, Galeithox...shall I continue?"
"Oh please do." He smirked back. "Bore me with your dragon gods."
"It is those same dragon gods that brought my dragons to me." She explained.
"And yet here you are, asking me for the answers and not them."
She raised her head in defiance. "And yet you give them to me."
He smiled, giving into her. "Right you are, Princess."
She smiled and nodded her head. "Goodnight Jaime, and it was a pleasure meeting your acquaintance, Ser Alton."
"Goodnight, Visenya." Jaime replied.
Once Visenya walked out of the cell, and the guard resumed his position, Alton turned to Jaime.
"You are fond of her?" He asked cautiously.
Jaime shrugged. "She is intriguing...but brilliant. Something my sister is not."
"I now understand why they call her The Queen of Dragons." Alton explained. "Even though, her dragons are not here."
"She is quite the woman...and I am glad I am able to know her." He replied, knowing Visenya didn't tell him the real reason she came to see him, as he could tell she was suspicious of Melisandre.
A/N
As always, please let me know if you'd like to see any specific character interactions. Please fill free to comment, and as always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns.