A/N: The more feedback this gets, the more inspired/faster I am to update! Looking forward to your feedback!
Please read this note, would you kindly? First and foremost, a warning, this one's another spicy chapter. This is Game of Thrones, after all.
...sorry for the delay, bloody family and life and a whole host of other problems demanded my time and slowed me down. Ironically, the latter actually worked out in my favor this time, it made the chapter longer and better, allowed for the cleanup of several scenes, and an overall better chapter this Tuesday instead of Sunday.
In other news, someone introduced me to the world Warhammer. More aptly. Perturabo, the Lion, Guilliman, the whole host of Primarchs, and their assorted legions. Dangit. Must resist. I don't think a Naruto crossover would work here, but the sheer trauma some of those lads went through pains me...no! RESIST! Even if I despise Erebus with every fiber of my being...
Took a cursory look into the number of books there are and that...that is a lot to go through. Yikes.
But you're here for Foxfire. Away we go! Forging ahead despite the end of season two~! Looking forward to your feedback! Do let me know if you want weekly updates to remain for the story!
I really, truly, want each chapter of this story to feel like an actual House of the Dragon episode on all fronts. Hopefully I succeeded.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. They're tributes to legends far greater than little 'ol me.
I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.
Time and feedback determine the update speed of this story. Simple as that.
In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!
Here we go. This chapter goes right for the feels.
This IS Game of Thrones...
Away we go~!
"You don't believe in prophecy, do you? So be it. Ignore what I am about to tell you at your peril:
The twisted Towers will crumble.
The slithering Serpent shall be bowed, bent, and broken.
The malevolent Maesters shall each be stricken deaf and dumb.
One by one, The House of the Dragon shall come for them with Fire and Blood. But you...and those shining stars that come after you...will be WORSE. All of Westeros, Essos, and even the lands beyond will tremble in fear of your offspring. Those you have with the Hightower girl most of all. Each will live up to your namesake, though you will live to regret it. And I pity you for that.
Heed my words, Naruto Uzumaki. You have eyes, yet you are blind. You have ears, but you cannot hear. You cannot change your fate."
...and who decided that?"
"Foolish boy...
~Alys and Naruto.
Perils and Pitfalls
Morning dawned and with it, a delicious soreness.
Rhaenyra was the first to awaken beneath the morning sunlight; she almost wished she hadn't stirred at all; if only because she wished to linger in last night's hazy dream awhile longer, to dwell once more in that sordid tangle of dark desire and wicked whispers, of fleeting fingers and cruel caresses. At first she feared it had been just that, a dream, albeit a good one, but only that, some stray specter evaporating with the morning mist.
Rolling over, she was greeted by a soft sigh.
A violet eye creaked open and her faith was rewarded.
Oh yes, no dream was this, she found herself nestled between them both; Naruto on her right, Alicent on her left, their bodies burrowed beneath the blankets as they slept soundly.
Each looked downright looked peaceful in sleep; thought she didn't fail to notice who was spooning her. Poor Alicent. She unbent enough to kiss her forehead and drew away before she could awaken. Her dear friend was going to be terribly embarrassed once she finally rose from her slumber; then again, she'd never been much of an early riser...
Grinning, she took a moment to bask in the glory of it all. Sweet, sweet triumph; never had her heart felt so full as this. It was a good day.
.
..
...but she was hungry, and couldn't simply sit still.
Nimbly squirming her way free from between her two loved ones, the princess sat up, donned a simple white shift for modesty's sake, and padded to a nearby table. A servant -no doubt a trustworthy one sent by mother- had left a tray of lemon cakes for the three of them. She devoured one now, taking a moment to observe the two people she cherished more than anything in the world.
She was not disappointed.
With her absence, Alicent sought warmth and almost immediately found it in the form of Naruto's chest; from there, she tucked herself against him as a wife might her husband. For his part, Naruto muttered something in his sleep and slung an arm around her bare shoulders. A contented noise was his reward as the Hightower heiress snuggled down into him, wholly at her ease. The small, sleepy smile on her face was perhaps the purest thing Rhaenyra had ever seen.
Otto Hightower would have an aneurysm if he saw his daughter like this.
He might even drop dead from the sheer shock of it all.
The thought brought her a wicked burst of pleasure.
With that in mind, Rhaenyra paused to peered at her slumbering companions a moment longer, smiling softly to herself as she munched on another cake, committing this moment to memory for all time. Gods, how she wished she could preserve this scene in something other than her mind. Would that it were so!
Although, come to think of it, Naruto had once made mention of a wondrous device from the land of his birth; a contraption that allowed one to take moments and preserve them in the form of a picture. Photographs, he said they were. What did he call the device that made him again? A camera? Yes, that was the word. She wondered if he knew how to create one? Surely he must. Perhaps she ought to ask-
Her gorge suddenly rose, abruptly and she gagged, though not from disgust.
"...?!"
Not again!
One hand flew to her face as, she abandoned her meal and stumbled over to her chamber pot. Scarce did she reach it than she heaved heavily. What little she'd eaten this morning came boiling back up her throat, leaving her retching on her knees. She wiped her mouth with one hand, grimacing at the acrid taste lingering on her tongue.
She'd been getting curiously sick during the mornings as of late. Almost as though she were...
Frowning, she laid a hand upon her stomach. Paused now, as she felt a faint bump there. Not all that noticeable, but ever present nonetheless.
Had she been overindulging, or was she...?
No, surely not.
Surely...?
Her throat closed at the thought and her mind began to race, hammering in time with the frantic beating of her heart.
She hadn't taken moon tea; she'd not seen the need in the Stepstones. They'd been so wrapped up in things at the time that the thought never crossed her mind. But now...
A child.
Gods be good.
She was going to be a mother.
Air. She needed air. Right bloody now.
Perhaps a walk was in order-yes, a good long walk.
Yes, she would go to the heart tree in the godswood, clear her head, and return before anyone was the wiser...
Throwing on a golden gown -she'd long since learned the value of dressing herself back in the Stepstones- she briskly bound her hair back out of her eyes with a strip of leather cord. Deeming herself decent, she stalked to the door, swung it open wide, and poked her head out into the hallway beyond. A single Kingsguard stood watch at the door, as was their duty. She recognized this one.
"Ser Arryk. I wish to go out."
The man bowed without hesitation. "Understood, princess."
Rhaenyra risked a quick glance over her shoulder. Alicent and Naruto remained sound asleep, all but dead to the world.
Her heart twisted at the sight of them, and for the first time, she felt a rare flicker of unease.
Eventually, she would tell them of her discovery. But not today.
Because for the first time in a long while...
...she was afraid.
(.0.0.0.)
Alicent didn't want her dream to end.
For she was certain this must be one; from the moment she opened her eyes to find herself naked and abed with a certain blond, she believed it must be so. What else could it be but a dream? Some mad delusion conjured by a mind that craved comfort, yes, that's all this was. Nothing more, nothing less. To believe otherwise was a fallacy.
Last night, and this morning, why, they must be a dream.
And that was fine. She was safe in her dreams.
No one could hurt her in her dreams.
Because you see, this couldn't possibly be real. It simply wasn't possible. Life had never, ever been kind to her from the first; so why would it suddenly favor her now? She'd lost Mother, then Father, Brother was a distant stranger at best. Rhaenyra and Naruto were away in the Stepstones leaving her alone and now she was clearly hallucinating in their absence.
The notion that she would actually awaken to find herself safe and warm and happy in King's Landing was so foreign to her as to be anathema. Safe? King's Landing wasn't safe. Ha! it was the very opposite of safe. A nest of vipers and vultures, all grasping for the crown, trampling everyone else underfoot.
So, yes, this must be a dream, because she was too terrified to believe otherwise.
Had she gone mad? How quaint. She didn't particularly feel mad.
But was that not itself a sign of madness?
Such thoughts did not behoove her, and reluctantly, she took stock of her surroundings. Dream though this might be, she found herself aware of a great many things; stranger still, Rhaenyra herself was nowhere to be found. Which was odd, because she thought she'd dream about her too. Last night she had been quite present, but now she was nowhere to be seen. There was only Naruto, his right arm draped protectively around her shoulder while he slept, one leg tangled between hers beneath the blankets.
Her core ached and she knew without looking that she'd lain with him. Multiple times. She might well get with child if she wasn't careful.
Father would probably tell her to take Moon Tea and have her rid herself of any possible...complications...
.
..
...bah. This was her dream. To the hells with what Father thought. He had no power here, couldn't torment her in this place.
Warmed by such a thought, Alicent laid back down against Naruto's chest, content to continue dreaming.
If this was a dream she didn't have to fear consequences...
.
..
...so why not?
Emboldened by her delusion, she pressed a chaste kiss to the blond's chest, then his collarbone, followed by his throat, now his chin, and at long last his lips. She held them there for a long moment before she finally drew away at her leisure, delighting herself in the freedom of her "dream" as she never dared to do in public. Her hands draped across his arms and shoulders as she pressed her bosom into his chest and ground herself against him, delighting in the sensations he evoked in her. If this was a dream...
...then she didn't want to wake up anytime soon.
Perhaps it would be best if she never returned to reality at all.
Thus, it came as something of a surprise when Naruto opened his eyes.
It wasn't a sharp or sudden thing; he simply shifted against her, causing her to look up, and once she did she found the whiskered warrior staring down at her. For a moment Naruto looked quite surprised to see her; those bright baby blue eyes of his went wide, almost as though he were shocked to see her in his bed. But that didn't make sense. This was her dream, was it not? Why should he be surprised to see her? At length, recognition dawned in his gaze, followed by realization, and finally relief.
Why relief? She wasn't worthy of him.
That's right, a nasty little voice of doubt hissed in heart heart. You ARE unworthy. You'll wake up any moment now, cold and ALONE-
"Hey," her paramour rasped suddenly, hoarse voice cutting through her fears.
"Hello." She smiled timidly in return. "This is a rather strange dream."
Naruto tilted his head. "Pretty sure this ain't a dream...?"
A hysteric giggle fled from her lips. "Is it not?"
He reached over to pinch her wrist; he could've done anything else, could've been mean about it, cruel even -gods knew he had every right to be- but he merely pinched her. That, and the brief burst of pain that followed, rattled her dream delusion theory more than anything else. Another pinch drew a yelp from her, causing her to recoil.
"Ow!" for a moment she forgot her nakedness and slapped his chest, glaring at him. "Why did you have to do that?"
"Because," he withdrew his hand, "You can't feel pain in a dream, right?"
Alicent's every thought shriveled and died. "This is real...?"
His head bobbed once. "Yup."
"Then that means-
"Yuup."
You and I and Rhaenyra-
"Yuuup."
She glanced up at him. "Then this isn't a dream?"
"Nope." he granted her a small, lopsided grin. "Rhaenyra can be pretty persuasive when she wants to be."
Which meant last night actually happened. That mad tangle of limbs, the feeling of complete and utter abandonment, followed by bliss as she ravaged them and let herself be ravaged in return...!
Gods be good. It was all real. Really and truly.
A tiny part of her sad, broken soul briefly balked at it; she didn't want to believe such things were real. Because if they were real, if this was real, if she was truly and finally happy, that meant said happiness could possibly taken from her. The idea terrified her; a little shiver of fear shook her shoulders at the very thought. Alicent groaned against it, burying her head into Naruto's chest.
He must've sensed her doubt it where he lay, because offered her his arm.
"You could pinch me if it makes you feel better."
Take him up on it.
In a rare fit of pique Alicent did just that; surging upright, she took ahold of his whiskered cheeks, hooked her thumbs into the marks and yanked, pulling at his face, tugging it to and fro. She expected anger on his part, derision for her actions at the very least. She received neither.
"Ow!" Naruto only laughed, undaunted by her poking and prodding. "Not a dream, see? I'm real." He took ahold of her hands, gently prying them from his face as he continued, "You're real. All of this is real. Nothing to be afraid of here."
The words swept the wind from her stressful sails and she sank down against him. "Where's Rhaenyra?"
He shrugged a shoulder, unconcerned. "Restless and chaotic. She's never been the sort to sit still for long. Maybe she went for a walk?"
So, what now? That was the question, wasn't it? She hadn't really made plans going forward beyond her freedom. And it was good to be free, make no mistake, but she had no idea what came next. Where did they go from here? Where could they go? She couldn't see the path forward and that frightened her more than anything else.
Unbidden she called Rhaenyra's remarks to her:
"Will you shrink from what you set out to do, or will you make your choice?"
Her gaze flitted back to Naruto, trying to guess his motives in all this, to no avail. He remained an enigma to her.
For his part the baffling blond looked content to lay in bed, hands holding hers, not touching any other part of her. Honorable of him. More than she expected. Lust often made beasts of even the most noble men. That he hadn't simply flipped her over onto her back and begun ravaging her spoke well of his restraint.
Did she want him to?
The answer rather surprised her.
Love could come later in the fullness of time, as did all things.
For now, lust would more than suffice. She liked him well enough; clearly she found him desirable if she'd been willing to lay with him last night. More than that, her body craved his again. She shifted against him, wincing but a little as her core ached anew. Did she want to bear his children? Perhaps in the future. Maybe someday. She entertained the thought on a whim. Her mind ran with it. She could imagine them now, three boys and a girl...
But for now they were alone, the both of them. This was her chance.
Not just to talk, but to prove something to herself, to shed that last thorn of doubt still lodged within her heart.
Mustering up her courage Alicent gently tugged her hands from his and crawled into his lap. From there she sat up slowly, deliberately, making her intent clear. The blankets did the rest for her, falling away like a forgotten gown as she bared her upper torso to him. Sunlight gleamed through silk curtains to dance across her pale skin, tempting him.
"Look at me," she said, more a plea than anything else.
Sure enough, he did. No, more than that, he stared. There was a hunger there in his gaze, leashed perhaps, but visible to her all the same. He found her attractive. That was...good. Very good, if she was being honest with herself. The prospect of being desire by someone warmed her more than words and did much to banish her own self doubt. She bit her lip and lifted her chin, trying to appear braver than she was. Would he know her? Would look at her? Would he see her? Not just as a woman, but a person? Not some broodmare, but Alicent Hightower, she who had forsaken her family for the sake of her own happiness.
"You may touch me, if you wish." She may be an exile in all but name, but she was still a lady. "I am yours."
His hands settled onto her hips. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to...
The moment he uttered those words, Alicent felt a weight leave her.
Want...?
How long had it been since someone said such to her? Rhaenyra certainly, but to hear it from Naruto of all people...!
Something snapped into place within her mind and she lost control of herself once more. No, perhaps that wasn't quite right. She didn't so much lose control as she did abandon it, casting aside as one might a spent goblet or a broken sword. All thoughts of virtue and restraint and manipulation fell away from her. She became unburdened, not just in body, but soul as well.
Because at the end of the day, she craved freedom. She always had, all her life, ever since she first sat her Mother's knee. True freedom, Not simply to carve a window into the wall of her prison, but to shatter the cage which held her heart, walls, floor, ceiling and all.
Once again, she reaffirmed her choice.
Here at last she dared herself to be bold, if only for a moment.
She couldn't quite conjure the brash bravery of Rhaenyra, but she could come close.
Ignoring her fear of rejection, Alicent dipped down to kiss Naruto full on the lips, and as she did, she began to press herself down onto him, not frantically or forcefully nor fiercely as she'd done last night but slowly; deliberately, hips undulating against his, drawing out the movement just as Lady Aemma had taught her, the better to heighten his pleasure. Once, twice, then thrice for good measure until she made her point.
He wasn't crass enough to grunt or growl or gasp or, but she could see the fire in his eyes as he grit hit teeth behind his lips.
"I want to ride you into the ground. How does that sound?"
He loosed a low laugh. "Nonnegotiable."
Alicent planted both hands atop his chest and began to move faster, with purpose now. There was no longer any pain to encumber her; every sensation sent a fiery frisson of delight racing beneath her skin, no, deeper still now as he began to move with her in earnest. Her breasts bounced like ripe fruit on a branch and his hands rose to cup them, not roughly as she feared he might but gently, cradling them in his palms.
His faint smile was her only warning, then she found herself gasping as his thumbs traced her nipples, then again now as he dipped up to kiss them himself. Abruptly his right hand cupped the back of her head, drawing her down to him; to which she yielded gladly, bringing her lips to his, mouth to mouth as their bodies quivered in escstasy...
From there, the world dissolved into a decadent daze of depravity.
By the time she came back to herself, the sun had crept much higher in the sky. She knew not what hour of the day it was and cared not. Tucked into his chest and warm beneath the blankets, she focused only on her own relief, the post-coital bliss that blew all her fears away like so many leaves in the wind. She was sated and slick and spent, her doubts destroyed. For now, nothing else mattered.
No, wait, she told a lie.
Laying a hand on Naruto's chest, she glanced towards the door. "We really should search for Rhaenyra...
As though summoned by that very declaration, the princess of dragon stone swept through said door in a rush and slammed it behind her.
Not so long ago, Alicent might've squeaked and panicked. Now, she merely drew up the blankets to preserve her modesty.
Her dear friend's smile was decidedly strained. "Father wishes us to join him for breakfast."
Alicent bit her lower lip until it hurt.
...that couldn't be good.
(.0.0.0.)
The royal family awaited them.
Naruto found Viserys sat at the head of a grand table, tucking into a hearty morning meal of mutton alongside his wife and brother, the latter of whom looked up and waved their way as they slipped inside. Aemma gave a greeting of her own, wearing a sly smile.
"Sleep well?" she crooned.
Heat seared up the back of his neck. Blast it all. They knew.
Rhaenyra coughed into a fist as poor Alicent sputtered incoherently.
Daemon was, well...Daemon. Honestly that man just didn't seem to age. He
"By all means, do tell." said prince gestured grandly at the three of them. "How was it?"
He quirked a blond brow at the rogue prince, refusing to rise to the bait so blatantly dangled before him. "How was what?"
"Your evening, of course." his smile said what his words could not. "Don't keep us in suspense, now. Was it everything you hopped for?"
Alicent hadn't said a single proper word, but now her face went redder than her hair, to say nothing of Rhaenyra. She'd been strangely silent, skittish even, since he awoke this morning. He had the distinct feeling he was missing something there, but for the life of him he couldn't figure out what.
"Daemon." Viserys heaved a sigh between mouthfuls of mutton, "Must you provoke them?"
"Yes, I must." his brother hummed happily. "It is a need I cannot deny."
The king shrugged helplessly as though to say, what can you do?
"Please, sit."
Naruto claimed a seat in the middle, only for Rhaenyra to plonk down on his right near her mother while he Alicent claimed his left. Daemon waggled a pale brow her way and in turn drew a squeak from her, but thankfully said nothing more to that effect. Good. If he made one disparaging remark, he was gonna smack him in the mouth. But where was-
A faint trill caught his attention as he closed the door behind them and belatedly, he noticed baby Bayle lurking at the foot of the table.
.
..
...
Well...perhaps not a baby anymore.
Visenya's dragon had grown since he'd last seem him; once a tiny hatchling, he was about the size of a rather large cat now, perched near Aemma's feet as he watched over his young charge, even now crawling around under the table with reckless abandon. Those eerily keen blood-red eyes noticed his gaze and settled upon him for a long moment before he snorted and returned his attention to the toddler, who in turn seized upon his moment of inattention to grab his tail and yank.
Naruto winced, half-expecting an angry squawk from the young dragon or worse, a burst of flame he'd need to save her from.
There was no need.
To his credit the black dragonling only huffed once in mild annoyance, raised an ebony wing, used it drew his charge closer, and summarily tucked his charge against his side. Visenya responded as most toddlers would of course, squealing happily and latching onto the rest of her partner to squeeze him for all she was worth. Almost immediately thereafter she buried her face into his dark scales to nuzzle them.
Bayle laid his horned head down, closed his eyes, and submitted to this indignity without complaint.
Strange, that dragon seemed awfully used to her, downright tolerant even.
Almost as if he were-
Viserys coughed ever so politely, commanding his attention. "Good morrow, son."
He flushed a little, embarrassed despite himself. "I'm not your son yet."
The king remained undaunted. "You will be in two weeks time."
...he had a point.
Steeling himself, he lifted his chin. "About the dragons being poisoned-
"There's no need to rush," Viserys chided him with a raised hand. "It has been some time since we were all together in the same room. Let us speak of gladder tidings before we throw ourselves headlong into the fray." His gaze passed over Alicent ever so briefly -was that a flicker of approval in his eyes just now?- before settling upon Rhaenyra once more. "Syrax has grown larger still, I see."
Rhaenyra found her voice at last. "She has, father. She's of a size with Caraxes now."
Daemon hummed his approval and drummed his fingers against the table. "And what of Vhagar?"
"She...tolerates me."
"Riiiiiiiight." Naruto coughed into a fist. "Follows you around like a lost puppy, more like. You should've seen her back in the Steptstones. It was adora-ow!" He grunted when Rhaenyra kicked him under the table, scowling as Daemon barked a laugh. "Its the truth, though!"
Viserys tucked into the last of his meal with a bemused smile. "It is good to have her close regardless. As things stand, only Laena could hope to claim her at present."
Daemon scoffed and laid his chin to rest upon the knuckles of his right hand. "She's welcome to try. "That hoary old lizard will eat her alive. Dreamfyre nearly did.
"Don't disparage the poor girl," Aemma chided him. "She is of blood and fire, just as we are. Her egg didn't hatch; is it any desire she should wish for a dragon?"
Alicent reached for his hand under the table, Naruto welcomed it and gave her fingers a quick squeeze.
"It happened while you were away," Viserys explained when Rhaenrya made to ask. "She barely escaped with her life."
The princess firmed her lips before she dared ask the question on all their minds. "Was she burned?"
"No," her father admitted, "but she suffered quite the fright. I daresay she won't try again."
"But you think she may with Vhagar?"
"Would you not, in her shoes?"
An awkward silence followed.
"Let us speak of happier things." Aemma broke it with a clap of her hands, bless her. "There's was a raven from Driftmark this morning. Laenor has awoken from his fever. The maester believes he will live."
Naruto released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "That's...good." He chuckled a little despite himself. "How is he?
"Much changed," Daemon remarked, seemingly amused for reasons he couldn't understand. "Lord Corlys claims his son is a changed man since his awakening. Ever since he left his bed, he's been spending much time with Seasmoke."
Understandable.
War did that to you; a near death experience had a way of changing a man. Perhaps it had changed Laenor for the better. Perhaps not. His close brush with death might well make him a better dragonrider in the years to come. Who could say? It was no longer his concern. So long as he lived."
"How fares Bloodstone, then?" Viserys interjected suddenly. "It must've been terribly difficult getting crops to grow there."
"It was." Rhaenyra glared at her hands, no doubt remember the dirt under her nails.
Daemon chuckled. "Got your hands dirty, did you?"
She growled at him.
Viserys leaned back in his chair. "By all means, tell us of your time there."
Naruto perked up, warming to the subject for entirely different reasons and soon launched into a wild tale of his own.
It took some trial and error, but with his myriad chakra natures and the proper seeds, he was eventually able to cotton onto what worked and what didn't. In time, he stumbled upon a surefire method to create a nutrient rich soil that allowed all sorts of things to grow. Carrots, peas, corn...but mostly potatoes. Way too many potatoes!
And if said experiments left him and Rhaenyra flinging mud at one another on occasion...well.
He had some very fond memories of muddy sex on the beach.
Good times...but he wasn't gonna tell Viserys about those.
If the isle of Dragonstone had been their safe haven, then the Stepstones represented stepping out of that comfort zone and learning just who they truly were. It had proven...something of a learning experience for them both. He wasn't used to being in charge of well, anything, really. Rhaenyra was however; both good at giving orders and administration given her time fighting in the isles. She taught him what he needed to learn, and in return, he taught her the more common things she didn't know.
Food meant livestock, and livestock translated to shepherds, which meant people, and people needed a place to live.
By contrast, buildings hadn't been all that hard to make, the Stepstones had plenty of rock to go round so he'd mined that, and builders came aplenty from King's Landing, then masons and craftsmen once he it became clear he had ample coin with which to pay those who worked under him. Shadow clones could work well through the night, given enough chakra and instruction, so they too were put to the task. In only a few months, they had a series of sturdy constructs made, enough to house a growing population.
Result? In addition to raising crops, he'd learned a few things about construction. It would serve him well in the years to come.
He'd taken to introducing concepts from his world as well, not all of which stuck, but those that did proved memorable.
Ramen seemed to be a lost cause for now, but "Soccer", for instance, was easy enough to recreate in Westeros.
Take a line in the sand, a goalpost, a ball, and you had hours of fun. Men and women and children alike, builders and mercenaries and sailors all, took to it like fish to water. Other sports soon caught on. Baseball, football, even basketball. Turns out the people of Westeros were rather competitive. There was even talk of building an arena, once the rest of the isles were settled, making it a national pastime.
A port was even easier to construct; they already had a fleet at their disposal thanks to the Triarchy's ill-fated venture, and many ships were repurposed for that very, well...purpose. An ill-fated cursory incursion by a few Dornish ships saw their ranks swell yet further. A call went out for sailors of every stripe, and enough answered to make the business profitable. There was some vetting involved of course, and the less-than-trustworthy-sort soon vanished beneath the waves of the Stepstones.
Once said fleet was vetted and armed, then came the next step.
They in turn imposed a tAx on all vessels passing by in return for protection from pirates, slavers, and the like.
Those few fools who tried their luck and struck those under said protection as it were, found themselves sunk by Vhagar and Kurama.
Piracy dropped to near nothing as a result; within a year, they garnered something of a reputation for themselves...alongside a near stranglehold over trade across the Narrow Sea. Lord Beesbury had complained bitterly about investing so much coin before they'd begun their little campaign in the Steptsones, but now his investment was paying dividends. Not all were pleased about this, and the Triarchy even less so, but neither had the power to meddle with them for the time being.
In time, he would turn his gaze further, to Essos itself.
And beyond even that, the ruins of Old Valyria.
But that is a story for another time.
Once he was certain their main base was secure, he'd left a capable steward in charge, a man he trusted not to betray him-and with his senses that was saying something-while he was away in King's Landing; with his speed it was a simple matter to flit back and forth between the Stepstones and the capital as he pleased. Running back and forth between them was annoying, but hardly time-consuming.
"All the more reason to master your father's jutsu."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm workin' on it, furball...
"Fascinating." Viserys steepled his fingers as he finished his tale. "And the rest of the islands?"
"We're still expanding for the most part, but yes," he agreed. "Everyone's well paid and taken care of over there. I saw to it myself."
"Good." An invisible weight seemed to leave the King's shoulder. "That...is very good. It heartens me to hear how well you've done, truly it does, and to know my daughter is in such capable hands."
Rhaenyra flushed.
Aemma nudged him with her elbow. "My love...
"Yes," he heaved a sigh. "I suppose we can't avoid it any longer. Before we address the matter of the Hightowers and the dragons, there are those who I had considered raising up, bringing into our house."
Rhaenyra perked up, intrigued. "Such as?"
Daemon took the topic and ran with it. "Your father and I spent the last year looking into them. Some are mongrels, they have little potential. We've discovered three that might actually be related to us directly, and one of them fled into Flea Bottom when she realized she was being followed."
Alicent raised her hand. "I beg your pardon, but...
Aemma smiled her way. "You needn't hold your tongue, dear girl."
Naruto preened with pride. Yup, that settled it for him. Rhaenyra's mom was best mom.
...is this truly wise?" The redhead lass finished tentatively. "Raising bastards up to be nobles? We cannot be certain of the strength of their character. What if they betray us?"
"There is a risk of course," Viserys granted her a nod, "but we're hardly giving them dragons now, are we? They will be indebted to us, they will be watched, and if they prove themselves to be unsuited to court...well."
"I'll kill them." Daemon shrugged a shoulder. "One of them claims to be a half brother of ours. We'll see their mettle yet. And if it is lacking-
"Oi," Naruto interjected. "Isn't that a bit much?"
"We shall cross that bridge when we come to it," Armma temporized, leveling a stern look upon Daemon.
The prince raised his hands. "It was merely a jest, sister."
"You did not make it seem like one...
"They would be lower on the succession, of course," Viserys continued apace, "But they are in a way, useful. At present, our bloodline is imperiled." he looked to Aemma, who nodded in return. "If some foul fate were to befall me and your mother, all of you would be vulnerable. We must multiply and quickly. Strengthen our line." a fist thumped down on the table, rattling the silverware. "Secure the succession against those who would assail us from within and without. More than that, these two will serve as a distraction, a smokescreen of sorts, the better to mask our true intentions from the Hightowers."
Rhaenyra tilted her head. "Have you worked out the means by which to approach them?
"Leave that matter to us. Now onto Otto Hightower...
With those words, the room fell silent.
Alicent squeezed his hand hard.
"He has overreached himself as of late." Aemma's smile seemed sweet, but her words were pure fire. "While he hasn't made any moves, overt or otherwise, since Alicent's outburst, the fact remains that he is a threat." a pause now, as he looked toward his daughter. "I cannot thank you enough for bringing this matter to our attention. You spared us no small amount of unpleasantness."
The poor girl flushed, but lifted her chin. "I do not regret it."
Naruto patted her hand beneath the table. Good. She'd found her spine, now she just needed to strengthen it.
Rhaenyra scowled, a hint of her old fire shining through. "If you know of his plots, then why haven't you expelled him from the city? Or clapped him in irons at the very least.
"Merely on the word of his daughter?" he looked to Alicent. "We have your words, yes, and your confession, but we need more than that to oust a man such as him. He has been thorough thus far."
"Then arrange an accident." Daemon chimed in. "Poison him, as he sought to poison me."
Such a notion left a sour taste in Naruto's mouth, but he couldn't bring himself to disagree. One way or another, Otto had to go. And soon.
Preferably before the wedding; because the moment he realized what they were up to, all hells would break loose.
"There is no need for such underhanded methods, Daemon." Viserys replied, and the sudden twist in his tone left the whiskered warrior doing a double take. "For all his plots and schemes, he has made one fatal mistake, and not just in alienating Alicent to his cause. No, this is what we will do...
He told them. It took the better part of five minutes to explain, but tell them he did.
By the end, Naruto found himself leaning back in his chair.
"That's...surprisingly vicious of you."
Viserys smiled. It was not a nice smile. "Do you not approve?"
"No, no," he raised a hand, "I do, just...damn. Why didn't I think of that?"
You would have, in time." Aemma answered for her husband. "The Hightowers and those allied with them must be convicted beyond any semblance of a doubt. We must tear them out, root and stem."
"Nor are they our only enemies." Viserys seconded her, steepling his fingers. "The matter of the meat in meat in the dragonpit has already been tested by maester Orwyle. Trace amounts of poison were discovered therein. Subtle perhaps, but over time, they may well have served to stunt the growth of our dragons, to weaken them, make them more susceptible to illness...
Rhaenyra picked at her foot. "And this "maester" of yours is trustworthy?
"He is young, honest, and earnest, eager to do good where good work is to be done." Aemma answered her dauntless daughter. "We believe he has no knowledge of whomever began this plot, but when confronted with it, he investigated most earnestly and offered a number of remedies."
Naruto didn't doubt that, but he resolved to meet this "Orwyle" in person when he could. Of all the people in King's Landing, he trusted only those in this room and, to a lesser extent, Ser Harrold, Arryk and Erryk. No one else. King's Landing was a den of vipers just waiting to bite.
Better safe than sorry.
Alicent chimed in, mind ever sharp. "And the grand Maester Mellos?"
"Currently recuperating in Old Town." Daemon's smile suggested he had a hand in the older man's absence "I dare say he'll be in for quite the shock when he returns.
Rhaenyra turned her gaze on him, made curious. "You believe this is a conspiracy of the Citadel, then? How?"
The prince preened. "...I have my sources."
"That said," Viserys continued apace, "Testing the meat alone is insufficient, the dragons themselves need to be looked in on. We know Vermithor and Silvering remain unaffected, as does Vhagar, but we're concerned for Dreamfyre and Caraxes, the latter of which has taken ill. To say nothing of Syrax and the younger wyrms. We've allowed some of them to range out of the pit, but that is only a temporary solution at best."
"If my dragon dies, I'll have Hightower's head," Daemon muttered blackly. "We need someone to look into this immediately."
Naruto nodded his agreement, mind whirling. "Definitely."
All eyes turned his way. Ah. So that was their game.
He blew out an exasperated, slightly bemused breath. "You want me to enter the Dragonpit myself, don't you?"
Viserys granted him a careworn smile. "Not all of us are so loved by dragons."
Rhaenyra gripped his hand in hers. "I'll go with you."
And just like that, his course was set.
It would prove a memorable day.
(.0.0.0.)
Into the pit they went.
By they, he meant himself and Rhaenyra, of course.
Newfound bravery aside, Alicent wasn't about to risk herself in the face of such colossal beasts. They tolerated Targaryens and him, no others. Any intrusion on her part here would likely be met with...unpleasantness.
Still, darkness and the smell of dragons aside, he couldn't help but marvel at the construction of this place as they delved deeper into the dark.
Torch in hand, he threaded his way through the pit, with Rhaenyra only a step behind. Still, her presence did little to ease his anxiety; she hadn't been quite right today, and a very small part of him wondered if he was to blame for that.
Risking a glance back at her, he found nothing in her face to give any anxiety away, he still sensed it within her, all the same, lurking like a dagger in the dark.
Something was troubling her. But what? He knew not.
And so he turned his attention to the dragon pit instead.
Maegor may have been a monster in many aspects, but he'd had a rare few good ideas and the Dragonpit -for the most part- was one of them. He'd built it into the hill during the Old Days, and while it was a marvel of engineering for that time perioid, he'd neglected to maintain and expand it as the beasts grew larger. Perhaps they ought to now it, the better for the dragons to grow? Or construct a new one next to the city altogether? Food for thought. The logistics of such an idea made his head ache, and he shunted them aside for now.
Down into the dark they went, threading through tunnels.
Movement in the dark drew his eye, and excited, he turned towards it as the tunnel split; in short order he found himself in a large chamber, hewn from earth and stone. And there, nestled in the center of it all, crouched low over a dark mound of some sort, almost invisible in the gloom...
.
..
...that was a rather large dragon.
"Which one is that," he whispered softly.
"Dreamfyre." Rhaenyra murmured. "She is formidable."
Despite his concern, a grin split his face. That was one way to describe it.
A blue-silver dragon, larger than most, and judging by the hiss she gave, didn't seem all that pleased to see them.
"Careful." Rhaenyra's voice was a breath whisper behind him. "She's guarding her eggs."
Naruto edged closer, raising one hand.
"Easy," he soothed, drawing near, "You're alright."
He expected fire and flame. Instead, she reared back and booped him with her snout, pushing him away. He caught her the second time and held fast, not letting himself be budged, yet keeping his stance low, careful to show the proper obeisance to the dragon mother.
He grinned and rubbed both hands over her scaled face. "Awww, you're a good mom ain'tcha? Don't worry. We're not here for your babies. Just a checkup...
Rhaenyra squirmed under his gaze.
He'd been right earlier; she was hiding something, but what?
Was this another one of her schemes? No, he didn't think so, there was nothing she could possibly want to hide from him so what...?
Without warning, Dreamfyre inhaled deeply. He tensed, half expecting a burst of fire, but no, the she-dragon drew another deep breath through her nostrils, not her mouth. Almost as if she were testing the air, sniffing it, scenting it...?
Abruptly she bulled forward, knocking him aside.
There had been no ill intent behind the blow, even so he stumbled, baffled as Dreamfyre drew closer to the princess.
Rhaenyra went terribly still; she didn't dare move as the bright dragon sniffed her. Once, twice, thrice now. Her lips peeled back as she growled, this great gleaming eyes narrowing to fine ruby slits.
A triumphant trill rattled the pit.
It was their only warning.
Dreamfyre threw back her head, belched a brief geyser of flame into the ceiling, and lay her mighty head down beside Rhaenyra. Her very body shifted with her massive bulk, large wings and tail curling almost protectively around her, as though to embrace her and shield her from any and all harm.
Almost like one prospective mother-to-be greeting another.
But that would mean...!
Naruto turned his senses on her and found nothing out of the ordinary. Rhaenyra remained as she always was, a burning beacon of fiery light and life, unchanged and untouched by the world.
A strange swell of disappointment welled up inside of him.
"Look again."
He squinted, focusing with all his might.
And then, finally, he saw what he'd failed to see before.
There, a little glimmer of life in her belly. Young, small, hard to look for, harder to see, and glimpsed only by chance. Perhaps sensing the weight of his gaze the princess laid both hands over her belly defensively. Not that it made any difference. He still saw that little light, that tiny speck of chakra coalescing in her belly, forged between the two of them. A soul. Life.
Naruto's mind fizzled, sparked back to life, fizzled out again now, before words came to him:
Even then, in his shock, he could only manage to muster two. "You're pregnant."
Beneath his gaze, Rhaenyra smiled nervously." Surprise...?
A/N: At long last!
We'll cut it there for today! Don't worry, we'll still have the good bits.
Just wanted to say, I appreciate you all! More feedback means faster updates! It's especially important, in these, trying times, with the main site notifications down. Every word counts and i appreciate you all! All these reviews really keep me inspired! Looking forward to hearing from you~! I should be able to update Sunday or EARLIER, time and health permitting.
Weeeell? What did you think? Would you like weekly updates? Yay or nay? Really need to hear from you, here. Feedback makes the world go round!
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.
By all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me.
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!)
"Its time for Otto to be dealt with."
Do you take the princess Rhaenyra to marry...?"
"Although," her dear friend amended at the sight of them, "He didn't say to hurry.
Rhaenyra reached behind her back, finding the strings of her dress.
Her dress pooled at her feet.
PUSH!"
The cry of a newborn filled the air.
A moment of silence followed. And then: "It's a boy, your grace!"
"The idea that we Targaryens control the dragons...is an illusion; in truth, they are a power our ancestors never should have trifled with.
Yet without them, our reign would undoubtedly buckle beneath its own weight. We need them. As they need us.
Promise me you won't let the dragons die out, Rhaenyra. Promise me.
Hugh didn't fear dragons.
Make no mistake, he knew they was big and tough and mean as can be, but they wasn't invincible. At the end of the day they were just meat. Dangerous, fire-breathing meat that could snap you up in a single bite, but all the same.
He was a blacksmith, not a butcher. His trade lay in the realm of metal and weapons, not fire and blood
His wife was pregnant, and the missus wasn't doing so well.
Good reason for that. Food was scarce.
He did what he could, worked where he was able, but there wasn't much demand for smithin' in King's Landing at the moment.
He was meant for more than this. He just knew it.
looked up as a massive shadow swooped low over the beachhead of King's Landing.
Shading his face with one hand, he squinted up at them. "
Dragons wasn't gods he knew, they were just meat, but they were mighty indeed.
One of them saw him and swooped low.
Imagine his surprise when it landed before him!
"Curious." he remarked after a moment's pause. "I see now why he took notice of you."
He knelt hurriedly. "Your grace."
...interesting. He acknowledges you." The rider considered him for a long moment. "Who was your mother?"
Hugh blanched. "That...is a long story..
What have we here...?"
Blast. And today had started so well.
Ulf dropped his drink and raised his hands in the air. "Nothing at all...?"
Whomever was behind him jabbed a sword into his back. "Move, bastard. We have places to be."
It sounded like the bloody prince.
Ul fraised his hand higher. "Alright, alright, I'm walking...
A sword is more than a weapon. Stick 'em with the pointy end they say. Ha! When you make a sword, the first priority is to make it purposeful and well-balanced. But a sword is also an object of power and has to express this power in its design...
...and this sword...
..is my gift...
...to you.
"Lord commander."
Ser Harold Westerling was a surprisingly noble man, defending his comrades despite the stain on their honor. "Cole is a good lad, he just needs to get his head screwed on straight."
Naruto clicked his tongue. "Think he needs more than that...
The white worm wishes a a word with you, my lord."
Naruto's brow shot into his hair.
"Who?"
"Daemon's lover.
"Ahhhh...
"If you fail to plan you plan to fail. This world is cold and cruel, and there are a few in it, who are steadfast. You, I think, are steadfast.
Visenya whooped, leaned back in the saddle, and flung up her arms. "Dracarys~!"
Bayle answered in a rush of crackling 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. Where's your brother hiding-
Someone leaped onto his back.
"Aha! There you are!"
"Stay your hand! If you do this, you will make enemies! There will be nowhere left for you to run!
"Run?" he craned his head back over his shoulder to look 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.
"It turned out there was more than one person worth saving. So that's what I did, I saved her. Then I protected her. That's why people like you and I are here, son. We have a job to do."
EDIT: Hope you enjoyed! Have a great day!
Warm regards,
~Nz.