A/N: Apologies for the short chapter.
Reviews keeps me writing, looking forward to chatting with you all~!
Life has kept me away, but I have returned, spurred on by all your feedback.
If by some miracle this chapter gets a ton of feedback-unlikely, but possible, given its well past 1,100 already-I'll do my best to update early, possibly even weekly as I am with other stories. Until then, I'll be updating other things.
No questions this time. We've got a lot of ground to cover!
Alright, I've kept you waiting long enough, methinks. Enough of this old man's rambling; you're here for a story. Hope you're prepared for the chaos to come. Once more, I own no references, quotes, memes or themes. Not a wit or a one. Nope. They're simply tributes to legends far greater than I.
Lastly, a reminder to one and all. Naruto's Westerosi name remains Nathaniel.
Joanna prefers to call him Naruto, yet she's the only one who truly does.
Timeline is still a little skewed here, but hey, that makes things...fun.
References and verbatim from Game of Thrones below:
"Mad, am I? Perhaps you should speak more softly to me then.
After all no one knows what a madman might do.
Do you? No? I didn't think so.
~?
Madness is Catching
Westeros was changing.
Tywin felt in every letter he read these days; in the West and the East, the North and the South, from the far flung Eyrie of the Vale, all the way to Sunspear in Dorne, he could feel the Seven Kingdoms preparing. Most had heeded his warning to safeguard their families from the increasingly mad king, but even he couldn't be wholly certain as to what they were planning. Only that they were mustering their forces.
For what precisely, he still didn't know.
War? If so, then against whom?
The Crown? The Westerlands?
Surely Aerys wouldn't be so foolish as to declare against him of all people...
.
..
...right, the man was a raving lunatic. Who knew what he might do next? He had already tried to take Nathaniel from him and all but forced Jaime to don the white cloak of the Kingsguard to keep his paranoia at bay. There was no end to his paranoia.
That said, he'd received...rather interesting tidings from his eldest son this year. How kind of Jaime to keep him informed of such things. As they'd agreed of course. The boy need not wear that white cloak forever, only so long as to deflect the king's attention from the rest of the family.
And deflect he had.
You see, it seemed Aerys Targaryen had come down with a rather curious bout of terrible bloody scratching. Such a shame. Some said it might even be a form of Greyscale; many a Maester had tried and failed to cure him of this malady; they'd even amputated his right arm in a desperate attempt to stave off the affliction.
In truth, he suspected Nathaniel had something to do with the King's suffering. His son had ever been adept to anything he set his mind toward. Of course, if his constant communique helped keep the Queen in check as well, all the better. It was always wise to have a monarch in one's pocket, powerless though she might be. And if she truly was entertaining the idea of a dalliance with Nathaniel -as he believed she may well be!- then it meant they had another knife poised to strike at Aerys where he least expected it. Best to keep one's options open.
Aerys had to go. By hook or crook, for force or peace, he must be removed from the Iron Throne, and soon. If not for the good of the Lannisters, then that of the realm.
The thought shamed Tywin, but only for a moment as he went back to work. His old friend had been a good king once, or rather he'd tried to be. Aerys was so full of energy and optimism and ideas in the beginning, before the dark days. Before the madness took hold, before Duskendale. Before that last bitter argument between them finally shattered their friendship forever.
With that thought in mind, Tywin began to scratch out another letter with his quill. This one was addressed to the Baratheons.
Steffon Baratheon had several sons after all, one of which may well make a match for Cersei.
Oh yes; Westeros was a'changing. But for better or worse? Even he could not say.
Time would tell. Regardless, he would be prepared.
A Lannister Always Pays His Debts.
(.0.0.0.)
Days spiraled into wild weeks.
And weeks into months.
Months into a year.
Then another.
Another.
Naruto tried to keep track of the time all, but it just wasn't possible; you could count the days one after the other to be sure but he had so much more on his mind than the passing of the moon and sun; there were letters to write, friends to find, allies to make and hearts to break. He took no pleasure in the last one; he couldn't afford to sow wild oats here, as the saying went. Many a Northern lass fancied him, and more still were taken in by his good looks, but he knew Lyanna wouldn't look kindly on him bedding every comely servant that caught his eye.
No matter how entertaining it might be.
All the while he kept his Egg close. If not on his personage, then carefully tucked away in his quarters were no one could find it. He had no fear of someone breaking the bloody thing, it had already proven tough as stone, but he was very much leery of letting anyone else see it. Both the Hound and Nymeria were sworn to secrecy, to say nothing of Lyanna herself, but he dare not trust anyone else. Winterfell and the Starks were good and loyal people but it only took one pair of loose lips to sink a ship.
And this ship was sailing into dark waters indeed.
The time approached. The hour drew near. Soon, he would be free from the North, but free to do whatever he wished or what exactly...?
Return home? Yes, that went without saying, he missed Casterly Rock and his family, but so too had he kept in contact with Rhaella and Elia, to say nothing of Cersei. They'd each told him things; and through them, he learned of the dark tidings in Kings Landing. Jaime didn't dare send a raven his way -he didn't dare these days, not with that mad dragon ranting and raving- but he did write to others, and in so doing, kept relatively abreast of the news, dated though it sometimes was.
It seemed old Aerys was going quite insane these days. And he was down an arm now thanks to his "itching", as it were. Such a shame~!
Setting his quill back in the inkpot, he leaned away from the latest letter on his writing desk and stretched both arms above his head. It promised to be a cold night, tonight. He'd have to stoke the fire again.
Movement in his peripheral vision drew his eye. On a whim, he craned his neck towards it.
Sure enough, his gaze was inexorably drawn back to the Egg in all its crimson glory.
It trembled once atop the bed, where he'd left it hanging out his backpack.
Naruto frowned at its surface. Had he imagined that just now? Maybe?
Sure enough, it rocked anew.
He glared at it."Don't you dare."
Another tremor shook its scaled surface.
He noticed it at once and burst to his feet, swearing softly. "No, no no! He practically dove on it, dragging it into his embrace to feed it with fresh chakra. "Don't hatch here! You'll get me in trouble!"
The egg went still at his tender touch. Almost as if it understood. Surely that was impossible.
Yet he could feel it, its eagerness, wanting to be free and feast and fight, to be reunited.
Waitaminute, reunite-
The Hound swung wide the door, interrupting him. "Got a visitor, brat."
He frowned. "Not now-
"Yes, now!" Lyanna swanned into the room with a swirl of silk and a song, distracting him beautifully. "Good evening! Oooh~!" She noticed him holding the egg and her face lit up; she paused only just long enough to latch the door behind her before throwing herself onto the bed beside him. "Do you think it will hatch soon?"
Naruto bit his tongue until he tasted blood and pointedly chose not to mention wat just happened. "I hope not."
"But dragons!" She flounced onto the bed with a giddy sigh. "Just think of it! Yours will be the first in an age! Wouldn't that be wonderful?!"
"Wonderful, she says." He scoffed almost despite himself. "About as wonderful as you claiming a Direwolf." touching a hand to the egg, he scowled at it. "If that really is a dragon in there; it won't let me ride it. They only take to Targaryens, remember?"
"Not so! " his wild wolf righted herself with deceptive graced and laid her head upon his shoulder. "There was this girl back in the Dance of the Dragons. Her name was Nettles." he spied the flash of a grin on her lips as she turned to face him fully. "She brought a wild dragon sheep and fed it until the beast accepted her as its rider. His name was Sheepstealer!"
Naruto knew the story well. There was indeed mention of such a girl; although she had supposedly survived the Dance, she vanished soon thereafter. It was hard to know. History was rife with the Greens and Blacks and their pointless war. They had, quite literally danced away the birthright of future Targaryens. Though he supposed he ought to be grateful; Aerys was mad and dangerous enough, but with a dragon like Meleys or Caraxes at his beck and call? Or sage forbid, Vhagar?
He shuddered at the thought.
Lyanna coughed pointedly, demanding his wisely focused on her, instead. "You know your histories."
Of course I do." She preened. "I love dragons. Just think." taking his hand, she guided it back to the egg. "Yours will be the first thing it sees."
"Not yours?"
"I am no mother of dragons." she huffed indignantly, but he didn't miss the lack of rancor in her voice, nor her sly, selfsame smile. "I am a wolf. And you are my lion." her fingers curled around his as she spoke; indeed, she said it as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "And you always will be. No matter what happens."
She sat with him awhile after that.
No words were said, nor were any needed.
Together, they basked in the warmth of the hearth.
(.0.0.0.)
"Cersei darling, you have a visitor!"
Her first warning was Mother's voice; even then, she barely had time to prepare.
Hurriedly she ran a hand through her hair, smoothed down the silk of her golden dress and-
The door to her sitting room swung wide open, forcing her to clamor to her feet, still struggling to make herself presentable as Mother swept in, little Tyrion tucked under one arm. She barely noticed her little brother; for you see, there was someone else with Joanna Lannister, someone she didn't recognize at all.
A boy!
Here in the castle!
No, not a boy, but a young man...
What was this?! Father had made no such mention of a match!
Her eyes widened as she beheld the tall stranger, encased in a gold and black doublet with matching trousers. Idly, she noticed the warhammer slung across upon his back.
"This is Robert Baratheon," Mother's smile was radiant. "He's come all the way from the Stormlands to pay a call on you." her eyes twinkled. "Isn't he handsome?"
Robert Baratheon beamed at her and sketched a rough bow. "Pleasure to meet you, my lady."
Cersei tilted her head and considered him. He was handsome enough to be sure but he was no Nathaniel, even with his dark hair and piercing blue eyes-gods! She recoiled from the thought a moment later. She had sworn to better on the old gods and the new and they had answered her. In her darker moments she feared what might happen should she renege on her promise.
Would her dear brother collapse? Like a puppet cut from its strings? What would Jaime think?
So she forced a smile she didn't quite feel, put on a happy face for Robert and...
...endured.
(.0.0.0.)
Elia swept her sword forth with a snarl and knocked her brother to the ground
Oberyn barked a laugh and swept up his spear with a grin.
"Once more, sister! You'll best that Lion yet!"
(.0.0.0.)
Rhaella burned another letter in the hearth.
She watched the parchment wither and crackle in the heat, curling away to nothingness, sighing softly.
Her strength was failing. These letters from her Lion gave her strength, but Aerys was growing increasingly mad these days. She wasn't sure how much more she could endure.
She was the blood of the Dragon, of Old Valyria, but sometimes she just felt so tired these days. So very weary. Her so-called "husband" had ever been a shell of his former self since the madness took hold, but now he'd taken to attacking those around him for the merest of slights. He'd not laid hand on her yet, thank the gods, but she'd only narrowly managed to divert his fury last time. She'd taken to drugging his food with milk of the poppy since, but now he was outright refusing to eat, which in turn only made
It must end soon. If it did not, she would take one of her eating knives, waiting for the right moment and STAB-
The door opened behind her. She barely paid it any heed. It was only when said door closed and someone coughed behind her that she finally took notice.
"Not now." she muttered, staring into the flames.
.
..
...her visitor coughed yet again.
Rhaella kept staring at the flames. She imagined herself a dragon, taking wing and burning King's Landing to ash, flying far, far away from this wretched place...
.
..
...my lady."
Violet eyes flashed with indignation as she rounded on them. "I said not NOW-
All the color drained from her face as she beheld her guest.
The Master of Whispers smiled pleasantly back at her.
The spider? Here?
"Lord Varys...?!"
"Just Varys if you please." the bald man bowed his head and looked to a seat. "May I...?"
Rhaella sputtered weakly, then rallied. "Why, yes, of course...was there something you wished to discuss?"
He locked the door and sat before her.
Silence reigned, save for the crackling of flame.
His eyes met hers for a long moment. At length, he sighed, then spoke. "I believe the king had become a danger to himself and others. Do you not feel the same?"
Poor Rhaella damn near choked on her spit, and panicked with it. "I know not what you mean, and I'll thank you not to speak of this-
He shook his head slowly, cutting her short. "Come now my queen, let us not dance around this. We both know the truth, do we not?"
A small, despairing noise burst out o her. "What would you have me do? I am powerless, I have nothing, I cannot-
He handed her a letter. "Continue your correspondence, of course."
Rhaella accepted it warily. "What is it?"
Varys smiled for her. It was not a nice smile.
"Consider it a message for our...mutual friend."
A/N: We'll call it a day there for now. Very tired.
Hopefully you enjoyed this as much as I did writing it.
Well, should this remain a story? Would you like weekly updates? I've got five slots left. Or should it fade back into oblivion? By all means, speak up.
As ever, the Embers rule remains: If people don't like this story? If they don't enjoy it? Well...I won't be able to continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with two jobs; and 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.
So...in the immortal words of Atlas...
...Review...Would Ya Kindly? And of course, Enjoy the previews. Potential ones...
Previews are -mostly!- the same this time. Didn't want to spoil the upcoming chapters.
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
SPOILERS LAY AHEAD!
YE BE WARNED~!
(PREVIEWS)
Aerys was wroth.
The king had been itching himself greatly as of late flaying himself bloody scratching. If he wasn't cutting himself upon the throne;
It's all his fault! I know it is! That blasted lion!
Jaime listener with half an ear. He's your brother isn't he?! Perhaps I should take one of your hands and send it to him!
The queen was asking for you, my king.
Bah!
Ser Barristan.
He's mad.
It is not our place to question the king.
This couldn't go on much longe .
Something had to give.
(.0.0.0.)
Her daughter was cross.
Joanna knew it
Is that his plan then? To wed me off to the largest keep he can find?
We need allies, darling. Is that why father sent Nathaniel to the North?
Perhaps. But he's also stringing along Dorne. We both know their custom are a tad more…flexible thn ours.
That was putting it most mildly!
We have a great many enemies without, those who would gladly tear us down. Remember what nearly happened to your uncle Kevan?
Perhaps you should look in on Tyrion. He missed his siblings. You're all he has dearest
Cersei felt her heart wrench.
Oh, very well.
She drew herself up with a huff.
sister!
Urk.
There, there. Little brother.
he was a dwarf. There was no skirting around that.
had he taken mothers life she might well feel strongly about this.
For a moment, she could've sworn she felt an invisible weight press down on her.
You swore.
she had. To be better, and not just to Nathaniel.
He loved her. He was family. How could she possibly hate him?
Lyanna tutted softly. "You foolish lion."
"This from the wolf who thumped three squires?" She thumped him over the head and he laughed. "Ow, ow! Hit me all you like, I regret nothing!"
Joanna sighed. "My dear, sweet boy. What did you do...?"
He laughed and fell into a chair. "What was necessary. You should've seen the look on his face, mum...
Rhaella perked up. "It really IS you...isn't it?"
Bloody tourneys. He hated them. Still, this was a sight better than jousting. He'd take what he could get in the melee.
Prince Rhaegar was...not as he expected. At least he seemed saner than his father. For now.
"May you fight well." the prince settled into a stance.
...same to you."
"Seven hells!" Robert guffawed. "How are you still standing after a blow like that! You must have a skull like iron!"
Naruto reeled on his feet. "Something like that...
"Gods, this calls for a feast!" He slung an arm around his shoulders. "To our new friendship! Don't sulk over there, Ned! You're coming too!"
He could feel HER staring holes in him as they japed.
Rober elbowed him, winking as he did. "The she-wolf's looking at you again, lad. Give 'er a kiss."
Naruto thumped him over the head. "You kiss her!"
"Me?! The Baratheon only laughed harder. "Not a chance! I'll not come between a wolf and her prey. Besides, I've got my eye on another...
"I am a Lannister! Not some broodmare!"
Joanna tutted. "You're my daughter. You've not even met the man-
...I won't do it."
...enter."
She was waiting by the bed, clad in nothing but a sheer silk gown.
EDIT: Hey, you made it! I do hope this chapter lived up to your expectations. By all means, feel free to let me know what you think!
Looking forward to reading your feedback/chatting with you when I get back from work!
Hope you have a great day!
R ! =D