A/N: EDIT: Sadly not much in the way in the way of feedback for this chapter, although I suppose that's what I get for updating and such a late hour.
That said, looking forward to your feedback~! Every bit helps, especially with my confidence issues...I know, asking for reviews makes me sound weak, but it really does lift my spirits im these tryinf times
Apologies for the sort chapter. Something is better than nothing and I wasn't able to get a lot done today, working these massive shifts are really starting to do me in. Sorry about that...T_T
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.
Here we go~!
"Why does anyone commit acts other deem unspeakable? For Love.
We think ourselves heroes, but in the end, we're all the villains in someone else's story."
...and I'm alright with that. Let them call me a monster. Let them name me a madman. LET THEM ALL BURN."
~?
Might We Converse?
"You're looking awfully smug today."
"Am I?" Rhaenyra preened and idly tucked a stray strand of pale hair behind her ear as she walked beside him. "I hadn't noticed."
Naruto most certainly did. He could sense it in her smile, hear it in her words, see it in the swing of her hips as she veritably sashayed forward beside him. His wife didn't walk down the halls of the Red Keep. She strutted, full of life and vitality, radiant in every way.
It made him want to pin her to a wall and do...things to her.
Loud things. Noisy things. Things that would have her arching her back and crying out for more...
"Down, loverboy."
Alright, alright, maybe he'd gone a tad too far there. But he couldn't help himself! He was just so damn happy!
He was finally married!
With a capital M!
Banzai!
It felt...well, better than he deserved, frankly. Even now in the wake of the wedding, eight weeks after the fact, he was still riding high. Alas he'd soon learned Westeros wasn't big on the concepts of a "honeymoon" but he was gonna make sure she and Alicent had a chance to enjoy one as soon as the three of them could get away.
Well, once he could tear Alicent away from her great work. She was dutifully determined there, if nothing else.
Secretive, too. She wouldn't let them see what she was working on.
Between tending to the newborn dragonlings and this new "project" of hers, he hadn't seen her as often as he would've liked.
...hmm. That settled it; a few months in the Stepstones would do them all some good. Just the three of them. It'd take them away from all this dithering and politics, if nothing else.
But for now, there was work to be done, no matter how much he disdained it; fortifications to be built, alliance to be made, seeds to stomp out. The conspiracy had been thwarted for the time being, but they were still bits left behind, agents to root out, loyalties to be ascertained.
Looking to his wife, he arched a blond brow. "What's got you in such a good mood?"
Rhaenyra leaned into him and let one hands trace the slender bulge of her belly. "I just remembered that Cole will be reaching the Wall soon."
What was left of him, at any rate. Good riddance to bad rubbish. The man was a pitiful shell of his former self; he'd never be a threat to them again. Or anyone else, really. She'd seen to that matter personally. Still, he couldn't quite figure out why Rhaenyra was thinking of him now of all times.
"And...?"
"And nothing." She paused in the hall, took ahold of his hands and whirled around to kiss his cheek. "I'm simply pleased by his absence. The thought of his suffering brought me more relief than a dozen orga-
"Rhaenyra!"
She giggled and whirled away from him in a swirl of scarlet silk, grinning madly. Not Targaryen levels of mania but enough for some merry mischief.
As she spun away to walk ahead of him, he caught sight of her belly and smiled a little despite himself.
Her pregnancy was quite visible now for all eyes to see, there could be no hiding it.
Pregnancy had certainly added to her curves in a most pleasant way.
Rhaenyra reveled in it.
She'd taken to wearing tighter dresses as of late, the better to emphasize both her bosom and the little life growing within her belly. As though to tell the world "ha!" and laugh in their faces, mock them for ever speaking ill of her. She was utterly resplendent and more than a new nobles wore sour expressions whenever they passed by.
Piss on 'em. They could go hang for all he cared. There were greater concerns afoot.
He'd already told Viserys of his encounter during the madness of Slyrak and all that followed, this talk of the Long Night and what it might entail. Aurion had spoken of a terrible cold and the darkness to come thereafter. Frankly it was concerning. He might need to pay a visit to the North in the near future.
Slyrak was laying low, but he'd taken an interest in Vhagar. Good on the old wyrm. But he was staying far, far, far away from that.
"I can feel you staring at me." Rhaenyra gazed at him over her shoulder and grinned impishly, distracting him. "Your eyes are full of lust."
His gaze snapped up, caught in the act. "I've no idea what you mean."
"Yes, you do." she stepped back to him, the better to nuzzle her head against his neck. "In truth I find it rather pleasant, knowing you desire me that badly." her lips brushed his chin, tempting him, teasing him now as she reached down with one hand, fingers delving lower across his tunic. "Father has no need of us today, we could always snatch up Alicent, find an empty room and...
She whispered the rest into his ear and his throat went dry.
Unbidden, he found himself looping an arm around her waist and pulling her close, drawing her in for a scorching kiss.
Simultaneously, her hands rose to touch his shoulders as his palms brushed her breasts...
He wanted her; she wanted him just as badly, if not moreso. Already she was tangling her left leg against his, twining their bodies ever
"Wait. R-Room." She gasped the second word out between frantic kisses as his fingers parted the folds of her dress. "We need to find a room...
"Easy enough...
Passing a stone bench overlooking the gardens, he took her by the hand and made for the nearest door he could find. If the room within was occupied by someone they'd juat order them out.
Alas, it was not to be.
Someone rounded the corner ahead of them before they could reach their destination; he didn't notice at first, but Rhaenyra did; because she went completely and utterly still against him, so much so that he couldn't miss it.
Following her gaze, he found the culprit.
Aliandra Martell looked lovely as always; today she wore a fiery amber dress of slender diaphanous silk both smooth and snug in all the right places.
Her expression was another matter.
"Ah, there you are, Princess." Though her smile was sweet, her eyes were sharp. "I'd begun to think you were avoiding me...
Rhaenrya's expression proved a study of contrasts; her eyes were wide, cheeks flushed with concern. "I've not been avoiding you...
"Then you wouldn't mind having a little chat, surely.
Rhaenyra panicked; he felt it deep in her bosom. "I..need to check on Vhagar."
Naruto frowned. "But didnt we just -
She kissed him quickly, lips lingering on his. I'll see you tonight, then...?"
He balked, confused by her behavior, but allowed it. "Sure...?
Rhaenyra fled quickly; and make no mistake, she did flee, alll but lifting her skirts well above her ankles to hasten her escape.
Strange. He'd never seen her flee from, well, anything. Nothing in recent memory, really.
"Why did she run...?"
The problematic princess smiled aoftly.
"Your wife is loyal." Aliandra watched her go with wistful eyes. "She doesn't wish to be tempted; that's more than I can say for most. It is admirable. Still, she should say where the pleasure of the flesh, not flee from them out of uncertainty. I could teach her so much...
He eyed her like the viper of her namesake. "Is there a particular reason why you saw fit to corner me?"
"Not as such...
He tapped his foot. "Then I'll be just be going-
She stepped into his path, all but blocking him with her body.
Gotcha. She had made her move; revealed her hand. Now what would she do next?
"Bold as ever." Aliandra rolled her eyes. "Fine. have it your way...might we converse?"
His guard went right up. "That's not a good idea...can't we do this later?
She shook her head, setting her long dark hair swaying. "My father and I will be leaving King's Landing soon, so no, it cannot. We have already lingered too long as it is."
She led him back to the stone bench he and Rhaenyra had passed only a few moments before, and promptly took a seat for herself.
After a moments pause, so did he, only for her to scoot close; her hips brushed his. He stubbornly ignored it.
Nevertheless, the Dornish princess took the lead, placing both hand in her lap before lifting her chin to address him. "When you last spoke with my father, he talked of an alliance. Are you stull interested in such?"
The old him would've said yes. Now he knew to keep his cards close to his chesr.
A blond brow tose. "That depends on the terms of said alliance."
"We are enjoying an unprecedented period of peace. It will not last."
He scowled at her. What makes you say that?"
She smacked his arm and glared his way. "Because I know war. I have read the histories and studied the maps. Whenever those at the top grow comfortable, whenever they become complacent, it is then that their reign crumbles.
"You may well have shored up the Targaryen regime for another hundred years, perhaps two, maybe even three, but ask yourself this. Whar becomes of it when you're gone."
Now it was his turn to shruf, "They continue on as they always have?"
"Foolishness." Qoren's daughter chided him. "Don't you see? You are the glue that binds it all together."
"I don't see how any of that concerns you."
Aliandra made an impatient noise, rose abruptly and sat herself in his lap. From there she spread her legs on either side of him, then planted her hands on the wall above his head, all the better to pin him in place.
Bah. He could break free in an instant. Still, he was curious to see what she wanted.
"The Martells do not wish a war with the crown but much of Dorne does." She said." Many are still terribly cross with you for your deeds in the Stepstones."
"And you can make thet go away, can you?"
"I can."
"How?"
She ground her hips against his in a less than subtle invitation. "Invite me into your bed. Give me a child." Her breath was warm on his ear. "Or two, three, perhaps even four if you're feeling generous. With your bloond bound with ours, Sunspear wouldn't feel so threatened...
His face closed down. "You must be joking."
"I am not!" She huffed at him. "Spread your line further and imagine what could be. What we could create."
Naruto did. He saw it all too well. And what would follow.
Which was why he took ahold of her hands, stood, and proceeded to pry her off him. "Its a pretty picture, but I'll have to decline."
He expected anger from her then, disappointment at the very least. Instead, she granted him another of her smiles.
He didn't like this one.
"As you say, then." She shrugged the shoulder. "Perhaps you will change your mind in time. My door is always open to you and yours."
Her peace said, she touched a hand to his face, whirled on her heel and departed the way she'd come, hips swaying.
Naruto watched her go.
Only once he was entirely certain she had departed did he dare sigh, exhaling in a singularly explosive breath. "These girls are gonna be the death of me...
He hurried after Rhaenyra.
Or rather, he tried to, only to round the corner and find a servant waiting there for him, message in hand.
The youth-little more than a child, really-saw him and bowed deeply at the waist. "The white worm wishes a a word with you, my lord."
Naruto's brow shot into his hair. "Who?"
The servant flushed. "Daemon's lover.
Realization dawned. "Ah."
So much for it being a boring day.
(.0.0.0.)
Alicent considered the marvelous mechanism before her, the loving labor a result of her -and several craftsman, engineers and adepts besides- hard work and many discussions besides.
It wasn't perfect, not yet, but it was close. Oh so very close.
With trembling fingers, she turned it over in her hand.
She couldn't wait to show Rhaenyra and Naruto...
This would change the world.
A/N: Scene~!
Looking forward to your feedback! Do let me know what you thought of this chapter!
Would you like a timeskip? Or would you prefer we remain in the somewhat present moment a little longer?
For that matter, Do you wish for weekly updates to remain? Or would you prefer bi-weekly? I'll leave that to you, the readers. Do let me know! This story hinges on your feedback! Every bit really helps lift my spirits and inspire me in these crazy times. 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.
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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.
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...Review...Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the Previews!
As ever:
SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
Read at your own risk!
(Previews!)
"Welcome back to the Stepstones, my lord, my ladies."
Alicent blinked. "You must be Tyberos, then."
"I am."
"You're certainly very...tall.
A soft chuckle, soft as a whisper. "You should meet Robute, then."
"Enough about that." Naruto sighed. "How are things...?"
"We have bathed in the blood of your enemies, lord."
Rhaenyra smiled, mildly bemused by the bloodshed. "I'm guessing that's a good thing...
His throat went dry at the sight before him.
"Come to bed, husband."
"Won't you join us?"
Dang...
"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.
"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.