Fandom Dragons 🐉 and Direwolves 🐺 (Closed w/ Lucyfer)

[NovaxLeighxKnockoff]

If I look back I am lost.

The words repeated in her head for what had to be the hundred'th time and it surely wouldn't be the last time either. Those moments when doubt and insecurity crept in. Like now with trying to navigate customs of a new city while simultaneously still getting a grip on leading her khalasar; on top of all the losses she experienced recently. Even with all of that though there were still signs that gave her confidence to push forward. Like the fact that her dragon eggs had hatched, or the red comet that helped with guiding them to Qarth.

Xaro Xhoan Daxos 'graciously' allowed them all to stay at his palace while also proposing a marriage; which Ser Jorah pointed out the customs of marriage here would allow him to ask for a dragon. That was another thing Dany had to be mindful of was the manipulation of others to steal her children. Espeically considering the trickery that caused her to lose Drogo. And there really was no time to rest either because once she heard about the death of the usurper king along with the unrest this would be the perfect time to take advantage if only she had a way to get to Westeros as well as more of an army.

Despite the fact her loyal knight was not saying so, Daenerys sensed he didn't see her idea of going to the Pureborn's as a fruitful one. Still she had to try and seek help with obtaining soldiers and ships to head to Westeros. Readying herself, she was just waiting to receive word that they were available to see her.

"Khaleesi." Daenyerys turned, assuming it had to do with her speaking to the Pureborn.


~~~~

The world had a funny twisted humor sometimes. There had been times in the past when the wonder had flickered through her mind if life somewhere away from Casterly Rock would be better. Maybe sort of a 'fresh start'. Well... Lynessa Lannister found herself in the midst of trying to figure that out during a time that was not turning out to be ideal. Nor was it in a place she felt very safe in considering how close it was to the Riverlands.

War was ramping up, whispers of the battles that the north was winning and Golden Tooth was basically the first stop inside the Westerlands.. With just a couple of maids and a guard that came with her it was hard not to feel isolated, though she'd be more worried if her mother had been there with her. Quentyn Lefford, her betrothed, currently wasn't there either; he was with the half of the army dealing with the most recent attack. Which, she had to admit maybe thats part of why she was nervous. They had no idea if it was some sort of distraction to split their numbers.. and with the current loosing streak on their side, Lynessa wasn't feeling overly positive.

Despite it growing late the young blonde found herself unable to sleep but didn't have the luxuries of home to help clear her thoughts. Her worries, unfortunately, weren't for nothing. The first signs of trouble came from her guard barging in, having her put on a hooded cloak to cover her hair. Commotion outside started filling the air as he rushed her, attempting to sneak her out the back before it was too late.​

 

[Lucyfer]

Qarth was hot.

Hotter than Cassia Bolton anticipated. She had not traveled far South, and certainly not across the Narrow Sea, so she had not quite known how to dress. It turned out, she had nothing in her wardrobe at all that would have prepared her for the humidity and the heat, which meant the first priority – after leaving behind the Manderly boat – was acquiring room and then clothes, before she had a letter sent ahead to the home of Xaro Xhoan Draxos.

It was obvious that was where Daenerys was staying.

Everyone was talking about it.

“Mormont.”

It was Jorah who found her after the letter arrived, and she greeted him calmly, hues pink draping her, the light fabric translucent over her arms – barely masking how burnt she was underneath them. That was another struggle with clothes; she needed to be covered, because otherwise, she fried. At least her face had remained relatively unharmed, lightly pinkened. “I heard tale you were with Daenerys.”

“Khaleesi to you,” he indicated.

There was a beat. They were not here to squabble over titles, but there was hostility between them, though they’d never met. Cassia knew his history and he knew she knew his history. That was potentially damning to him. “You are here on Lord Stark’s behalf?”

“King Stark,” still a quibble, of course, “and yes. It is not Eddard any longer, but Robb, his eldest,” Cassia answered, “he seeks an alliance, to put her back on her rightful throne.”

“But exclude him.”

A simple nod.

“She will not want to hear this,” he decided.

“Perhaps not, but she should,” Cassia stated, as calm and collected as many expected of those holding the ‘Bolton’ name. She could see it chilling Jorah already. “If you think I will turn back because you have denied me, you underestimate me. Sending a letter is only one courtesy I can employ to let the Khaleesi know that Westeros is looking for her guidance.”

It did not take long for the exiled Northern to consent after that, and soon enough, she was being guided to the mansion, with Steelshanks following, and brought into the lavish home of Xaro Xhoan Draxos – and, to Daenerys.

Without warning to the poor Queen.

Or, Khaleesi, as Jorah spoke to her, voice gentle, touched with a bit of fear of what he’d done as the silver-haired queen turned.

Cassia took in the moment of her. The woman was not imposing by any means. She was no Lady Mormont. She was delicate, and caught, in that moment, as Jorah Mormont approached. “An arrival from Westeros,” he introduced, before turning half, and introducing, “Lady Cassia Bolton, of the North.”

Just as he was.

“She comes as Lord Stark’s emissary to…seek your return to Westeros.”

Lady Cassia Bolton bowed, black hair spilling over her shoulders. She had not put it up; down, it protected her neck from the damnable sun, as well as her cheeks if she pulled her hair forward, “Your Grace.”

Khaleesi was a foreign name, not fit for Westeros, so Cassia would not use it. Behind her, Steelshanks also bowed, but remained quiet. It was not his place to speak, he was only there to keep harm from befalling Cassia.

~***~

The Golden Tooth was necessary to capture, for so many reasons. Mostly, to give Robb Stark better inroads into attacking the Westerlands directly, and moving troops and supplies through so his attacks would be on the larger scale. True battles, instead of the guerrilla tactics he was becoming quite well known for now.

Not well known enough for the Golden Tooth to be prepared when Robb and his men snuck into their fortress, and began their attack. Getting in had not been too difficult, Robb had managed to scout the area out. Some, he couldn’t quite explain, he’d seen it in dreams, but it made little sense. The rest came from his men who took it in. Then, it was simply a matter of heading in through the weak points, and waiting until the opportune time, when the denizens of the fortress were turning in for the night.

The Northerners moved quickly, securing rooms, and taking down any guards that stood in their way, prepared to take the Leffords as hostages to barter with.

Grey Wind ran ahead of Robb as he made his way into one of the wings of the fortress that had not yet been cleared, the size of the direwolf frightening most of the servants into quickly backing off, providing no threat to the Young Wolf, which was good. Robb saw no reason to kill indiscriminately. The Leffords were an important house to the Lannisters, Robb heard of a pending marriage into the family, due to their location.

Robb would make sure that never came to pass, and the Leffords reconsidered their allegiances in the future to false rulers like Joffrey Baratheon – truly, Joffrey Lannister.

A bastard who shouldn’t be anywhere near his sister Sansa.

What Robb did not anticipate coming upon a hallway, where a guard was escorting a hooded woman out of a room. Robb could not make her out, but he didn’t need to – the presence of a guard spoke enough.

Grey Wind rushed ahead of them to cut their path off, snarling openly at the guard and woman as he braced himself low to the ground, prepared to move on Robb’s command.

Robb was alone in the hallway, but he knew he would not be for long as he faced down the guard. Dacey Mormont was hot on his heels, he could still hear her opening doors behind to make sure nothing was left unturned, and Robin Flint not far behind.

“Surrender,” he ordered the guard, stepping plainly into the light so the sigil of House Stark could be seen upon his cloak – as if the direwolf hadn’t given his identity away, “no one needs to be hurt here,” certainly not the woman who would not be partaking in the fight, “come peacefully and you will be prisoners of the North,” Robb offered to them both, hand on his blade.

He was prepared if the guard decided to fight, to try and protect the woman he had taken from her quarters. He may not have Ice, but his own steel was sharp enough to deal with the likes of most.

 

[NovaxLeighxKnockoff]

Daenerys turned to face the familiar voice, allowing the new Qartheen dress to be shown off. The lilac gown had been given to her as a welcoming gift and so that she might indulge in the culture.

Ser Jorah was not the only one there as Khaleesi turned to face him.

In truth it was what he said that surprised her more than the unexpected guest herself. A curiosity grew. Considering the way the world was, at least in most places, she would have figured a man would have been sent as an emissary to seek her out.

"Is that so?" The fair-haired Queen began but it was more rhetorical than an actual question. One of her handmaids, Doreah, was tending to the dragons which were awake and making their presence known. With the plan having been to head out soon she wanted to keep them safe with someone she trusted.

Although, it seemed there was a small deter in that plan.

"Lord Stark fought against my family in the rebellion," Daenerys gaze slid to Ser Jorah. Her brother spoke often and venomous-ly of the usurpurs dogs.

"...Indeed he did Khaleesi." There was the tiniest hint of hesitancy. Not because he didn't wish to speak ill of Eddard; in fact there was no love lost between him and the late Lord. No, what his hesitancy was about had to do with thinking Daenerys might not be ready to hear some of the tales that would paint her father in a bad light. Knowing he was called the Mad King and actually hearing some of the things he had done were two completely different things.

Part of her wanted to reject immediately; her biases ran deeply and strongly. Her thoughts raced a mile a minute while considering how she might regret at least not hearing out what the woman had to say.

They will wish not to be under your rule," Doreah spoke to Daenerys in the dothraki tongue. The assumption was Cassia would not understand what was said as she warned the queen what was most likely the situation.

"What say you, Lady Cassia?" Daenerys had noted the light pink flush of the other woman's face. Vaguely recalling Jorah mentioning the north was a colder climate she wondered if the heat was a struggle to adjust to. Gesturing towards the table she had Doreah get some wine.

"If necessary handle the Pureborn until I'm free to speak with them, she spoke to her bloodrider Jhogo in his language before giving the raven haired woman her attention once more.

~~~~

They couldn't have gotten more than a few feet before Lynessa was able to witness for herself that it was in fact true. The Starks had direwolves.. and she was coming face to face with one that could pounce at any second. Frozen in fear, the guard was somewhat positioned to try and block her from both threats.

The guard himself would clue Stark and his army in, she realized. His sigil would give it away. Her hair alone would have been suspicious enough; sure more than just her family had fair hair but the fact there was a marriage on the horizon and she had a guard with her? Despite lacking the typical emerald green eyes, she wouldn't get away with pretending to be someone else.

"Stand down," she spoke to the guard but had yet to look in the direction of the men. Her heart was racing a mile a minute while being unable to take her eyes off the animal snarling; knowing that in the blink of an eye her throat could be ripped out.

The man was in quite the predicament. Either he could listen to the woman he was protecting and face her uncles wrath down the line if they made it out of this alive, or die attempting to protect her. Once they surrendered there wasn't much he could do.

Just because the Stark family was proclaimed to be honorable that didn't mean all of their subjects held the same morals.

In the end he didn't wish to face whatever punishment Tywin would think to bestow upon him...

Lynessa didn't watch though she knew how it would end. It kind of grated her nerves that Tywin wasn't even there and he still held more influence to where she was ignored. In the moment she couldn't comprehend that though as her feet subconsciously took a step back in an attempt to create space both from the 'king' and his wolf.

Yet there was no where to go..

All she could do was back up to the door.

Finally hazel eyes managed to move away and get her first glance at the Young Wolf. From the noise increasing she could tell more people would find them soon.

"...My Lord," she began and her hand movement was extremely cautious as she went to pull her hood down. "I'll come without issue," or ... well, further issues. She didn't wish to hand over the dagger strapped to her lower leg though. That way if anyone tried something they shouldn't then she had a way to protect herself.

"I can add this to the list of things to aggravate my uncle," her lame attempt at humor was more to herself to ease her mind. Unlike others in the family she didn't have as good of a stoic personality; which to be fair they had more years under their belt. At least the comment would give some indication how she was related to the Queen regents side of the family.

If this was Castery Rock maybe she could have slipped away into the rocks.. where the only chance they may have found her was through the direwolf and their scent. Then she could have threw the aggravation back at Tywin.

The hood fell. Soon enough the others coming upon them would also get to see the valuable new hostage.

 

[Lucyfer]

Cassia’s expression remained neutral as Daenerys opted to express her thoughts on the matter by damning Lord Eddard Stark. ‘If you condemn all families that fought against your father, you will have no allies.’ Was it only revenge Daenerys sought? If so, this was a fool’s endeavor.

Her expression did not even flinch as another woman spoke in a guttural tongue, far from High Valyrian. She kept her gaze on the Queen, quietly attentive, until the woman addressed her – and cut away to address another – and then returned. She was silent a few seconds after the queen’s attention returned to her, clearly giving a moment in case she had to speak to someone else.

When it was evident she did not, Cassia answered.

“I say if you intend to dismiss everyone related to those who fought your father, you will have no allies whatsoever in Westeros. An individual is not their family.”

Cassia spoke in High Valyrian, assuming Daenerys knew it, but not bothered if she didn’t. Jorah looked briefly startled – from his expression, he didn’t understand – or he didn’t understand enough.

Cassia shifted back to the common tongue that existed between them, “I would not be here, Your Grace, if Westeros did not need different leadership than it currently has. King Stark would see you on the Iron Throne and is willing to negotiate an alliance to that end. I have authority to make some decisions and negotiate on his behalf, though for other matters, I will need to write back to him.”

Simply said, “If you would like to find your place back in Westeros, and have allies that would support you, then I am here to treat with you. If you simply wish to return as a conqueror seeking bloody revenge for your father’s demise, then I shall leave you in peace.”

Jorah almost winced, but managed not to, though his expression was tight. The Boltons…well, they were notoriously calm. And notoriously pragmatic. It was both a virtue and a vice to speak so plainly, and he was not sure how Daenerys would take it. He did not know what had been said in High Valyrian before this.

~***~

The woman spoke to surrender, but her guard was having none of it. Despite the hesitation, he still moved. Robb at least spared her the sight of Grey Wind going after the guard, stepping into the fight and managing to thrust his blade through the guard’s unarmored neck. Blood spilled out from the wound, and Robb pushed him off his blade, as Grey Wind moved into a more guarding position in front of the woman.

Robb turned to her then, as she backed towards a door. He was about to reach and grab her arm to prevent her from barricading herself in, or trying to escape, but she spoke, and his action hesitated.

She promised to come without issue, and she lowered her hood.

Golden hair spilled forth, and she spoke of an uncle. There were no names offered, but he could guess well enough. He didn’t smile, too tense in the situation of active combat, although his expression at least softened. “No harm will come to you,” he promised, “I am Lord Robb Stark, you have my word.”

Although the details of what fate awaited her would have to be determined after the fighting was over. Dacey Mormont came into the hallway, a tall woman with her brunette hair pinned up to keep out of the way of combat. She paused at the sight, and Robb nodded to her, stepped back, “Escort this lady to the main hall with the other prisoners,” he directed, “we’re about done here.”

“As you will, Your Grace,” Dacey didn’t hesitate to come forward, and offer her hand to the woman. “Come,” her manner is brusque, but not rude. There is an urgency with combat still occurring around them.

 

[NovaxLeighxKnockoff]

"An individual is not their family.”

No they were not, Daenerys thought to herself. The only comparison she actually had was herself and Viserys; which upon thinking about it he probably would have reacted the same, or worse, upon hearing the name of someone close to the late King. That thought... was not a pleasant one. As much as she may have cared about him because he was her brother, what she observed from him was not really the type of ruler she wanted to be. Especially considering he sold her away like a slave.

Daenerys found herself more intrigued; her mother tongue wasn't a well known language. People scattered throughout the Free Cities might, as well as maesters, but even among nobility it was rare knowledge. Maybe that was part of why she wasn't quite as... bothered? Having someone speak in such a bold, and brazen, way wasn't something she was used to. Cassia's directness made her realize how that approach would probably be for the best when it came to learning and understanding her homeland and its culture.

She had Ser Jorah but there had been few opportunities to discuss such things. And any rate he wouldn't have the same perspective that a woman would.

"You make a fair point, Lady Bolton," Daenerys spoke as an attempt to amend the implications her comment gave. She was completely unbothered by the fact no one else could understand them. However she did feel the need to address one of the points in the common tongue.

"I can see how that would be an easy conclusion to come to, Lady Cassia. Avenging a father I never knew seems trivial compared to actions taken against me personally." Daenerys first began while occasionally slipping into High Valyrian. She even refrained from using Viserys choice words when certain people were being referred to. "The past can only offer clues into who might've supported your late kings actions. From what I've gathered so far it sounds like much has happened since then anyway. Both for myself and Westeros."

Daenerys was, unfortunately, oblivious to most of the recent events; obviously. Particularly because they only just learned of the usurpers death. Even still the talk of unrest meant some on the Baratheon's side back then might find her more favorable now compared to their current option; or options. And any one of them would want some kind of 'step up' so to speak.

"I take it your King has no interest in the throne," she then switched back. Daenerys knew she may not like the potential answer Cassia would give, but it would still be useful in knowing what dynamics she would have to face if she refused to agree with letting one region break off from the rest. "If I were unwilling to agree with the North breaking away, does he have an alternative plan?"

Unspoken was the fact that unless he choose someone loyal from his own kingdom then other families wishing to grab power may not be thrilled with the prospect of only ruling six, or less, regions. Surely one wouldn't care about the drastic differences between the north and the south but that was also another factor to consider. Would the ones considered to be most loyal and unlikely to backstab be willing to live in the south?

~~~~

Despite the promise it was hard not to find her thoughts wandering down less positive paths. There would be plenty of time to dwell over all of that, too, because barely a heartbeat had passed before another rounded the corner. This time it was a woman. She didn't really want to turn her attention from the direwolf but she had to.

Lord, or King, Stark directed her to be taken to the main hall with the others.

Unwilling to come off a liar already by being difficult, Lynessa took her hand and wasn't really all that interested in getting more first hand views of the fighting. Finding a way to just blend in and not stick out like a sore thumb would have been ideal but also another useless thought to cross her mind. As fleeting as it would be, the time it took to get to the main hall gave her a reprieve from more worrisome rabbit holes to travel down by focusing on the wonder of if her maid Jocelyn was already there and okay. Other than trying to pick her out from the group she didn't particularly want to see the fear, pity, or whatever other emotions the other prisoners were displaying that would only contribute to her own anxieties.

Once Lady Mormont left her to wait alongside everyone else, that was when thoughts really began to spiral downward. Maybe... humiliation would be the plan... Try to make others in her family feel slighted. She didn't think it would hit some of the targets they were hoping for but still. Maybe-

"You're alright!" Jocelyn momentarily interrupted her dismal outlook. The other female wasn't much older than herself, and they were about the same height. Her blonde hair had more of a red tint to it; which was currently down with pieces from the front pulled out of her face by a barrette.

Jocelyn went on asking her if she was alright but Lynessa merely gave a nod in response; not trusting herself to not give away her feelings if she spoke. Ironically enough today was one of the days she had chosen to wear one of her favorite colors rather than that of her house. The lady wore a shade of dark blue, which she had never had the chance to change out of thanks to feeling restless; while her maid was wearing a shade of red. Not quite the crimson of House Lannister but even still seeing her with Lynessa would be an easy enough guess who she served for.

More trivial thinking that she supposed didn't truly matter.. Aside from the possible perception it might give. The two had the same line of thinking to move off to stand by one of the walls so that they could get a view of everything and no one would be able to sneak up on them. Since, if what Robb said to the other woman was true, it might not be all that long until they knew what their fates were.

 

[Lucyfer]

Daenerys returned the high valyrian in kind, and Cassia understood it well. Her accent was different, but not thick enough to distract from that understanding. She slipped in and out of Valyrian, which seemed to daze Jorah, as he looked between the two women for further understanding of what he didn’t understand.

Cassia, however, let her expression remain neutral. She did not react to a word or sentence. “No, his grace does not currently have an alternative plan, but that does not mean one cannot be negotiated. He is besought with grief for the loss of his father, and the capture of his sisters. What one monarch does, will not reflect on another.”

“You sound as if you do not support him,” Jorah couldn’t help but comment.

“I do not support him in this,” she said, “he does not consider that the North relies heavily on trade with the Reach, among others, when winter comes. Should our kingdom no longer be united, the tax on importing goods from the Reach is likely to be ludicrous, whereas the tax while we are united under one kingdom is unlikely to be nearly so bad.”

Jorah hadn’t expected her to speak plainly.

“However, it is not my place to make decisions for him, so what I say for it will matter little if he is not convinced,” she conceded that point to Daenerys, “it does give me insight into what has not convinced him, and why he has turned. You may even prefer to have the North cut loose, to benefit from such taxations,” Cassia shrugged, “I am here to negotiate terms that will please both you and Lord Stark, and act as a medium between.”

~***~

Soon enough Robb had cleared the fortress of hostilities enough to start sending men in to take loot. Food was paramount, but gold never went amiss, nor did weapons and armor –especially arrows. They weren’t hard to make, but why make them when they could be stolen? Robb let others handle those duties, as he went to the main hall to see those who had surrendered.

It was mostly staff by the looks of it, including a maester, but the two noble ladies were easy to pick out amongst that. Robb recalled the blonde, but he did not know the other at her side. He approached the two of them, after dismissing Lord Bolton to speak with the maester. Grey Wind walked only a step behind.

He inclined his head to both, before speaking, “I am Lord Stark,” he said it for the benefit of the new woman, “what are your names?” he could guess one a Lannister, but it was not an assumption he’d state aloud. Some truths may come soon enough from their quarters, but he hoped they would be honest now.

Though, he understood the temptation to lie.

Being less could be seen as a benefit in these situations.

Still, he would wait on their answers, already certain both would be worth retaining as hostages, to trade or ransom down the line.

 

[NovaxLeighxKnockoff]

Daenerys glanced between the two as Jorah made his remark. The way Cassia said it had somewhat occurred to her but the situation with the sisters had stuck out to her more. As much as she was still reeling over her own recent losses, and dealing with some of the feelings pushed onto her by Viserys without much alternative perspectives; a part of her knew that in some ways he had more at stake. He still had loved ones that were in the line of fire while hers were all gone now.

Cassia made some fair points.

Actually, Daenerys hadn't expected she would be that straight-forward with her response. It wouldn't have been unexpected if the other woman would have been trying to muster up all advantages for the north, and in turn Lord Stark. But instead she actually offered up a reason for the split being a disadvantage; at least for the north. The example of taxes was a nice little mental reminder of how her skills for governing and politicking still had a ways to go.

And, unfortunately, there were other more pressing things that meant truly being able to learn those sorts of skills was somewhat on the back burner.

The thought also flickered, annoyingly, about her lack of advantage both in negotiations or trying to muster up an army. "I welcome any insights you have to share," Daenerys began. With both food and water available she went ahead and dismissed her handmaids for a more private conversation. "With the length of time Ser Jorah has been away from Westeros," which was putting it kindly, "I don't believe it's too presumptuous to assume more is different with the current state of things than what's already been shared."

Not all of it necessarily was as major like the death of a king or the capture of Lord Starks sisters but still.

There may have also been the fact Cassia could offer a prospective on Westeros that Jorah never could. She was holding off on that for the moment though. It felt better suited for a 'girls talk'.

~~~~

Time felt both agonizingly slow but also too quick at the same time while they waited. Lynessa wished she felt half as calm as Jocelyn appeared to be; but maybe that was just it. It was possibly just a facade like what she herself was attempting to present. What happened in the hall didn't bother her nearly as much as the ominous feel of likely seeing a lot more of it before whatever fate awaited her at the end of all this.

Lynessa didn't have to look over to sense the same feeling from Jocelyn that she'd had. Nor did she have to look to see why either. Because when some of the men started entering the hallway she immediately spotted the one some referred to as the Young Wolf. The size was still very much intimidating, but Lynessa felt her cousin was lucky that her first glimpse of the direwolf was a lot more.. tame; compared to having it snarl and growling aimed your way.

Soon enough he was headed in their direction and, ironically, she couldn't help but think of her own deceased father. The situations were vastly different but nonetheless it still inadvertently lead right back into her negative thinking. What would Joffrey care about some second cousin he barely knows; especially when coupled with the fact he had Lord Starks sisters? Recent actions showed he was just a boy king who had wanted to exert his power which lead the realm to war.

She was sure others felt the same even if they would also never admit it outloud.

That thinking was why she believed he'd thwart and not want to do any negotiations even if it was a scenario that benefited them more than the other side. Tywin or Tyrion could only be able able to manipulate him so much..

"Jocelyn Marbrand, My Lord," her distant cousin was the first one to speak up. "And my cousin-"

"Lynessa Lannister," She gave a slight bow of the head while thwarting what may have been an avenue of claiming herself a Marbrand. Her mother was one so it wouldn't have been a complete lie. But that wouldn't explain why the box in her room also had the lion on it as well.
The box was a lie in itself passing off as a jewelery box but having a secret compartment where the dagger usually resided. All she needed was time though to show that secret was not for nefarious reasons but merely an attempt of self preservation.

"What happens to us now?" She continued on. Maybe if she faked calm and collected long enough then she would start to feel that way.