A/N: EDIT: Guess everyone was busy today...hardly any reviews. T_T
Sorry for the silence yesterday. Long story short, I got hurt. I'm...not in a good place right now as a result, but writing takes the edge off.
Looking forward to your feedback, reading reviews helps distract me...
Switching things up today by popular demand. Work has been...busy. Two jobs an' all, keep me running all over the place to say nothing of the weather disaster, which is part of the reason I got hurt in the first place.
Once again, my apologies. Can anyone see this? Hoping this chapter is visible to one and all, despite the site glitches.
As per the traditional rule for this story. We'll update again once this story breaks 1,100 reviews. Hopefully it'll break through. 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 will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that. In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!
Hopefully I succeeded in piquing your interest...
"Bend the knee and live in the new world, or die standing in the ashes of the old one.
It's a simple choice.
Choose wisely.
Mercy, you say?
You misunderstand me. I am being merciful. I could have you burned by my dragons, hung, drawn and quartered, clapped in irons, or given to my husband for torture. He is far less kind than I. Instead, I offer you two forms of mercy; a clean death by beheading or a chance to live and keep what you have.
Cersei Lannister is the monster here, not I.
I have no desire to kill you, ser. Indeed, I do not wish to kill anyone here at all. I do not want to burn anyone, nor have I any plans to be queen of the ashes.
Please, just kneel."
~a future scene.
Call Your Name
"He wants to marry you?! That slimy overgrown squid?! What in the hells does that crazy Kraken think he is?!"
Not quite the description Daenerys would've used, but she felt it an apt comparison nonetheless.
Hiding her smile behind one hand, she swept out of the council chamber with Aegon at her side, hastening down the hall with all due haste.
Probably for the best, given the raised voices and arguments they left behind.
Euron Greyjoy's unexpected arrival had thrown Dragonstone into chaos, threatening to uproot not only their strategy, but their very alliance. He'd said his piece and been bundled off to a guest room, left under heavy guard by no less than three Unsullied. It was the most she could hope for, given the situation.
Other matters had...not also gone entirely as planned, much to her eternal chagrin.
After all, there was a reason she and Aegon had departed so suddenly:
"We will not take Casterly Rock with the Unsulied."
A pall fell over the room as she made her declaration.
Tyrion waited for the other boot to drop. Eventually, it did.
His face went chalk white as all the blood drained from it. "Surely you do not mean to burn it?!"
"She won't." Aegon answered, stepped up beside her. "Ancalagon and I will. If your family won't surrender, they'll fall. We have neither the time nor the resources to waste on a protracted siege."
The dwarf looked to her for aid. "Your Grace, please! Is this how you wish to be remembered?"
Not her. Aegon was the iron fist, and she the velvet glove.
Let the Lions learn well the price for defiance.
"I will offer them mercy, first. It is up to them to take it." when he made to protest, she shook her head. "The matter is not up for discussion. I have heard your counsel and made my decision...
Aegon had thrown his full support behind her, but needless to say, her nephew was somewhat incensed by the Greyjoy's proposal and Tyrion's naivete besides. She couldn't even blame him for his anger, not really; Euron had been most...forward in his offer, promising them a great many ships in exchange for his hand in marriage. He'd been rather arrogant about it at that; far too interested in her dragons -especially Ancalagon-and rude, frankly.
She didn't like the way he'd stared at her, either. As though she were little more than meat to him. Someone to be taken and broken.
A shudder shook her shoulders, swiftly suppressed.
Vile, wretched man.
She wasn't afraid of him, fear implied a natural disinclination on her part, and although she felt such, it was not anxiety that played a part in her distrust of him. It was his eyes. They were cold and dead like that of a fish, his smile false. And he thought to wed her? Her?! She ought to slap him for his folly and have him gelded besides!
Still, with his ships added to her own, conquest of King's Landing and Casterly Rock would be a mere afterthought; thus she could hardly afford to dismiss him out of turn...no matter what her council might have to say of him. At least they were all united in their mistrust of him, if nothing else.
"Please tell me you don't trust him."
She glanced at her consort, matching him step for step, stride for stride. "I was hoping you could tell me."
Aegon made a rare annoyed noise, his usual smile nowhere to be seen. "Easier said than done, I can't get a good read on him.
"Pity." She pivoted to face him, brow arched. "And here I thought to make you my new Master of Whispers."
They shared a laugh at that; there could be no replacing Varys and they both knew it.
Her one-eyed nephew rolled his shoulders in a shrug, and granted her a grim grin. It lent him an oddly handsome air despite his eyepatch. Or perhaps, in spite of it. Apparently she had a thing for men with scars. Who knew?
Or your own kin. You were awfully quick to slip into bed with him. Were you that lonely...or lustful?
Scowling, she ruthlessly suppressed that nasty little voice of self doubt.
They'd not spoken of last night. They would, eventually, but not now. There were more pressing matters to which they must attend.
"I don't like that horn of his." Aegon's voice drew her back to the present with a firm tug. "There's magic in it."
Frowning, she paused to lean against a worn wall. "What kind?"
"Not sure." Here at last he looked uncertain, almost boyish and it softened the scars of his face. "I'm glad we confiscated it."
...indeed." Unbidden, she found herself reaching up to stroke those scars. "About last night...
Aegon went still, pale visage giving nothing away, even under her touch. "What about it?"
Heat rose to her cheeks and she found herself averting her gaze, just a little. "I...rather enjoyed it." Then, because she wasn't satisfied with such a paltry explanation, "Very much so."
The tension drained from him. "As did I."
"Good." she released a nervous breath, feeling almost...dare she say girlish? She hadn't felt this way in years. "Perhaps later, then...?"
She trailed off, choosing to phrase it as a question rather than a command, knowing he wouldn't take kindly to such.
Aegon gently took hold of her hand, lifted it to his lips and kissed her ring, lips lingering there. "As my queen commands."
Or perhaps he would! My, but he was being bold today...
Fresh warmth flooded her face. It was such a simple gesture but now it had implicit meaning to it. Worth.
A lesser man might have saw to touch her without permission, but he was not lesser; he waited for her subtle nod before moving in. His hand traced, her jaw, caress, her neck, lingered on her shoulder, and stayed there. No groping or grasping for him. He was, despite his own admission to madness, the perfect gentleman.
Her eyes flitted up to his, and his lone orb traveled down to meet hers.
Daenerys felt herself quiver a little, not at all in a bad way.
A spark ignited between them once more.
"Or now, perhaps?" She whispered.
His eye lit up.
It wasn't hard to find an empty room with a bed; Dragonstone had a great many of those, most of which had been aired out by the servants at Missandei's behest.
Her dear friend would likely laugh to see her smitten as she was now.
That was the word, wasn't it?
Smitten.
She'd admittedly come to enjoy Aegon's company, to favor his blunt behavior over the endless politicking and scheming she'd been subject to her. There were no double meanings with him, no tricks or traps to his words when he spoke them.. Save such thoughts about Missandei and other fanciful things for another time. Right now, she had far more pleasurable thoughts in mind...
Slipping into the guest quarters, she turned away from Aegon, trailing a hand over his chest, and when he didn't immediately follow, lost her patience.
With an impatient sigh she stepped in, leaned up and kissed him roughly, pushing him up against the wall, only to gasp as he bit her neck. Rather than push him away, she savored the pain and wove her fingers into his hair, firmly forcing his lips back to hers instead. She wanted to touch him, and be touched, she wanted to forget about being queen for a while, and go back to that warm, happy place they'd found last night.
She pushed him down onto the bed, sat in his lap and faced him fully, folded her legs so she was resting atop her knees, took his face in her hands and kissed him deeply. He could've fought back; dominated her as he had last night; pinned her down and had his way with her.
He didn't.
Instead, he allowed her to pin him down for once, laughed as she leaned forward and draped herself over him, all but pinning his wrists above his head. She held him there for a moment, pale hair dangling into his face to tickle his nose, a lovely little curtain to hide their expressions from everyone but one another.
"Love you." He didn't even have to say throw the "I" in there; because she knew what he meant.
A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she released his wrists. "And I, you."
There were no words needed after that, nor any said.
They divested themselves of their clothes quickly; or slowly in her case; she was careful not to ruin them as they had last night at first - or such was her intent, until Aegon began to kiss her again, distracting her with his tongue. Naturally, such thoughts fell to the wayside like so much morning mist.
Releasing his wrists, he shrugged off the last of her garments, squirmed her way back into his lap and looped her arms behind his head. From there, she settled in against him, clasped her hands onto his shoulders and held on for dear life. To the hells with Euron and Jon Snow and the Lannisters and everyone else that kept getting in the way. She wanted -needed!- more moments like these, precious memories that she would cling to with all her strength.
With that thought in mind, she quickened her pace atop him, bouncing but a little to draw out her pleasure.
He leaned back with a laugh, content to let her have her way, but she wasn't having it; she took ahold of his hands and guided them back to her breasts as she kissed him deeply. He knew what excited her well enough by now, and in a matter of minutes, she felt it coming on.
Daenerys arched her neck back, eyes drifting shut in quiet bliss as she quickened her pace atop him.
A soft, breathless gasp escaped her as she saw stars.
Sweet release.
By the gods, she'd forgotten just how good this felt. Once had been more than enough to remind her, twice threatened to get her addicted. Thrice...she was looking forward to the third time already.
Why wait, then?
She wanted Aegon atop her, wanted to him to dominate her as she did him.
Evidently he agreed; because he proved most agreeable when she began kissing him again. He ran a hand down her right hip, tracing the curve of her hindquarters and that was it; they were off again. Seconds bled into minutes and minutes became hours as they switched positions constantly; tempting and teasing and toying with one another, until finally...
.
..
...there!
Screaming his name without a care who heard, Daenerys tumbled off her lover's lap and into his arms, gasping for air.
There was little time to sleep; not with the sun up, not when they were, the both of them, far too worked up.
Didn't stop them from cuddling, though.
She was beginning to enjoy that aspect of loving too, the way Aegon held her against him, the almost protective manner he kept an arm around her waist, hand over her stomach as though to ward off any dagger that might strike at her. Already she could feel a delicious soreness creeping in; she reveled in it as she tucked her head against his chest.
Aegon-Naruto!-rumbled a laugh, holding her close. "Had enough?"
She hummed once and kissed his chest. "For now."
"Insatiable minx...
Daenerys quirked a brow his way. "Careful, ser," she huffed. "You mock your queen."
He kissed her forehead. "Would her majesty rather I spank hwr here, or in the training yard instead?"
Her face burned and she thumped his chest. "Aegon!"
Her beloved only laughed louder.
"Insufferable oaf."
This time, he kissed her cheek. "Wonderful woman...
The sudden compliment had her blushing again for an altogether different reason.
Feeling particularly daring, she reached up to embrace him, spooning her body against his beneath the blankets.
Aegon let her sulk.
Within a matter of moments, she felt her eyelids begin to droop.
Well, well. Seemed she could asleep like this after all. This was bliss.
No, that wasn't quite right.
Home.
Yes, that was the word she sought.
After so long seeking that damnable red door from her childhood, she'd found another. Closing her eyes, she cuddled against her lover.
She was home.
Just outside, she heard her dragons -her children- roar loudly and abruptly.
All of them, loudly crying out, as though i pain.
Concern dawned.
"What's gotten into them...?"
Aegon stirred against her reluctantly; there would be no time for sleep, it seemed; his concern mirrored here.
Dressing themselves quickly, they departed their little hideaway and reached the battlements in short order.
From there, she watched Ancalagon hurtle past, darkening the skies above.
Sweeping across the bay, he dove low and belatedly she saw what he saw, a stray ship in the distance. And there upon its black sail. The sigil of a Kraken..
Aegon's dragon dove lower still ,but mercifully refrained from a strafing run or flaming the vessels. It was only the one ship. How odd.
Why would Euron Greyjoy keep one ship isolated from his entire fleet. Perhaps he was cagey. Wary, even.
In the distance, she heard a horn blow. Aegon hissed out a sudden, sharp breath.
A moment of silence followed.
And then...
.
..
...her children screamed.
A/N: Will it work?
If you know anything about that horn...
...well, you'll have to wait until the next chapter to see what happens.
Well? Should this remain a story? If so I'll endeavor to update it weekly with the rest. If not...well, I tried.
As ever, the Embers rule remains. If people don't like this story? If they don't enjoy it? Well...I'll not continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with two jobs; basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore. My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.
By all means, speak up! Make yourselves heard!
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the Previews!
Well, potential ones.
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~?!
They're most the same, don't want to spoil things...
(Previews!) AKA Season Seven...
Yes, yes, they're rough and unfinished, I know.
Daenaerys frowned.
Touched a hand to her stomach.
She was late. Very late. Could she be...?
"Its too late now. Don't you see? Look at them. She loves him. And he loves her. We can't tell them."
"Tell who what?"
Sam nearly jumped out of his skin.
Arya quirked a brow. "You can fight?"
"When I must."
She drew Needle. "Show me."
"Why?"
"Because, you're honest. You see the world for what it truly is. You don't hide behind lies and deceit." she told him.
"Because, what does lying get me aside from failed plots and plans." he told her, "What are the wagers for this fight?"
"I win, you let me kill the Frey's for what they did to my House." she told him.
"And should I win?" he questioned, "I assume you must have something in mind?"
"You get me." she told him, "Tie our houses together in peace so as to make sure the North doesn't break away when the dead come south."
He laughed. "Nice try."
"You have spirit." he patted Sansa's head then laughed when she scowled and squirmed away. "I like that. Really, I do. But if I catch you trying to undermine my wife again...we'll be having words."
"You're content to be her mad dog, then?"
Dragon, actually." he tapped his eyepatch. "I never said anything about being sane...
EDIT: Hope this chapter put a smile on your face! Have a great day~!
Looking forward to chatting with you later!
Sincerely,
~Nz.