[291 AC]
As soon as Phenex stepped into the living quarters of the young Targaryen girl, he saw Daenerys laying on the sofa. Her head resting in Rhaella's lap, as the former Queen taught the girl about the history of Westeros. Her hands brushing softly through her daughter's hair, while she did so.
"Phenex!", Daenerys greeted joyfully, as soon as her gaze fell on the purple-eyed warrior.
Hurriedly moving from the couch, Daenerys took a few quick steps before her arms closed around his waist while looking up at Phenex with a bright smile. Seeing this scene, Rhaella could only smile gently, knowing that her daughter had long since taken the immortal being as a father figure.
Placing his free hand on top of the girl's head, Phenex softly brushed over her hair.
"Hey, little dragon.", he greeted back with a smile, before looking over to Rhaella, "I hope I didn't interrupt anything too important."
Rising from the sofa herself, the former Queen approached Phenex with incredible grace, her white dress deliciously hugging her perfect curves.
Arriving before him, Rhaella leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on his lips, too shy for any more excessive displays of affections.
"You did not. We were just finishing up.", the Targaryen lady answered, her voice having a gentle tone to it, while a rosy tint began to color her cheeks.
Daenerys meanwhile observed the interaction between the two lovers with a look of childish joy in her bright eyes. In the early years of her life, she didn't have parents or a real family, her brother having never treated her with the same affection a family member was supposed to.
So as she kept her arms wrapped around Phenex, she couldn't help but feel that this was how it felt to have loving parents that cared for her and each other. She of course knew that Phenex wasn't her real father, but after the things she had been told about her biological father, she had often found herself wishing that he was.
Noticing the glossy black-scaled egg in Phenex' other hand a few moments later, the Targaryen girl's eyes grew wide, as she asked with an eager tone: "Is that a dragon egg? Can I finally have my own dragon?"
Smiling down at Daenerys, Phenex replied: "It is indeed a dragon egg and also one that you can bond with, Daenerys."
Guiding the girl back towards the sofa with Rhaella by his side, he sat down on the leftmost seat, allowing Rhaella to sit opposite him and Daenerys to sit between them.
"You have put a lot of effort in your training and we have talked about the responsibilities and duties of a dragonrider often, so I think you deserve the chance to have your dream come true, little dragon.", Phenex stated, before he continued on a more serious note, "Though I hope you haven't forgotten what the first thing was that I told you about dragons and their riders."
A serious look settling on her adorable face, Daenerys nodded as she answered: "That dragons aren't tools or weapons for their riders. They are companions and friends, first and foremost."
Smiling at her perfect recollection of his words, Phenex passed her the black dragon egg, as he said: "Never forget those words, little one."
"Now, this egg will need you to infuse it with magic before it can hatch, which will probably take a few days to do so, as your mother and/or I will first have to teach you how to use your magic. Though before we begin our lessons in that subject, how about you go and show your cousins, niece and nephew the egg.", Phenex suggested, before he continued, "Ruyu will take you to them."
Clutching the black egg to her chest, Daenerys seemed a bit impatient to see it hatch, but eventually relented and nodded, before standing up and moving to his side to place a kiss on his cheek, while whispering a quiet 'Thank You'.
And after doing the same to her mother, Daenerys left her quarters, being greeted by Ruyu.
His personal guard, already aware that Phenex wanted her to accompany Daenerys, easily engaged the bubbly girl in a conversation about dragons and possible names for her own magical beast, as they made their way towards the manor where the Sand Snakes lived.
Moving to his side, Rhaella softly placed her head on his shoulder, her hands taking his into hers and gently brushing over the skin on the back of his hand.
"Thank you.", she whispered quietly, knowing how much his continued care and affection meant for her daughter.
Placing a soft kiss on the top of her head, Phenex just closed his eyes and enjoyed Rhaella's quiet presence.
It was only some time later, that he could bring himself to interrupt their comfortable silence, as Phenex told the silver-haired beauty of his plans for the other two eggs. It was a topic that Rhaella shared a great interest in, especially with one of the riders being a grandchild of hers.
…
Eddard 'Ned' Stark couldn't help but let out an exhausted sigh, once more realising that a Lord's duty wasn't just to fight and protect their territory, but also to see it flourish and that justice was being served inside the territory.
And while these duties weren't nearly as exciting or glorious, they were maybe even more important.
It was also moments like these where he couldn't help but think of his oldest friend the King, being relieved at the knowledge that he had their foster father Jon Arryn by his side, as Robert was clearly not a man of bureaucracy and politics.
Most of his regular duties as a Lord included reviewing numbers and taxes, making plans for next year's harvests, organizing and leading parties to hunt down any pillaging wildlings South of the Wall, bringing criminals to the blade or sending them to the Night's Watch.
Occasionally there would be something else that required his attention, as was the case now. Reading one more time through the message that had been given to him by Maester Luwin, a deep frown appeared on Ned's face.
The contents of the message hinted at one of his vassals, namely House Mormont engaging in the vile act of slavery, specifically the current Lord of House Mormont, Jorah.
And while Ned found these claims hard to believe as the Mormonts have always been beyond reproach when it concerned their honor this was a very serious accusation. The very fact that it was the Maester serving House Mormont who wrote this message though was all the more damning.
As such, he had no choice but to take this whole affair very seriously.
Though just as he was about to write a message and have it sent to Bear Island with an order for Jorah to come before him and attest to his innocence, a fiery figure appeared in his solar.
His thoughts were momentarily thrown into disarray, as the Lord of Winterfell realised who it was that stood before him, divine pressure bearing down on his shoulders.