A/N: Sorry if this chapter seems short, life has been hectic and I am unwell; which is why the upcoming wedding arc has been divided into several chapters.

I updated this story last Tuesday, and this makes two updates in five days. I'm perfectly willing to update early again if that's what the readers want.

If so, by all means, let me know! Looking forward to your feedback! Every bit really helps lift my spirits and inspire me in these crazy times...

Many thanks once again to newboy (a reviewer) for offering up a font of idea to use in the reviews. They all sound wonderful, and I'll be sure to use them! You rock!

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. Away we go~!

Reference to a certain well-known song ahead,

As well as as Warhammer...

...and Tyberos of the Red Wake.

YOU DO NOT SEE TYBEROS OF THE RED WAKE~!

"Embrace the Dark you call a home! Gaze upon an empty Iron Throne!

A legacy of Lies! A familiar Disguise! An unwitting Reprise!

Sing with me a song of Conquest and Fate!"

~You All Know.

To be Wed (Interlude of Alicent)

The day of the Wedding dawned with ringing bells and great fanfare.

Lords and ladies came from every corner of the seven kingdoms to congratulate the new couple; from the far-flung North, even to distant Dorne. Many would be in attendance, nobles great and small, all brought forth at the King's call.

Naruto hadn't seen any of them at all; at least not yet; he was far too busy having a panic attack in his quarters.

Or was it Chambers? Abode? Room?

Bah! Westeros had far too many fancy words for the same thing. Best to say things plain, leave them simple and clean...

.

..

...or so he would say if he wasn't so anxious. Downright terrified, really. He'd chalked it up to a case of nerves at first, but even that couldn't dismiss the stagefright he was feeling. He was usually pretty good with people, ya know? A talker, and all that. But he'd seen the crowds pouring into the Red Keep from his window up above and that was a lot of people.

His new attire certainly didn't help matters, nor did the mirror.

"I feel like a stuffed goose."

"Nonsense." Alicent fussed over him with infinite patience, idly helped him adjust his attire. "You look like a warrior prince."

He glared at a garish sleeve, frowning at the limited movement it allowed him. "In all this silk?

She arched a brow. "Rhaenyra told me of your deeds in the Stepstones. You'll be fine.

"Yeah, but my sword...

"Cannot be brought to the feast." she reminded him sternly, hand on hip. "The lords and ladies of Westeros are already terribly wary of you and your sudden rise to fame; you know this. If you're seen arriving with a blade at your hip, many will think you mean to wreak havoc, if not outright violence."

Alicent had a point there, blast her. Sometimes he really hated playing their rules. Not for too much longer now, but still, it rankled him.

"Just hang in there," Kurama soothed him. "We'll show them; we will show them all."

And that day couldn't come soon enough!

He did not wish to be parted from his new weapon, but even he realized it would be poor taste to bring a blade to your wedding, least of all Valyrian Steel. At least he'd finally settled on a name of sorts for the bloody thing the other day. That's right, his once-nameless-blade was nameless no longer.

Henceforth it would be known as...Guiding Moonlight.

Alright, alright, he wasn't the best with names, ya know? Still, it sounded better than Stone Breaker, Fate Weaver, Moon Dreamer, or any other poetic name that didn't suit him. It was also something of a jest on his part; he'd had some very interesting nights since he first claimed this blade from the Crabfeeder and it suited the blade's baleful blue glow. This was a weapon meant for killing, just like him. He'd cleaved countless men with it back in the Stepstones and besides, he could hardly call it Foxfire now, could he? Folks were already calling him that. Wouldn't do to have a blade of the same name.

"You're just proud of the name, aren't you?"

'I plead the fifth!'

"Turn around, please." Alicent tutted gently, reminding him where he was as she adjusted his tunic. "Let's have a proper look at you."

Naruto reluctantly did as he was bade, only to pause when he saw the stranger staring back at him.

"Huh." he managed less than eloquently. "Not bad..."

For the feast, he'd chosen an amber doublet bordering on orange and long flowing black breeches bearing matching boots. A seamstress had stitched a crimson swirl -that of a whirplool!- at the right shoulder where the seam of the sleeve met his tunic, a subtle callback to the days he'd spent in his village. And draped around his throat like some sort ancient necklace, hanging from a black cloth, polished to a fresh shine despite all the nicks and scratches it had sustained, his headband gleamed back at him.

He scarcely recognized himself.

Rhaenyra would probably outdo him, naturally. She always shone in whatever she wore.

Alicent circled him once, thumbed her chin, then nodded her approval. "I still don't understand why you refused a cape."

He clicked his tongue at her in mild admonishment. "No capes!"

None that he hadn't made out of chakra metal, at any rate. Anything less gave your opponent something to grab onto in a fight and that was just asking for trouble. By that very logic, he knew he should probably get his hair cut soon, but he couldn't quite bring himself to do it. His tawny blond locks looked good like this. Reminded him of dad, ya know? He'd keep it this way a while longer. Call him sentimental.

Sensing the eyes of Alicent upon him, he decided to show off a little and pivoted, spinning on his heel. "How's this, then?"

"Better." she nodded, smiling ever so softly. "You'll have all eyes upon you tonight."

He sulked at that and kicked at the floor. "I'd really rather not."

"Then you should've thought of that before you fell in love."

He scoffed at her jest. "Very funny...

Really it was nice of her to help him with this before the feast; she'd long since shooed the maids away, as they were too busy staring. Too many prying eyes, ya know?

Granted her purpose here wasn't entirely altruistic-far from it, quite selfish, really. She'd confessed it directly to him as she helped him dress. He knew she was using him as a shield of sorts; an easy excuse to avoid her old man tonight when he would surely be prowling and plotting. That was fine. Yet again, that was just fine with him. He didn't mind being used for something like this.

Some might say such an act would stain her in the eyes of the court. So what if it did? After tonight it wouldn't matter.

He looked lower, idly noticing her blue dress, simple though it was. "You gonna wear that tonight?"

A unladlylike snort escaped her before she could catch it and she flush. "I will not."

Oh? Now he was curious. No one had told him Alicent's role tonight; neither what she would be wearing or what she would be doing. She hadn't spoken on it, Rhaenyra insisted it would be a surprise, Aemma had only chuckled, and Daemon had simply clapped him on the back. Small point in asking Hugh or Ulf either, they were just as lost as he was.

Viserys, for his part, had at least reassured him a little. "Everything will be fine, my boy."

Fine, he said. This felt like a prank. It had been a long while since some pranked him.

He needed to check in on the Stepstones, too. It had been a bit.

Hrrrm...

Shaking his head, he looked back to the shy redhead. "Any chance I can see Rhaenyra before this shindig starts?"

"You cannot." She batted him on the nose in a burst of boldness. "'Tis ill luck to see a bride before she is wed."

His brow furrowed. "But I'll be seeing her at the feast...ain't that the same thing?"

"That's different," she chided. "Those are the festivities. Now, do you remember the words you'll say during the ceremony?"

His brain blanked. "Yes...?"

"That sounded like a question."

He scratched a whiskered cheek and looked away. "It wasn't?"

Alicent crossed both arms before her bosom and stared, heedless of his nervous smile. "You're distracted. What is it?"

"Nothing."

She began to tap her foot.

"Alright, alright!" he flung up a hand before she could press further. "Just overthinking things."

Alicent stepped to him and took her hands in his. "Such as?

"Stepstones stuff," he confessed. "I can't help it."

Her brow furrowed. "Who was the man you left in charge again?

"Roboute." he recalled after only a moment's pause. "He was one of the slaves we freed. No idea why he was there, though, he probably coulda broken out on his own. Still, I kept him on as part of my staff. He's pretty good at administration. Quick with a sword, too. I left Tyberos with him, so he should be fine, but I just worry...

Alicent blinked. "Tyberos?

"One of the settlers that sailed over from to help colonize my Stepstones." he took his hands from hers and gestured expansively. "Big fella. Fast and strong. Really helped out with the Dornish incursions, so I hired him. He doesn't talk much, but he's got good armor and he's a damn good fighter, ya know?

"Enough to impress you?" the lady Hightower hummed at that. "I think I should rather like to see him someday,"

Kurama choked on his own spit and Naruto winced hard enough for both of them.

His smile became a little strained. "That...might not be a good idea."

She tilted her head, somewhat confused. "Whyever not?"

"You do not see Tyberos of the Red Wake."

...I'm afraid I do not follow."

"You do not see Tyberos of the Red Wake," he repeated. "On the battlefield, he sees you. Then you die."

Alicent gulped. "I've changed my mind. I do not think I would ever wish to meet this man. Now, where were we?"

"The vows?" he ventured aloud, desperately trying to change the subject.

"Yes," her head bobbed in wholehearted agreement, eager to move on. "First the High Septon will say these words." She paused, took a breath, and recited them. "In the sight of the Seven, I hereby see you, these two souls, binding them as one for eternity. Look upon one another and say the words."

A silence followed. "And the rest...?"

"Here, you can practice with me. Ordinarily, you would take a quote and bring your betrothed under your protection, but you don't have one at the moment, so we'll have to make do."

Naruto squinted at her. "Whaddya mean? Of course I have a cloak. I always do."

He conjured a shimmering shroud of golden chakra to his hands and draped it over her slim shoulders as one might a jacket back home, in his world.

Alicent went very still and clutched it tight to herself. Odd. Her face was very red. Had he broken her?

"It's so warm...

Good, she was alright.

He beamed at her. "What's next?"

She flushed and fished a green ribbon out from her sleeve and drew closer him. "You take a ribbon, and you wrap your hands with that of another, the one with whom you wish to be wed." she did so with each of their right hands, creating a loose knot to bind them. "Then you say the words. Ahem!" clearing her throat for good measure, she began. "Repeat after me. Father. Smith. Warrior. Mother. Maiden. Crone. Stranger."

He did as she did, careful to match each word in time with hers, memorizing each word. "Father. Smith. Warrior. Mother. Maiden. Crone. Stranger...

"Good." she preened. "Now for the last bit. I am hers, and she is mine, from this day, till the end of my days."

He repeated her.

Alicent was even kind enough to speaking the words with him to help him along, matching him perfectly in her own way, as though she too were saying the same thing, swearing herself to him.

"With this kiss, I pledge my eternal love." He didn't miss the way her voice hitched a little as her eyes flitted up to his. "The next part should be rather obvious, don't you think?"

She stood up on the tips of her toes to kiss him and he met her halfway. Her lips lingered on his in a chaste kiss, setting a spark racing through him, brief though it was.

"And there you have it. A happy marriage." Alicent retreated half a step to hold up their intertwined hands, ribbon and all; a small smile dimpled her face as she sketched a one-handed curtsy "Hello, husband."

He dispelled the chakra cloak and laughed at her jest.

Alicent dared a hysteric little giggle of her own.

His eyes bulged. Wait a second...!

Even then, it took Naruto a moment to realize what she- what he!-had inadvertently done, how she'd one-upped Rhaenyra. Granted, there wasn't a septon in the room to officiate this so-called "practice", buuuut...

Devious little thing.

...Rhaenyra was right. He liked this side of her.

She'd laugh herself silly once she heard. And probably get Alicent back with a vengeance.

"What about you?" he asked on a whim, mildly amused by the thought. "You gonna enter the hall with me?"

"Me?!" Alicent's face went redder than her hair and she hurriedly unbound their hands before anyone else could see "That would be most improper! I...shall join the two of you later," her gaze flickered away from him. "But only once I'm properly dressed."

"Aha!" realization dawned and he thrust a finger at her, triumphant. "So you are wearing something different tonight after all!"

"Yes, if you must know." she huffed unhappily, not pleased to be caught out. "And that's all you shall hear from me."

She muttered something else under her breath just then, speaking just a little too fast for him to hear.

Naruto squinted at her. "What was that?"

...othed." she said.

He leaned in. "I didn't quite hear you.

"My betrothed." she murmured, ears burning. "I wanted to say it first. Before Rhaenyra."

Her words drew a smile to his lips and he couldn't help himself; he drew her into a fierce hug, tucking his chin over her shoulder. "You really are cute when you're flustered."

Alicent squeaked, but held her ground, stubbornly meeting his gaze. "I have something else for you, if you don't mind." Her voice trembled ever so slightly. "A gift."

He released her and in return she withdrew a masterfully embroidered handkerchief from the bodice of her dress. Tentatively, she offered it to him.

Naruto's brow shot into his hair. "What is this?"

"My mother was a Florent," she explained softly, voice little more than a sad aigh. "Her sigil was that of a fox. As I am a Hightower no longer in the eyes of my father, I thought it prudent to take her symbol for my own once more. I had thought you might like it given your origins." A pause followed as she wrung her hands. "Perhaps you could keep it close, as a token of my favor. My way of saying thanks, for saving me."

Naruto ran his thumb over one of the stitches, staring at the fox within.

"Do you like it?"

"..."

He did like it; much to his surprise the Florent sigil was that of a red-gold fox on an ermine-that is to say flowers-etched in thebackground. He could see the effort that had gone into each and every stitch. It must've taken her hours to make, if not days. Needlework was something neither he nor Rhaenyra excelled at; just as another sign that Alicent preferred a more deft touch than most.

...I love it."

Alicent's pale face lit up in a smile, one of her rare real smiles; the sight made his heart flutter, a mad butterfly winging about his chest, rendering his every thought a merry haze. She was beautiful like this. Absolutely radiant. The setting sun shone through the window caught her red curls an' seemingly se them afire. For a moment he could see the woman she would be ten years from now. A strong, proud woman who cast aside her concern and cowardice and truly came into her own. A man could get drunk on a sight like this.

He liked what he saw; in this moment, more than anything he wanted to kiss her eyes, drink that smile in for the rest of his days.

His body betrayed him and he stepped into her, drawing her close. She responded in kind, nestled her head into his chest and held tight. There was nothing untoward about it; they simply held one another, basking in each other's presence in a rare moment of silent solidarity, one lost soul to another.

"I'm very glad I listened to Rhaenyra," Alicent whispered against his chest, distracting him. "But I think I'm gladder still, having met you. So, thank you." She lifted her gaze to look him in the eye. I dread to think what might have become of me had you not come along."

His face went red for all the right reasons. "We still have an hour, right?"

She nodded into him. "We do...

Well, that settled it.

He dipped down and kissed her. She melted into him with passion, holding tight to him, hitching up her dress. A flick of his fingers waved a shadow clone toward the door, locking it. Then her hands were on his and he had far more pleasant things on the mind.

He practically carryed her to the bed. Unfortunately, he landed awkwardly on the mattress, resulting in her all but falling atop him, pinning his body with her hips.

Not so his hands.

Alicent gasped out a breath as he lifted her into his lap, splaying her legs on either aide of him. "We might be late."

His mouth muffled hers in a kiss, allowing her to unlace his breeches. "I don't care."

"You," Her words piqued into a pleased gasp as his hands settled on her hips and flank, guiding her home. "You make a very convincing argument...

Of course he did.

Because now he finally understood.

He loved her. He really did. Just as he did Rhaenyra.

Alicent rolled her shoulders and her dress tumbled down her back, baring her bosom to him and most of her upoer torso besides. Her hips ground against his and he returned the motion as she planted her hands against his chest, the better to rock against him; just like that they were off; falling into a familiar rhythm as they coupled.

If this was to be their calm before the storm, then he would face it.

With Alicent and Rhaenyra by his side.

Come what may.

A/N: Calm before the storm indeed.

We had to split the wedding up into parts because A LOT is about to happen. See you soon!

The upcoming chapters promise to be wild, but I need tiiiiime to write them. Be assured, those scenes will be well worth it. Thanks for being patient!

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!)

Do you take the princess Rhaenyra to marry...?"

PUSH!"

The cry of a newborn filled the air.

A moment of silence followed. And then: "It's a boy, your grace!"

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.

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!"

"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.