Whip lashed against skin and a feminine voice cried out in pain.
"I am the Dragon!" roared a familiar yet unfamiliar voice. "How dare you take what is mine! The dragons, the armies, all of it is mine! How dare you take it from me!"
"Brother please" the girl begged.
That only seemed to make her brother whip her harder.
The man's laugh was chaotic, mad and the longer he laughed the colder it got.
That was until the whipping stopped.
The laughter turned to roars of fear.
"I am the dragon! I AM THE DRAGON AND OYU OBEY ME!"
The girl felt the heat hit her back.
Her brother screamed in pain but it was a short scream.
The girl turned when she felt the heat subside and found nobody standing there. Up above she heard the screech of something, hidden in the clouds of darkness. It almost seemed as if they were calling out to someone or something.
"They won't find you here."
The girl's head snapped back down and saw a six-winged man standing before her, his wings gently fluttering as if a wind was passing.
The girl knew this man.
"But it is a surprise that they've gotten so close even with you being out of time and space."
"Who are you?" the girl asked.
"Better question. What do you want, Daenerys Targaryen?"
x-x
Daenerys entered the Hall just as conversation broke over the breakfast table. Her lilac eyes scanned the room, taking stock of everyone present.
She sighed after she took count.
The Starks had not joined them even today.
It had been two days (they assumed it was) since they'd watched the last vision, where the Starks were brutally murdered after being offered something as sacred at Guest Rights. Nobody could blame the family for still recovering from it. But people were growing restless. They wanted to push on, to see what else happens. To see which family was next.
"Perhaps one of us should go and check on them" Shireen Baratheon, the girl with Greyscale spoke. It was amazing to Daenerys that the girl could live a normal life after such an affliction. She wasn't sure if she could. The girl was mentally stronger than her.
"Perhaps," her father said monotonously. Rarely had Daenerys seen Lord Stannis Baratheon express himself, the only times she had was when his brother Renly Baratheon egged it out of him. Like right now.
"Don't let it be you brother" Renly Baratheon said, taking a bite of his buttered bread. "You burned a bloodied Leech and spoke Robb Stark's name. And now he's died… or will at least."
Stannis' jaws clenched at the reminder.
Daenerys had forgotten about that detail, and she was certain that most had as well. But then again, perhaps the Starks did not. The North Remembers and all that.
"Daenerys!" Elia's voice snapped Daenerys out of her thoughts. The woman was waving her over to the empty chair beside her. Her brothers sat on her other side. And on the other side of the empty chair…
Daenerys' face fell.
But she joined her good sister nonetheless, even if she had to suffer her two-faced older brother beside her. He was nothing like the few stories she'd heard old Ser Willem Darry tell her. The Prince probably hid his real face from them all and had slipped up here.
Good. Daenerys was learning who her brother truly was.
"You'd gone to see them, what happened?" Myrcella Baratheon (or rather Lannister?) said, her attention on Theon, Theon was Robb's closest friend… and the boy's biggest enemy right now.
"We didn't talk" Theon grunted. "None of them want to see my face."
"Yet they let you in" Margaerys Tyrell pointed out. She was always smiling, Margaery Tyrell. But right now she was scowling as if she was talking to someone she disapproved of. She probably did, either for what he did to The Starks or because he was an Ironborn.
"I barge din" Theon clarified with a low growl. He had this conversation before with them all. "They were all broken, silent and angry. I was able to hug Robb but he pushed me away and told me to get out."
Margaery was not happy with the answer, but the look in her eyes said that she had no choice but to live with it. So she turned her attention elsewhere.
"I do not like how your father seems to ignore the fact that I have two other brothers. And seeing the thing he puppeteered… do we have reason to fear his intentions towards my family?"
"Trust me, my Lady, you're not the only one who dislikes my father" Tyrion snorted. The Imp's words may have meant over half the people in the hall, but Daenerys was certain that he was talking about himself.
"As for why he seems to ignore your brothers, it's obvious really. Your eldest brother Willas is crippled, already distasteful to Tywin Lannister who prefers his allies to be as perfect as possible. Though I am starting to doubt that" Tyrion snorted. "Regardless of that, he probably questions whether your brother would be able to perform his duties in bed with his leg-"
"He broke only one leg" Oberyn snorted in disgust. Daenerys was curious how Oberyn knew that.
"My father gives no two shits about that," Tyrion said blandly. So Willas is off the table for that reason. Your brother Garlan, while a better sword than Ser Loras I'm heard-"
"He trains with three or four swordsmen at the same time to better prepare himself for war," Margaery said proudly.
Daenerys was impressed, and if she wasn't wrong, so was Ser Jaime.
"Yes, well, as I was saying. Your brother Garlan is married already so he's off the tab;e as well. So all it leaves is your brother Loras. Young, gallant, chivalrous and a skilled sword. If I were to speak from father's perspective, he sees shades of Jaime in the young man."
Jaime snorted beside him.
"And as such deems him a worthy choice for Cersei than your eldest brother Willas" Tyrion took a bite of his bacon.
"And he wants his blood in Highgarden as well no doubt. So yes, my Lady, you may have reasons to fear my father doing something. If he hasn't done anything already. We have yet to see either of your brothers."
Daenerys saw worry in Margaery Tyrell's eyes… and one of cold anger in Olenna Tyrell's. Grandmother and Granddaughter would plot something, she was certain of it.
"You haven't touched your food yet."
Daenerys' eyes went to Rhaegar, who was looking at her with some worry.
"Why do you care? I'm no dragon, am I?"
Rhaegar sighed.
"I had lost my temper unjustly and I apologise for it," Rhaegar said without hesitation, much to Daenerys' hidden surprise. "But you understand why I had blown up, yes? I didn't know what you planned and you saw what was coming. We need those dragons."
The surprise faded. There it was, what Rhaegar truly cared about, dragons and not his sister.
Daenerys looked away and focused on her food instead.
"I have also noticed something amiss about Varys" Rhaegar added. Once more Daenerys' attention was on him. "About Meraxes and Rhaenys. It's not something that people from Essos know."
"Yes, but he's been in Westeros for too long. He must have learned" Elia, who had been hearing the conversation this whole time, pointed out.
"Yes, I thought of it. But then the thought of what happened to Varys came to mind. About how he became a eunuch. King's Blood has power, as we have seen here numerous times."
"Jon said something similar" Daenerys muttered.
A smile grew on Rhaegar's lips.
"That's my son, thinking like me" he muttered.
Daenerys grimaced. There was no way Jon would be happy to learn that.
"I think he may be a Blackfyre."
The Blackfyres… Daenerys had been told of them by Viserys but never in great detail. All she knew was that they were a cadet branch that rose for the throne many years ago.
"And I think Brynden may be able to help us solve that mystery."
Daenerys' eyes went to the one-eyed Wildling. No, he wasn't a Wildling. But he lived beyond The Wall. Who exactly was he?
Before Daenerys could ask, the doors open with a large groan.
All eyes turned at once and the Starks slowly filed back into the Hall. They were all dressed properly, but the look in their eyes said that none of them were proper internally.
Robert Baratheon rushed over and clasped Ned Stark on the shoulder. The two shared a look before nodding.
"I apologise for delaying our watch" Ned Stark bowed his head in apology. "But given our tragedy… the family had much to discuss."
"Of course" Elia nodded gently.
Ned turned to Tyrion, who looked as if he was about to run from the look.
"I would like to change your proposal slightly."
Tyrion's brows furrowed.
"What sort?"
"Things remain the same" Ned Stark began, "except I would like Myrcella to be our ward, so we can count on you behaving."
"Lord Stark we are already giving a lot more than what is necessary" Tyrion spoke, trying to keep his voice civil.
"Not enough. You will be Lord of Casterly Rock and Tommen will be your heir. I want Myrcella in the North as a guarantee that you will honour the agreement."
Tyrion had much to say it seemed, but Myrcella put a hand on her uncle's shoulder and nodded. This was what she wanted, Daenerys remembered the girl asking as much.
"Very well" Tyrion sighed, "just… take care of her and keep her safe."
"I'm not your father, I do not harm children" Ned Stark said simply, his tone cold and detached.
Tyrion Lannister flinched.
Ned then turned to Robert Baratheon.
"Can I rely on you to deal with my enemies South of the Neck?"
"Aye, you can. We already have a plan."
Ned nodded.
"I would like to request that you naturalise my nephew Jon" he added, a lot gentler than how he was speaking with Tyrion. "It had become clear that we have quite isolated ourselves and lack allies. We would need as many alliances by marriage as we can get."
"Of course. But, his father-"
"Naturalised as a Stark" Ned said with finality.
Rhaegar stood outraged.
"He's a Targaryen Prince!" Rhaegar complained.
"And I choose to be a Stark" Jon spoke coldly, Lyanna gripping his hand beside him tightly. "I want no associations with you, Rhaegar Targaryen. None at all."
"Sit" Elia hissed and Rhaegar fell on his ass, wide-eyed from shock.
"Ned, while I understand the sentiments, being naturalised as a Targaryen may yet bring you more allies" Jon Arryn argued.
"And give people a reason to stand against Robert by backing him. It is bad enough we have loyalists with the Targaryen on the other side of the Narrow Seas, what would they do if they knew one was right in their backyard?"
Jon Arryn hummed thoughtfully, not entirely happy with the reasoning.
"It will be done" Robert nodded, and Ned smiled.
"Thank you my friend" Ned smiled, before pushing forward to meet the Queen of Thorns.
"The North and the South are the largest parts of Westeros, and it would be beneficial for both if they were bound in an alliance. I offer the hand of my eldest daughter Sansa to any of your sons."
"Oh? Not your heir?" Olenna asked with a small smirk.
"Robb will have to take a Northern wife to show the North that House Stark is still there for them beyond what I do for them. So when I die, my son will hold the same belief."
"It isn't because of your son's habit of playing with oaths, is it?"
Ned Stark stiffened. He bent over and whispered something that had the Queen of Thorn's eyes lit up with interest.
"I will ponder on our alliance, Lord Stark" Olenna Tyrell said.
Ned turned away from her and Robert raised a brow. Ned shrugged.
The Starks joined the rest for breakfast and conversation died away. Soon they all were ready to continue their viewing.