Dragoness (Game of Thrones)

1. Farewell

-Daenerys-

"Princess Daenerys, would you be so kind and hurried up? The ships can sail only during the high tide, which will end in an hour! Your brother's ship is loaded and ready to set sail," chastised Dany her septa. Of course, her holy twin was a shiny example of how royal children should behave.

The princess was running around and gathering all her belongings, mainly her fancy dresses and jewels. Everyone said that she would need such things in King's Landing. Dany knew she will need mainly a  strong stomach and an iron will. It was known that the capital was a snakes' nest, full of both more and less poisonous snakes. Some of them were bound to bite her and she needed to make sure they were the less poisonous kind.

Dany sighed as she threw a hundredth dress to the chest. She was not allowed to take her horse, but it seemed that the space on the ship for dresses was unlimited. Dany promised to herself that once they arrived in the city, she will buy a charger. And maybe a palfrey too. One could never have enough horses. The poor beasts got lame so often.

"Septa, bring me a goblet of watered wine, will you? All this dust makes me thirsty. The maids could really do a better job of dusting," said Daenerys as she was packing her collection of seashells.

Septa muttered something about spoiled girls and the long distance to kitchens, but set off to fetch the drink.

Dany immediately stopped what she was doing and ran out of her room. She knew the castle better than anyone, but pretended that the complexity of it scared her. Often, when she came late to her lecture, she just said that she got lost. The best excuses were the simplest ones.

She hurried to the deepest cellars, where the oldest wine, reserved only for special occasions was stored. She passed hundreds of casks and then she found the right one, marked with a tiny white dot. Dany knelt down and pried it open. Here, her biggest secret silently lay. A priceless treasure, more than a hundred years old. Her four dragon eggs that were refusing to hatch. She stroked them gently. It was dangerous to bring them to the capital, but what other choice did she have? She could not abandon them.

Daenerys carefully wrapped the eggs in a rag she had found tucked in between the casks. The eggs were heavy, so when she returned to her chambers, she was out of breath. It was fortunate that the castle was empty, because every hand was needed to load the ships. A bundle as large as a wine cask could hardly be hidden.

Her goblet of wine was standing on the table, watching her accusingly. Septa was nowhere to be seen. Daenerys shrugged and gently laid the eggs in the chest, covering them with dresses. It was sure that septa won't help Dany unpack, since she was a lazy old crone. And Dany will make sure that a new maid she would hire in King's Landing will not go poking around.

Daenerys closed all of her chests and then went to call a stable boy to carry it down to the courtyard, where carriage was waiting to take her to the port.

One last thing was needed to be done. Dany knew they were standing in the courtyard, handkerchiefs in their hands, sobbing loudly. Her ladies in waiting, all three of them, were extremely upset by her departure. They were good, loyal friends, but it was time to move on. All of them had offered to accompany her to the city, but she refused. Layna had a fiancé on Dragonstone, a handsome minor noble who loved her greatly. Serene was too young, being only thirteen. Dany could not bear to separate her from her family. And poor Navyne was so shy she would hardly leave Dany's side. Daenerys rescued Navyne from fisherman that mistreated her some two years ago and since then the girl grew too attached to Dany. It was hard to leave Navyne here but the King's Landing and it's lies would ruin the simple girl.

Dany took a deep breath and stepped out to the summer sunshine. Her companions turned to her and rushed forward to meet her. Serene hugged her tightly.

"Dany, say you will come to see us someday," mumbled the skinny girl against the fabric of Dany's dress.

Daenerys stroked Serene's hair. "Don't worry, King's Landing is not behind the Wall. It's only a three days voyage away. We will see each other every few months, when my duties allow me to visit," assured her the princess.

The capital is so close, and I have never been there. My mother never presented me to court and I have never seen my older brother, the king, my two nephews and my niece. Mother was such a fearful woman.

Layna said that she hoped that Dany would attend her wedding. Navyne said nothing at all, tears leaving trails on her cheeks. It was time to go. Daenerys hugged them all again and got into the carriage.

As the horses moved, Daenerys moved on too. She though about the things she had left behind no more. Instead, she focused on what awaited her in that broken and filthy but at the same time glamorous and powerful city.

I am leaving behind everything that I hold dear. My friends, my beloved horse, the places where I used to play as a child. And what do I get in return? Family members I have never met, a city I have never been to and responsibilities I don't feel I can take. At least my twin, Viserys, will be there with me.

Daenerys did not know why her mother's last wish was to have her children sent to the city. Old Rhaella Targaryen kept her children away from the mainland their whole lives. Many said she was frightened of the city itself, where she was forced to live with her mad husband. Others said she feared Rhaegar, her son. Even less people said that she wasn't permitted to go to mainland. That she was an exile. However, nobody knew nothing for sure.

Daenerys turned back for the last time. The castle where she spent sixteen years of her life, was becoming smaller and smaller in the distance.