Book 2: Chapter 6
+++ Daenerys- Westeros+++
Daenerys Stormborn Targaryen Pendragon looked on as the harbor town known as Maidenpool drew ever closer. She hadn't believed it when they said the castle of Maidenpool was made up of pink stones but there it was; pink as fine as any lady's cloths.
"Looks like they are sending out a welcoming party," Captain Belidos's amused tone carried over the rest of the ships, making the rest of the Eagles chuckle.
Daenerys allowed herself a smile as she looked at the flurry of activity by the docks. Hundreds of people were fleeing towards the castle while armored soldiers were making their way to the bay. She couldn't blame them, from their prospective, it must look as if she was bringing an invasion fleet.
The majority of the people she sent over the last year were craftsman's, civilians and family members of the Sellsword companies that have now come to serve Arthur.
'Brother... I wonder if you'd even recognize me after all this time?'
Captain Belidos and several of the women that now attended her – all wives of the sellsword men – had said that she had gone through a growth spurt. She had gotten taller, her breast were now fuller, she no longer retained that childish look but instead looked to be a young woman in bloom. She let her fine, silvery hair fly free to whip in the winds rather than braiding it as her brother had always done for her. Only little girls braided their hair, she was now a woman.
"Signal the other ships to stop," Daenerys ordered and did not even need to turn around to know that Captain Belidos was already delegating the task to someone else. "We will go ahead and meet the hospitable lord of Maidenpool."
Slowly, Daenerys' lone ship broke from the fleet of fifty as the other forty-nine slowed down to half pace.
"Oh, and tell the men they can fly the Pendragon banners now." Soon afterward, Daenerys smiled as she heard the twang of an arrow behind her and knew that all fifty ships were now flying the blue banner of her new House. She could feel the sense of surprise from the docks as the soldiers that had been preparing for an attack now looked at one another in confusion.
Daenerys watched as the docks got closer and made out a flag with a red fish on it. House Mooton if she recalled correctly. Finally they closed in on the docks and made out a fleshy, pale looking man, looking incredibly nervous and often shooting glances at her fleet in the distance.
The moment the ship entered the closest bay, dozens of Eagles jumped from the ships to helped anchor it, while the rest began to look at the Westerosi men, wary of any signs of attack.
With the area secured, Captain Belidos was the first to walk down the extend plank onto the dock and signalled for Daenerys to follow. On the ships, over two dozens Eagles and Stormcrows had their arrows nocked for any signs of trouble.
Disembarking slowly, she heard the muttering of men from Maidenpool even in the distance. After all, she was wearing a nice light blue and white dress, but armored with a sliver cuirass that was designed to look feminine.
Walking ahead, she was flanked by Daario Naharis of the Stormcrows and Captain Belidos of the Eagle's Brood. She saw the pale fleshy man dismount from his horse, flanked by two other men, little more than boys really, though perhaps a bit older than her. She noted that their eyes were roaming up and down her body and felt pleased.
"Y-You fly House Pendragon's colors?" the pale man stammered as if not quite sure until he really got a good look at her. "Y-you also have silver hair and violet eyes, you can- can't be-"
Daenerys sighed at the man's stutter and mimicked her brother's own lordly demeanor. "I am Daenerys Stormborn Targaryen Pendragon. You are Lord William Mooton of Maidenpool?"
The man, apparently remembering just who he was, drew himself up to his full height. "I am, my lady. To think a dragon would grace us after so long... you honor us with your presence."
"The honor is mine," Daenerys replied and gave a nod, scandalizing the man. It was then she remembered, things were different here in Westeros. "Forgive me if I offend you in any way, I was raise in Essos and am not well versed in the courtly etiquettes of Westeros."
To add to the effect, Daenerys batted her eyelashes and looked wrought with herself. The effect was instantaneous as all three men's expressions turned chagrin.
"No! The fault is ours for not realizing," the Lord of Maidenpool chivalrously shouldered the blame.
Daenerys smiled happily and saw that all three men blushed. Just like she was taught, a woman's greatest weapon was her beauty, a weapon she had honed over the past year to wield against her brother.
"My lady forgive me, I don't mean to be discourteous, but surely they can't all be of House Pendragon," Lord Mooton gestured at the fleet in the distance.
"They are," Daenerys confirmed and saw the uneasy looks from the Lord. "However, be assured that we will be marching straight for Harrenhal, and you have my word that they will not cause any trouble."
The man had looked relieved by her answer.
"Although, there might be something else we could do for you," Daenerys began the next phase of her plans. Already, several of the free cities merchants had signed on with her deal, trusting in Arthur's reputation, which had spread far and wide indeed.
"Oh and what is that my lady?" William asked as he watched one of Captain Belidos' men signal the other ships to be began anchoring.
"Well, you see, while the men would be disembarked here, we still have fifty ships of the Pendragon Navy that would make their way back to Volantis and Pentos to escort merchant ships and protect them from the pirates, you understand."
Lord William nodded showing that he did.
"Those ships would have a lot of space afterward when our forces disembark and, well, I do believe Maidenpool is a busy port, not all items get to be exported due to price negations correct?"
Lord William nodded once more.
"Like I said, those ships would be empty and rather than paying a merchant to carry your exported goods, well, House Pendragon could probably do it for half that price."
Lord William looked to his sons with a stunned expression.
"Of course, if you build up a good relationship with your merchants ships, then, forget I sai-"
"My lady!" the lord looked at Daenerys with greedy eyes now. "I do believe we would be more than able work out something of that effect."
"Well, you will have to discuss the details with our admiral," Daenerys smiled and saw the man begin to no longer look at the ship with worry, but with eagerness. As she had guessed, the men in Westeros was just as greedy as the men in Essos.
"Are you sure you want to make for Harrenhal right away? It is quite a journey, especially right after crossing the Narrow Sea. Perhaps some rest would be better?" Lord William offered as if he suddenly remembered to be courteous to his guest.
"No." Daenerys' smile was the same, but this time there was a bit of force behind her words. "I have been away from my beloved brother far too long as it is. As soon as my men disembark, we march."
"Of course my lady, I wish you a safe journey," Lord William courteously replied.
"RAAGGGHHH!" Three loud roar sounded in the distance.
"W-what was that?!" Lord William at the sound that came from the ships as three large cover wooden boxes was being unloaded.
Danerys smiled and waved off the man. "Oh just some exotics... pets I got from Volantis, I couldn't bring them with me until they were a bit older."
"B-By the Sevens Lady Daenerys, they sound dreadfully frightful!" Lord William laughed nervously and his two son joined him.
"Yes, but only to my enemies. Rest assured that they are under control." Daenerys grinned as she watched the rest of the ship pulled into empty harbors.
In a way, Daenerys was sad, her life in Essos was over. But she had always wanted to see Westeros and more importantly, she was still together with her brother.
+++ Three weeks later- Harrenhal+++
Daenerys blinked at the huge stone structure in the distance, wearing a simple cream color dress, she decided to forgo armor now that she was among her own men. Many of the men gasped at the sight, for while they had seen wonders aplenty like the Titans of Braavos or the pyramids of Meereen, the stone structure before them was simply massive in scale.
"From what I understand there should be five towers should there not?" Daario, the handsome leader of the Stormcrows asked. "I count only four. Well, three and a half."
"Riders up ahead, they are wearing Pendragon colors," Captain Belidos pointed out as some of the men got into battle formation just in case it was an ambushed.
The riders were two hundred in total and wearing a sturdy looking armor, all uniformed, with blue cloaked behind their backs.
"Halt! Identify yourselves!" the man, a Westerosi judging by his looks, demanded suspiciously. He saw the Pendragon banners the sellswords were flying and was surprise and a bit alarmed by their numbers.
Captain Belidos, however, was not cowed. In fact, he was angry. "How DARE you talk to your lady like that? Do you not know who this is?!"
The man blinked and looked over to Daenerys, only to widen his eyes in surprise and disbelief. "Y- You can't be, L-lord Pendragon's first wife?"
Daenerys smiled after putting a hand on Belidos's shoulders to tell him to ease off. "I believe my brother has been expecting me, has he not?"
"Ah- w-we have," the Knight immediately dismounted and bowed with his knee in the dirt. "Edward Waters at your service, my lady!"
The other group of the patrol looked alarmed but they also dismounted and knelt. Daenerys smiled and saw Captain Belidos' pleased look.
"No need for such formalities, rise." Daenerys motioned and saw the other men walk up.
"If you don't mind me asking, Lady Daenerys, just how many men are with you?" Edward finally got a really good look at the stream of men on the road.
"A little under eight thousand," Daenerys replied lightly and saw the man eyes widen a bit. "These are Arthur's most loyal men, the Eagle's Brood, along with four other sellsword companies; the Stormcrows; the Sunrocks; the Screaming Dothrak; and the Moon Spears."
The Knight Edward look at the men and nodded to them in respect. "Then, I do believe I have the honor of welcoming you all to Harrenhal, I shall notified Lord Pendra-"
"No, I would like to surprise my brother," Daenerys replied with a bit of mischievous glee. "Please escort us to our new home won't you?"
The man nodded and pounded his plated fist to his chest. "Men! We are escorting the formerly exiled Princess Daenerys Targaryen, now Pendragon, don't disgrace yourself!"
"HOOAH!" the two hundred men banged their chest plate with a shout before they got into formation at the head of Daenerys party.
"Company! March!" Edward shouted as the men on horseback began to ride in unison.
"That whoreson!" Captain Belidos laughed joyously as soon as the riders were out of hearing range.
"What is it Captain?" Daenerys asked as she beheld the men of HER House.
"Lord Pendragon has incorporated some of the Eagles' training into these men," Belidos snickered, looking oddly pleased.
Daenerys smiled as she was a bit worried that her brother had discarded everything from his life in Essos, but it seems he still remembered his roots.
The march towards the massive stone structure took another hour. Amazingly enough, they came across a road system similar to the ones in Valyria shortly after their march resumed. Though it was narrower than its Essosi counterpart, it was quite sturdy. Many of the workers who had been working on the road stop to look at Daenerys' procession with great interest.
Finally they were at the front gates where several hundred men stood alert. It was one man in particular who did a double take and let out an ear splitting roar.
"What in the fucking Burning God's name? CAPTAIN BELIDOS! You finally got your lazy ass here!"
"Seroah! Where are you, you fucking Dothraki cunt?!" Belidos roared in replied before an armored man in Pendragon blues stepped forward from the group of armed men and smiled cheekily. Suddenly the two clasped each other on their arm and smiled.
"Look at you, dressing all fancy like a proper Westerosi!"
"Fuck you, Captain." Seroah replied without guile before his eyes went to Daenerys. He quickly turned back around to scream at a page. "You there! Tell Lady Mordred and the others that Lady Daenerys is here!"
"Where is my brother?" Daenerys, who had been indulgent up to now, brought up the subject most dear to her heart.
"Out on patrol Dana- no I mean, Lady Daenerys," Seroah corrected himself. He had been a good friend to Arthur and one that Daenerys counted among her own as well. She saw him give her an apologetic look. "He'll be back shortly I believe."
Daenerys frowned. "Doesn't he have men to do that for him?"
"He does, but you know your brother Da- my lady," the giant Dothraki man replied with a shake of his head. "He prefers that personal touch."
"Yes, I remember." Daenerys smiled fondly. Her brother still lived by the philosophy he taught her.
"Alright you fuckers, I know you are probably tired," Seroah shouted at the sellsword men, many who knew him returned rude gestures back. "So I am gonna have some men show you were to bunk! Raszi! Where are you?!"
A dark Essosi man walked out and hurriedly nodded as Seroah gave him orders on who should go where for now.
"I am Lady Daenerys' personal guard, I go where she goes," Daario commented even as his Stormcrows were ushered off.
"As am I," Belidos replied to a stunned looking Seroah.
"What?! You can't be! What are you saying Captain?" the Dothraki said in confused tone.
Belidos smiled and place his hand on the man shoulders. "I am no longer Captain of the Eagles, Seroah, I am simply one of Arthur's men now."
"Wh-? But, this post, you were suppose to relieve me of it once you got here!" Seroah spoke up his face beginning to pale.
"I wouldn't even know where to begin. You on the other hand have been here for the better part of a year. These Westerosi men know you, unlike me." Belidos grinned at his stunned former subordinate.
"You fucking whoreson! You set me up!" Seroah raged as he started to curse the very stars. "'Go over there and be diplomatic' you say! 'I'll come and take over once I get there' you say! You lying fucker!"
Belidos, former captain of the Eagle's Brood, merely shrugged his shoulders but did not leave Daenerys' side. After another full minute of cursing, the large tanned man stopped and looked apologetically at the Lady of Harrenhal.
"Sorry Dana, or is it Dany now?" Seorah teased but Daenerys let it pass. "Anyway, we had your room ready since the day we came here, Arthur insisted upon it."
Daenerys blinked. "Really?"
"Aye, and he had two handmaidens ready for you too, those girls had been waiting for you to arrive for almost a year now," Seroah informed her.
Daenerys couldn't help but be moved by her brother gestured. She lost her servants in the fires and some of her most trusted Unsullied body guards. However, Captain Belidos did buy her several dozen new unsullied guards without her knowledge. As such, she had no idea if she should use them, seeing that slavery was outlawed in Westeros.
Suddenly two girls approached with excited looks in their eyes. One was a pretty girl of four and ten, the other was a bit older, probably six and ten, and were both dark haired wearing simple dresses. The two took one glance at Daenerys and hurriedly knelt before her.
"Lady Daenerys, I am Rose and this is my sister Lillian," the eldest one spoke and motioned to her sister. "We have been waiting for your arrival with great anticipation."
Seroah gestured to the girls. "And may I introduce to you your handmaidens."
"Rise," Daenerys commanded and saw the girls got to their feet but kept their head bowed, though the younger one kept sneaking peeks at her. "Well, you can start by showing me to my quarters. Are they close to my brother's?"
The two girls looked at each other but nodded. "You are down the hall from Lord Pendragon's quarters."
Daenerys had to smile at that; her brother kept her close. Was it any wonder that she loved him more with each passing day?
"Well, I imagine I do not look like a proper Westerosi lady at the moment. Perhaps you two could help me with that?" Daenerys suggested and saw the two girls nodded excitedly.
"My lady, you are prettier than most of the highborn ladies we had served before and seen in King's Landing," Rose answered honestly.
"Oh?" Daenerys felt pleased with their compliment. "Do you think I am prettier than Arthur's other wives?"
Daenerys had expected an affirmative but she saw the two girls suddenly begin to look uncomfortable, which caused her to feel more than a bit alarmed. She was considered the greatest beauty in Volantis, if not all of Essos by the time she left... were these girls better?
"They are prettier than me?"
"No!" Rose and Lillian said immediately with conviction, once more surprising Daenerys. It was Rose who looked uncomfortable but she struggled to find the right words. "It's merely... difficult to judge, my lady..."
"Ah, lay off the girl," Seroah came to the handmaiden rescue. "Even I, who always thought you were the prettiest thing I came across in Essos, have a hard time deciding who's the prettiest between you four."
Daenerys frowned. "Four?"
Seroah eyes suddenly turned wild and coughed lightly into his hand though he did looked a bit nervous. "O-oh, Arthur didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what, Seroah?" Daenerys asked in a soft tone and was reward by beads of sweat forming on the large man head.
"Er... which of Arthur's women do you already know about?" Seroah began diplomatically while the two handmaidens looked like they wanted to be anywhere but there.
"The Baratheon and Stark girls," Daenerys said in a flat even tone. "Who else is there?"
"Eh..." Seroah coughed a bit more before he tugged at his breastplate. " Ju-just one other, a mistress really. A girl from some place called the Vale. Pretty little thing too."
"...What?" Daenerys asked as if not hearing it correctly. Her brother took a mistress? "Did he win her in combat like he did the Baratheon and Stark?"
"W-WELL! Would you look at that!" Seroah said exaggeratedly as he looked behind the silver haired girl. "Lady Mordred! Lady Sansa! May I introduced you two to Arthur's sister, Daenerys?!"
Daenerys turned to where Seroah was looking and had to reign in her jealousy. Standing in the walk way were two girls. One with blonde hair as bright as the sun, emerald-like eyes, a slim figure, looking lovely dressed in Pendragon blue. The other had hair as red as fire, was tall for her age, had a larger bust than the blonde, and unlike other redheads there were no freckles on her flawless face. She was also wearing a light powder blue dress.
No wonder her handmaidens were unable to acknowledge her as the greater beauty. It was a tough choice; even she was having a hard time deciding who was the prettiest between the blonde and redhead.
"Ah, Lady Daenerys," the Redhead was the first to speak up as she took a step toward her. "Welc-"
However, the blonde's arm shot out and grabbed her by her shoulder. The redhead looked at her companion in confusion, who merely shook head with an exasperated look before she turned her focus onto Daenerys.
"Lady Daenerys Stormborn Targaryen Pendragon, I presume?" the Blonde spoke up first before she motioned to herself and her companion. "I am Mordred Baratheon Pendragon, and this is Sansa Stark Pendragon. Though I am sure you were already aware of that."
"Where's the fourth?" Daenerys asked and saw the blonde sigh before motioning to someone standing in the corner of the dark corridors. Once more, Daenerys was in awe as a black haired beauty with curling tresses, smooth ivory snow white skin, and a curvy figure presented herself hesitantly with a curtsey.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, My Lady Daenerys. I am Lorelei Lake of the Vale," the dark hair girl voice came out softly and elegantly.
'Brother dear, you certainly do have an eye for beauties...'
Daenerys turned to look at Daario and Belidos, whose eyes continuously shifted among the three beauties.
It was the blonde, Mordred, who motioned for the dark hair girl to rise before turning to Daenerys. "Harrenhal is finally complete, now that its lady has arrived."
Daenerys saw the redhead's eyes widen and looked sharply at the blonde. Something significant just happened.
"Forgive me, but I was raised in Essos, I am unfamiliar with your gesture judging by your companion's reaction," Daenerys told the blonde bluntly and was rewarded with an uncertain look from the Baratheon girl.
It was the dark hair girl, Lorelei, who spoke up first. "My Lady Mordred has named you as the Lady of Harrenhal."
Mordred looked to the dark haired girl and glared at her, the girl simply bowed her head and did not look up from her submissive position.
"Why is that a significant gesture?" Daenerys asked the dark haired beauty, ignoring the redhead and blonde for now.
"It is because there is usually only one Lady of any House," Lorelei began but still kept her head bowed. "By rights, because Lord Pendragon has three wives, all three of you should bear the title Lady of Harrenhal and thus share the power that comes with it amongst one another, but Lady Mordred just named you the sole bearer of the title. Meaning you have complete control over Harrenhal whenever its lord is absent."
Daenerys thinned her lips and had to admit it did sound impressive. "What kind of power do I have as Lady of Harrenhal?"
Lorelei looked up at her as if she could not believe the question asked. "Lady Daenerys, when Lord Arthur is away, you have the same power he does. When he is here, you manage the estate. For example, if you wanted all the servants to start painting this castle yellow, they would do so."
"So I can call upon Arthur's men to fight for me if he's bed ridden?" Daenerys asked with fascination and saw the dark hair girl nodded in affirmation.
"And if we shared the title that means she could have overturned my command."
"That is correct, Lady Daenerys," Lorelei confirmed yet again.
Daenerys looked over to the blonde Baratheon. She was the combination of two of the most vile Houses she knew, Baratheon and Lannisters. One killed her niece and nephew in cold blood, the other tore down her father's kingdom and slew her eldest brother.
"What are you hoping to gain from this gesture?" Daenerys asked curiously at the blonde who was half glaring at the girl from the Vale.
"I want peace in Arthur's house," Mordred answered. "I'd rather not have infighting amongst our own family. I want House Pendragon to be the strongest House in all of Westeros."
Daenerys widened her eyes, stunned, but narrowed it suspiciously. "Even over your vaunted Baratheon and Lannisters?"
"Yes."
Mordred's answer was one of surprise to Daenerys. "Why? Why would you be more loyal to my brother than your own family? You hardly know him."
However, Mordred simply blushed and looked away. "My reasons are my own, save to say, I am of House Pendragon and therefor that is where my loyalty lies."
Daenerys noticed the dark hair girl take on a sad look while the red head was looking at her friend in amazement. She had been expecting an arrogant monster, prepared to fight the daughter from the Houses of traitors. After all, if it happened once, who's to say it couldn't happen again. But this was the daughter of the Houses that toppled her family? So humble?
"And what about you?" Daenerys turned to the redhead who looked startled when she was addressed.
"I- I'll follow Mordred's lead, if she wishes to give up her power over Harrenhal, then I will also." the redhead girl said with conviction. "You can have it."
Mordred looked at the Stark girl in approval laced with mild shock before looking back at Daenerys.
"So you are also loyal to my brother?" Daenerys asked, looking for any break in mummer's act.
Sansa face suddenly softened before she nodded. "I will always be a Stark but I am first and foremost a Pendragon now. I want peace and prosperity for House Pendragon."
Daenerys had not been expecting this, not at all. All of her mental preparation, all her research… for nothing. She would not have to fight to remain by her brother's side. But still...
"You do not find it revolting that he is bedding his sister by blood?"
Westerosi culture frowned greatly upon brother and sisters bedding one another. Daenerys was looking for disgust or revulsion, what she found instead was resignation.
"You two are Targaryens," Mordred answered, and her friend nodded in agreement.
Mordred did not say anymore, making Daenerys ponder the girl's strange acceptance. "What if we had not been Targaryens?"
"... I do not know," Mordred replied.
"Do you take me for a fool?" Daenerys asked as she straightened herself. "Now give me a real answer."
Mordred shrugged before she said, " ... I'd probably have allowed it."
"Truly?" Daenerys asked.
"Well... it's Arthur..." Mordred shifted a bit uncomfortably before she grabbed Lorelei and pushed the other woman forward. The hint was clear, she had allowed Arthur a mistress, most wives would not, Daenerys barely tolerated it herself.
Daenerys eyed the blushing woman who tried to move back to where she had been, only to be blocked by Mordred before she said, "So, if Arthur murdered someone, you'd be fine with it?"
Mordred head shot up in alarm extremely fast and looked seriously at Daenerys' as she fiercly declared "You can't prove it was murder. Clegane attacked him first and I can take care of-uh, I mean, any court would find him innocent!"
"W-what are you talking about?" Daenerys asked taken aback by the girl sudden change in attitude.
"I have witnesses who'd testified that it was Clegane who charged Arthur first." Mordred said as her glare bored into Daenerys's eyes and into her soul. "You. Can't. Prove. Anything."
"Uh…" Daenerys said as she took a step back from the Baratheon girl intensity.
Sansa cleared her throat, and the two women looked at her as she said, "Ahem- Mordred, It was ruled by your father, the King, as an honor debt and trial by combat, remember? Our husband has been acquitted of all charges."
Mordred looked relieved and muttered about how Sansa was such a great asset to House Pendragon.
Daenerys blinked a few times before she straightened herself out and said, "Alright, but Arthur is only half of the equation of this relationship. You're truly fine with me being with my brother?"
Mordred rolled her eyes as she said, "Every woman in the Seven Kingdoms, and probably Essos, who's met Arthur, from the, esteemed highborn ladies of my father's court, to the lowest comonfolk wenches – with the possible exception of Sansa's mother – wishes that Arthur would sweep her of her feet, take her to his bed, and impale her with his lance. A lot."
Lorelei made some choking noises that drew Daenerys's attention but she dismissed it as unimportant for now.
"How can I blame you for wanting – and getting – what every other woman in the realm wants?" Mordred reasoned much to a surprised Daenerys.
Daenerys ignored Lorelei's crimson blush as she said, "You mean that?"
"Oh yes, he is very desirable. Why, the womenfolk of this land would tear the kingdom apart with their passion if left uncheck," Mordred said with a smirk as she glanced at Lorelei.
"No, I meant the part where you're fine with me being with Arthur," Daenerys said with a frown.
Mordred shrugged before she said, "All I want is to see Arthur rule and House Pendragon thrive."
Daenerys blinked at the blonde answers, the girl had put Arthur first over House Pendragon, that was when it struck her.
"You love Arthur."
Mordred had a stunned look on her face before it took on a rosy hue. Daenerys was about to question the girl some more when the person she loved the most made his presence known.
"Dany!"
Daenerys Stormborn Targaryen Pendragon turned to the sound of the familiar voice and was staggered by the vision before her. Her brother was different from how she remembered him. His long hair was cut to look more boyish though he was still beardless. He was in armor that was not the black she'd grown used to seeing him in, but impressive, elegant looking silver. All along the exposed parts of his body was blue clothing. He was even more handsome than she remembered. She had always thought her brother's color was black like House Targaryen, but she was wrong, her brother belonged in silver and blue.
"Arthur!" Daenerys cried out in pure joy as she ran to him and threw herself into his arms, knowing that he would catch her for certain. He fulfilled her expectation and lifted her up and spun her around.
"Look at you! You're grown even taller and prettier than I remember!" Arthur smiled widely at her with real affection. His violet eyes had that soft look that he always reserved for her. Despite her confident demeanor, she felt as if she was a child again under his compliment.
However, when Arthur drew her in for a soft kiss on her cheek, Daenerys blushed a rosy hue and any confidence she had to enact her plans to claim him was thrown to the wind.
"D-Did I really get prettier?" Daenerys asked in a soft small voice, the whole world at the moment only contain her and her brother. "You are not just saying that?"
"You are the most beautiful woman in all of Essos, of that I have no doubt." Arthur replied with a smile. "It is your bad luck that you married me, otherwise men would have beggared themselves trying to win your hand... Speaking of which, are you sure you don't want to-"
"NO!" Daenerys shouted loudly and glared at her brother. How dare he suggested annulling their marriage now? Arthur's face took on a chagrined look before he slumped his shoulders in resignation.
Arthur set her down gently and gave her yet another kiss on her forehead, or he tried to before she pulled him lower and capture his lips with her own, making sure all those present in the courtyard witnessed it. This way, there could be no doubt that Arthur and her were married. She felt her brother try to move her away but she had had time to practice her vice like grip.
Finally Daenerys let a red faced Arthur go, who immediately looked to his other wives. She narrowed her eyes and looked to the girls who seem to be red face and looking away.
"D-Daenerys, that is-"
"Completely appropriate to do with your wife." Daenerys firmly declared and saw her proud brother drew himself up to his full height and sigh.
"Come then, wife," Arthur tone became gentler and he walked next to her. "Have you been properly introduced to my other- err- your sister-wives?"
"I have," Daenerys replied curtly before she look at her brother and smiled. "Still, I see you have done well without me by your side."
"I had help from my new wives," Arthur smiled and did not see Daenerys' look of jealousy. He gestured over to Mordred. "Without Mordred, the castle and it's land would not be running as smooth as it has been. She has a gift for bureaucracy that, quite frankly, leaves me in awe."
The blonde in question simply blushed at Arthur's compliment.
"And without Lady Sansa unique ideas, we would not have the armors and weapons being produced at such a fast pace, not to mention the food stored for the upcoming winter," Arthur dipped his head at the redhead, who, like Mordred, also redden at the compliment.
"All of that would be meaningless without Lord Arthur diligent protection," Lorelei spoke up and Daenerys saw the other two girls nod in agreement.
Daenerys was grudgingly starting to accept that there might be more to the other two girls themselves. Still, she was not without gifts her own.
"Well, I see that Mordred and Sansa have done an excellent job in contributing to Harrenhal's restoration." Daenerys sighed and saw her brother looked at her worriedly.
"Dany, you don-"
"Brother, can I have that tower over there?" Daenerys cut off her brother pointing to one of the massive nearby stone structure.
Arthur blinked before looking at his sister strangely. "Whatever reason could you want it for?"
"I would like to repair it a bit for my own use," Daenerys said lightly.
"Why do you need a whole tower?" Arthur asked looking at the massive tower nearby.
Daenerys put a hand to her mouth and let loose a loud whistle, startling everyone except for Belidos and Darrio.
"Because I need a Dragon's Roost, Brother."
"What do you me- my god!" Arthur began and Daenerys smiled in glee as everyone in the Courtyard including her sister-wives eyes widened.
"RAAGGGHHHHHH!" Three distinctive roars could be heard, making everyone look up, their eyes a mix of fear and caution.
"What in the gods names?!"
"Is that- it can't be!"
"D-Dragons?!"
Daenerys smiled as her three children circled once around the courtyard, making the men on the wall incredibly nervous, before flying down to their mother.
Viserion, the cream color dragon, extended his head and began to nuzzle her. Rhaellion and Rhaenyion were only seconds behind their sibling as they too nuzzled her. They were about the size of a small mare now. She felt Rhaellion insistently nuzzled her shoulder and stroked his green scales, eliciting pleased purrs from her child.
Daenerys was quite pleased with the reactions of Arthur's other wives. The Baratheon girl had a wide-eyed expression of shock while the Stark girl showed genuine awe and amazement. The Vale girl just appeared stunned and did not appear to be breathing as the dragons looked all around them. However, none of them compared to her brother's look of wonder as he stepped forward, even as most of the men, including Seroah, stepped back.
"The eggs hatched?" Arthur asked as he patted his leg, and to Daenerys' and everyone else's amazement, the three dragons went over to Arthur. They sniffed his body, hair, and armor, Rhaenyion even licked his cheek him before nuzzling him affectionately.
"There were... circumstances to how they hatched, but yes, they did," Daenerys' eyes were now staring at her brother in mild shock. Why had her children taken to her brother like that? How was her brother able to know about their favorite spot under their chin. Why was Rhaellion already belly up in submission to Arthur!
"What are their names?" Arthur smiled as he put his plated hand – much to everyone's horror – inside the dragon's mouth and let it clamp lightly on it before the creature playfully tugged at it.
"Uhh... brother..." Daenerys gulped at seeing how Viserion was aggressively tugging at Arthur's armored fist now. "Even I think it's dangerous to do that..."
"Nonsense," Arthur smiled beaming at Daenerys, making her heart flutter. "They're just babies!"
To everyone shock, Arthur took off his plate gauntlet and waved it in front of Viserion. The cream colored dragon took great delight in it -judging by how his head followed the movement around- and toss it into the sky.
Viserion crouched and shot up to clamp on the mailed gauntlet and brought it back to Arthur, who rewarded him with some more long strokes on the dragon's head.
"... Did he just teach a dragon how to play fetch?!" Belidos asked in disbelief.
Daenerys had intended for her brother to be awed by her dragons, but now she felt a bit miffed at how easily he had taken their arrival. However, this was her brother, unpredictable at the best of times. Looking at the satchel that Belidos was carrying for her, she decided she would use the aphrodisiac tonight. It was one of the reasons why she had stayed in Essos; to find a replacement for the one that the fire took.
+++Eddard – King's Landing+++
Eddard Stark, Warden of the North, Hand of the Seven Kingdoms and friend to one Robert Baratheon, saw the tall tale signs of anger on his long time friend's face even before Stannis did.
"You… you DARE come to me with these filthy accusations?!" Robert Baratheon, King of Westeros roared at his younger brother, the dour faced Stannis, Lord of Dragonstone.
Renly, the young handsome lord of Storm's End, tried to played mediator "Brother, the evidence speaks for it-"
"Quiet! I'll get to you soon enough!" Robert roared, cutting off his younger brother. He then turned his eyes onto Ned himself, with hurt in them. "These two, I can see them plotting something, but even you Ned? What did they tell you that would make you believe such lies?!"
The Blackfish, Renly, and Stannis all turned to the Lord Paramount of Winterfell and Warden of the North, and waited for his input. Ned steeled himself for the task. It wasn't the correct thing to do, but it was the right thing.
"Your Grace, the evidence, when taken as a whole, is rather compelling." Ned started off in a soft low tone. "Initially I had been skeptical but thanks to the recent births that Varys had hidden away that you yourself corroborated with beforehand... it looks very damning."
"Damning?! DAMNING?!" Robert voice rose louder as he got up off his seat in the King's Study. "You are accusing my WIFE of cuckolding me, and that my children ARE NOT MY CHILDREN!? That is more than DAMNING NED!"
"I told you he would not listen," Brynden spoke up for the first time since Stannis presented his findings.
"And you!" Robert turned to the Master of Whispers. "Since when did rumors start becoming truths?!"
"Since I found irrefutable proof of what happened to support your brothers' claims." Brynden then unfolded a parchment and handed it to Robert. "This is a copy of the letter that Lord Tywin sent Cersei, detailing how all of your bastards in King Landing had been removed from King's Landing. Now tell me Your Grace, for what reason could the Lord of Casterly Rock possibly have to the take the time and effort to deal with a bunch of royal bastards?"
Robert looked at the paper and ripped it apart a few second later. "That's it then? A piece of paper and suddenly all of my children are bastard spawns?!"
"Robert," Ned saw his friend was boiling in fury now. Despite his heavyset nature, he was still fearsome when in this sort of mood. "Your seed is strong. Every time a Baratheon slept with a Lannister, they always yielded black haired children. Even all of your children that were spirited away from the capital, were black haired, regardless of whether their mother was blonde, redheaded, or brunette. And then there's the fact that many of your bastard sons are the spitting image of you. Take Edric Storm for example, and his mother was as blonde as Cersei."
"Really Ned? What about your children? Robb has red hair, as does Sansa, Bran, and even little Rickon. Does that mean Catelyn slept with someone else too?!" Robert rebutted and Ned himself had to bristle.
"At least Ned can say that one of his children looks like him, brother. Even should your accusation prove to be the case, he still has Arya to continue his bloodline amongst the Great Houses of Westeros. As for you on the other hand, none of your "legitimate" children look anything like you, while almost every one of your many bastards have almost uncanny resemblance." Stannis spoke up once more, holding his head high.
"You are lucky Mordred already left for Harrenhal, or else I'd be tempted to let her hear what you have to say and let her take your head off herself!" Robert shouted before he pointed at the door. "Leave me be! All of you! Except for you Ned, you stay."
The other three men looked at one another before giving Eddard one last look as they walked out. The two men, closer than blood brothers, remained in silence. The Lord of Winterfell knew Robert needed some time to cool his head and really think things through. His friend always had been the type to have knee-jerk reactions before he really considered the consequences.
When Stannis had first come to Ned, it was in the presence of Brynden Tully, who had just begun the process of building a completely new spy network for the realm. He hadn't believed it at first, but the proof, both the letter and what he had found in the lineage books, was irrefutable, along with the testimony of many women that Varys had hidden away. And then there were the recent births in Riverrun, girls that had borne Robert even more bastards. The Spider had considered the knowledge of those pregnant women to be a gift for the true heir of Westeros: Stannis Baratheon.
Ned sighed. If Robert's children turned out to be false, then that meant Stannis was the true heir to the Iron Throne, and Renly after him, seeing that Stannis' only living child was a girl.
"Ned, tell me truly, brother to brother, friend to friend," Robert voice spoke up low. "Do you believe them?"
"It's hard to deny the evidence..." Ned cautiously answered.
"Piss on the evidence, do you believe them?" Robert asked making eye contact with Ned. "I am asking if you think I've really been cuckolded by Cersei all these years. Now tell me."
Ned remained silent trying to think of the answer that would appease Robert, but realized that his best friend wanted the truth, no matter how painful.
"Yes." Ned answered softly. "I do not believe Cersei ever gave you any true children."
"Not even Mordred, or sweet Myrcella?" Robert asked, seeming to sag into his chair.
"Some of Pr- Mordred's activity, documented by Varys, does lean toward her attempting to cover up the fact that she's not your trueborn child. In fact, Varys highly suspected that Petyr Baelish's death was connected to this very same issue." Ned sighed and thought that if only the girl had had dark hair, then at least she could have been spared from all this.
Robert shoulder slumped a bit before he held a hand to his head. "Leave me Ned."
Ned heard the tone of defeat in his friend's voice, one that meant that his friend believed him, despite his overwhelming desire not to. "Should I-"
"Just leave, Ned." Robert resigned tone came out. "I… I'll address this first thing tomorrow."
Eddard Stark looked at his friend in surprise. That reaction was very unlike Robert. History had proven on numerous occasions that Robert should either be too enraged to even think about the realm, or saddened to the point where he'd let his Hand rule in his stead. Resignation to one's duty was not something Robert did... ever.
Unless...
"Robert... did you also suspect?"
"Leave, Ned." Robert emphasized the dismissal in his tone as he poured himself a cup of wine without sparing a glance at his oldest friend.
"...As you wish, Your Grace." Ned tipped his head before leaving the King's study.
+++ Next Day+++
Ned woke up to the sound of fighting out in the hallways and immediately drew Ice. Outside he saw men wearing the armor of House Tyrell and House Lannister fighting his own men. Leading the charge was a furious looking Ser Loras Tyrell, with the newly knighted Lancel Lannister not far behind him.
"What is the meaning of this Tyrell? Lannister?!" Ned demanded as he glared at the two men.
"Eddard Stark, you are hereby wanted for questioning regarding the death of King Robert Baratheon," Loras Tyrell declared as he looked to the men fighting. "Surrender or be cut down where you all stand."
Ned couldn't believe it, his friend? Dead?
His friend. Robert... was dead.
Moments later Ned saw more Tyrell men made their way into the tower armed with crossbows.
"How?" Ned asked looking at Loras for answers.
"Poison in his wine cup," Lancel spat as he glared at the Warden of the North. "According to the Kingsguards, you were the last one seen in his company.
"And in case you are wondering, Lords Brynden, Stannis, and Renly have already fled the city, apparently in the dead of night. It's astounds me that you were bold enough to remain. Or is it stupid?" Loras spat as he raised his hand up, ready to signal the crossbowmen. "Now surrender and maybe your men might live, or we can execute you all now as traitors to the realm."
Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, and Warden of the North looked to his men, who were waiting for his decision. They were good men and they were all ready to die for him. He would not be responsible for them dying pointless deaths.
"Stand down." Ned commanded as he laid Ice down and watch as his men grudgingly do the same. Immediately the Lannister and Tyrell men quickly surrounded his own to bind their wrists. Loras gestured to Lancel, who took out a chain manacle and put it on Ned personally.
As he was being lead away in the directions of the dungeons, Ned began to let his mind work. Why had Stannis, Renly and Brynden left so quickly? They did not even send him a message. Did they know someone was going to kill Robert? Ned sighed as he mourned for his friend, he suspected that maybe Robert knew about Cersei's betrayal, yet his fondness for the children was real. Especially for Mordred. What decision would he have made come the morning? It didn't matter now, for nobody would never truly know.
Stannis would certainly begin to marshal his forces along with Renly and he did not doubt the Robb would call the North to march south once news of his arrest reached Winterfell, and it was safe to say that Brynden would call to muster the Riverlands as soon as he arrived back at Riverrun. Winter was coming, and all the Seven Kingdoms would bleed once more.
+++Sansa – Harrenhal+++
An agonizing headache was the first thing Sansa experienced as she regained consciousness. In fact her headache was so bad she did not even want to open her eyes or move. After a few seconds of rest she noticed how incredibly sore her body felt, even more so than after a hard workout. The most prevalent place the soreness seemed to be concentrated though was between her legs. It was then Sansa noticed something else, she was face down on an unfamiliar bed.
First, Sansa rarely slept face down, secondly, the bed she was on- while comfortable- was entirely too hard and firm. Her fist, which had been balled, slowly spread out to grip the sheet only to touch taunt muscled flesh. Her eyes shot wide open and immediately blushed at what she saw.
She was resting on a bare chested Arthur...
Thankfully, Arthur appeared to be in a deep slumber, judging by the steady rhythm of his breathing. His arms were splayed out to either side of him, but curled up on either side of his arms was a girl with dark hair on his left, and a girl with silver hair to his right.
'Lorelei? And Daenerys? W-what's going on?'
Sansa face, which still retained a blush, decided to push herself up and elicited a groan from Arthur and a soft moan from herself. Something had moved inside of her! Her eyes shot between her legs, and if she wasn't already blushing she would be now, as it was there that Sansa realized that Arthur and her were... as physically close as two people could get.
'Oh- Oh my gods!'
How long Sansa remained frozen, she could not say, but it was then she noticed something else, a soft musky smell everywhere. It made her feel a bit heady but she decided to try and snap out of it. To her left was Lorelei, who usually maintained a perfect look, was now completely messy with her hair matted to her pale white skin. There were visible bite marks all over her upper body, and several red marks that look faintly like handprints. …She detachedly noted that those handprints were more focused on the breast and buttocks areas. She then looked to her right and saw a content looking Daenerys. Like Lorelei, the Dragon Princess' silver hair was also matted and messy, and like the girl from the Vale, there were also bite marks on Daenerys's shoulders and neckline.
It was then something else occurred to her, if Lorelei and Daenerys had bite marks then... did she? Looking down at her own body Sansa noticed that, yes, there were indeed bite marks on her and what looked like hickey spots. Looking around the bed, Sansa notices several stains of red and gulped, it look like blood.
'Oh gods... What HAPPENED?!'
Sansa headache started to slowly recede and the fog that was in her mind begin to lift. There was something wrong with this picture. She was here, Daenerys was here, Lorelei was here...
'Wait, where's Mordred?!'
Looking all around the now lit room, she saw no trace of the Baratheon girl. If Arthur had an orgy with his wives, judging by just how deeply he was buried inside of her, then Mordred should be here too...
Suddenly, it was as if a truck slammed into her head and the night's events came back clearly. Daenerys had arrived at Harrenhal, there were the dragons, which made her immediately think of making Valyrian steel, as she recalled once reading something about dragon fire being involved in the process, which she was going to bring up to Arthur at the first opportunity. Arthur had asked the kitchen staff to prepare a welcome feast for all the new arrivals, but wanted to dine privately with his wives so they could all get to know each other. Lorelei, being his mistress, had also been permitted to be there in the capacity of a serving girl.
However, Sansa decided that she would cook the meal as a welcoming gesture to her newest sister-wife, which was why she had relieved the head chef for her portions. She recalled the head chef had told her that Daenerys brought a spice from Essos that Arthur usually enjoyed with his food. Sansa recalled uncorking the unlabeled bottle and found herself surprised by the smell. It had smelled like soy sauce, or a reasonable facsimile of it. After she lightly licked a bit off her pinky finger, she remembered feeling a bit warm after tasting it and shivering in pleasure, after all she had been looking for something like that sauce for a quite some time so she was reasonably sure her reaction to finally finding it was justified.
Still, Sansa decided that she would make dishes using the ingredient for Arthur and her sister-wives. It had turned out better than expected but much to her sadness, the entire bottle was used up and she had no idea how or where to get more. Her mind flashed forward to their dinner, where everyone was making small talk and how Daenerys was telling Arthur about how her dragons had hatched. She also learned that night that Targaryens can apparently withstand fire. She had seen Arthur's horrified look and even Sansa felt guilty for some reason. Daenerys could have died and Arthur wouldn't have been the wiser until it was far too late.
Daenerys had reassured him that it was not his fault, but she was pleased by his concern for her. Princess Daenerys was a real beauty, Sansa would dare say prettier than her but at least about even with Mordred and Lorelei. Just as they were about to eat, Ser Jaime had arrive and requested Mordred's presence over an urgent matter. Mordred had told them to eat without her and that she'd be back in due time.
So Arthur had ate with gusto as Lorelei also partook of the food and Sansa found that the soy sauce seasoning-like substance was just perfect for the occasion. Strangely enough though, it was Daenerys who began to act weird as she began to tug at her dress, exposing her cleavage a bit more. Sansa had noticed Arthur, who had been eating, begin to eye Daenerys in the same manner as he usually eyed the food she made him. Then he turned his gaze to her, and Sansa recalled feeling weird under his gaze as if her body was reacting in some way. However it all boiled over when Daenerys grabbed her brother and kissed him and then...
'Oh. My. GODS!'
It was that exact moment that Sansa recalled, in excruciating vivid detail, the orgy. Because it WAS an orgy! At one point Daenerys AND her had been kissing while Arthur entertained himself with Lorelei, while watching them!
How could this had happened?! Why does she keep on getting into these weird situ-oh. Right... Karma.
'I'm going to fucking neuter Shirou!'
Well, that explained everything. Sansa recalled Mordred had even returned at one point, saw what was happening, locked the doors, and left them alone.
Suddenly Arthur began to shift under her and Sansa eyes widen as she felt him getting bigger inside of her.
'Oh, it's probably morning w-'
Sansa thoughts were interrupted as Arthur rocked his pelvis up a bit making her moan softly as she was hit by the pleasure of his movements. Bracing herself against Arthur's chest, she noticed that his eyes were open, and that lust-driven look on his face had returned as he pulled her down for a kiss.
'Okay, maybe I've been too hard on Shirou…' Sansa (blissfully) conceded right before Arthur fiercely gripped her hips and began to reenact their earlier activities, vigorously.
'…But I swear if Archer makes a single sly remark about this, I am going to kick him in the ba-!'
"Oh, GODS!"
TBC!
AN: First off thanks you to my editors, seriously! They rock! I hope they are still with me when I get back to writing. Which leads directly into my second post.
Sorry for the long delay in between chapters but there is no two way about it. I have been going through some major real life ... issues that has been going on for a while. So this chapter might be the last of it until something changed on my end. I love writing fanfic but priorities have to be placed and when you are pretty much stress out about situations, writing is pretty much the last thing you'd want to do. So thanks for those that stuck it out with me! Hopefully I can make a retur if not.. well. Who knows if it gets too long I'll release an outline just to finish capping the story off somewhat. Thanks for reading and the reviews!
Now the most importantly thing, the story! Finally! Arthur did it! It took a while but ARthur finally did it! Or them. But No Mordred yet, I think Mordred would get some one on one if ya know what I mean ./wink wink nudge nudge. As for while the long delay between getting marry and why Arthur haven't laid them more often. Like someone put it, they are in teen bodies and their hormone is surging but, one has an ironclad Will, Arthur, another was raise with proper decorum, Sansa-shirou, another is fucking afraid for her life. Mordred. And Lorelei feels guilty so jumping Arthur is the last thing on their minds BUT they wouldn't say no to if Arthur decided he wanted to, because he's their husband and all. So couple that along with their busy scheduled and projects they have going on and there really no time for them to get to know each other on an intimate level. Now not to say they don't sit around and talk, but they are comfortable with each other and there have been stolen kisses here and there.
Also yes, Robert is dead and look who is with the Lannister, the Tyrells who are on par with the Lannisters! I have hinted about their alliance for quite some time and now you see it. So where does that leave everyone? Well you got the North, The Riverlands, Dragonstone and maybe some of the Storm Ends. What happened after this heh heh heh.
And finally Daenerys return to Arthur side with DRAGONS! That's it no more ties in Essos, all those who have served Arthur in Essos have arrived with her. It took her a bit but she's back now :D