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REYNA had grown up in a world where, as a high-born lady, her future was to marry into a good house and be a loyal wife. The abuse of women was a common occurrence in her world, but she had hoped for something different in Essos.
When she arrived, at first she had saw that women were free from the societal norms of Westeros. They didn't have to marry or cover themselves up. However, Reyna soon realized that the abuse of women was even more public in Essos. The treatment of women in Vaes Dothrak was particularly grim, with slavery, frequent abuse, and death being a part of daily life.
Reyna felt a deep sense of revulsion watching the Dothraki's treatment of women. The only women they seemed to honor were the Mother of Mountains, their Khaleesi, and the Dosh Khaleen. There were no wives, sisters, or mothers among the Dothraki, only women relegated to the roles of sex slaves and child-bearers for their men. Reyna even harbored doubts about whether the Dothraki truly respected their Khaleesi. She couldn't help but feel bewildered by Dany's sudden affection for Khal Drogo, but she chose not to judge.
As she thought about Dany, Reyna couldn't help but worry about her own future. Though she felt genuine affection for Viserys and they had become intimately involved, she wondered if she was in the same position as Dany, if the affection she was feeling for him was just because of their forced proximity. But nonetheless Reyna kept a slight hope that her influence could guide Viserys to become a better person, especially for the sake of their son.
However, as she stepped into Dany's hut later that day, Reyna's hope began to waver.
As soon as Reyna arrived at Dany's hut for supper, she couldn't help but notice the distressed look on Dany's face. Her hands were trembling, and Reyna's gaze was drawn to the reddening mark on Dany's cheek.
Approaching Dany, Reyna slowly lifted her hand to Dany's cheek and asked, "Who did this?"
As she licked her dry lips and met Reyna's concerned gaze with her violet eyes, Dany muttered, "Viserys."
'Oh, I see,' Reyna thought, 'I suppose he hadn't changed after all.'
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
As she walked back to her tent, she noted Viserys lounging on the bed.
"You would not believe what that spoiled horselord slut did to me," Reyna's eye twitched at the crude name Viserys used.
Ignoring him, she focused on gathering her few belongings into a bag, "What are you doing?"
While she did so, she noticed him rising from the bed out of the corner of her eye. "I'm getting my things," she muttered quietly.
"Why?" His demanding voice came from behind her.
Calmly, she replied, "I'm going to stay with Dany."
He snatched the small bag and flung it to the opposite side of the hut before seizing her wrists. "No, you're not," he said firmly.
"Don't touch me," she snapped.
His hold grew tighter, and when she met his gaze, she was taken aback to find only desperation in his lilac eyes, no anger. "You're not going anywhere, Reyna."
"Let me go," Reyna repeated.
"You're not leaving me, Reyna!" Viserys shouted.
Reyna finally managed to break free from his tight grip, taking a step back and holding her stomach protectively. "Yes, I am! I won't stay in your presence any longer," she declared.
"You are my wife, and you will obey me," he insisted, slowly advancing towards her until her back was against the rough wall of their hut.
"Wife does not mean slave," Reyna hissed at him.
"You will do as I say, or else..."
"Or else what?" Reyna mocked him, her anger taking over as she moved closer to him. "Will you hit me? Will you throw me to the ground and beat me?"
Viserys swallowed hard and stood taller. "Yes, I will."
"Then go ahead," Reyna said calmly, her eyes locked on his.
Viserys stood there, bewildered, as he stuttered, "What?"
"Hit me," she articulated.
"Stop it," Viserys muttered, slowly backing away as Reyna moved closer to him.
"Hit me like you hit Dany," Reyna taunted him.
"Hold your tongue, Reyna!"
Tears were welling up in his lilac eyes, but she continued, "Hit me like you will eventually hit our son as well."
Her left cheek stung with burning pain, and she gasped, her gaze dropping to the ground after Viserys struck her.
Green eyes filled with fury met his regretful and desperate ones as he approached her again, his hands trembling. "Reyna, I-I didn't mean-" he stammered.
"That's the last time you will ever lay a hand on me again," Reyna said, her voice low and threatening.
Reyna took a deep breath, feeling as though time had slowed down. Suddenly, she felt a movement in her stomach and gasped, quickly reaching out to steady herself against the wall with one hand while placing the other on her swollen stomach. At first, she wasn't certain if the movement had been real, but then she felt it again - a gentle, unmistakable sensation.
"Reyna?" Viserys' concerned voice brought her back to the present.
Without looking at him, she waved her hand, signaling for him not to touch her again, "Don't."
She took a few more deep breaths, feeling her baby settle, before she heard Viserys speaking again. "I want to go home, Reyna. Just like you. I want a place to call home, I want my mother, I want my father, and I even want my foolish older brother."
His words tugged at her heart, but she refused to let herself be overcome by his sadness, no matter how true it was. With slow, determined steps, she made her way out of the hut.
"Reyna," his voice called out to her. Reluctantly, she turned around and a tearful sigh escaped her as she saw the tears in his pretty eyes. "Please don't leave me."
Unwillingly, Reyna could hear the true meaning behind his words: "Don't leave me too."
"I thought," Reyna began slowly, "I thought perhaps if I could make you better - if I could make you into a better person, I could love you. I could have a happy marriage such as my mother and father. They had a rough start as well, but learnt to love each other."
Her voice was shaky as she spoke, her back towards Viserys, "But I know now that shall never happen. If I am bound to you for the rest of my life, then so be it. But know, that I shall protect Dany and my son from your abuse."
"Reyna-"
"-I do not want either of them to become a cold and cruel person like you," she finally looked up to meet his eyes again, Viserys resisted the urge to grab her, hold her to his chest and never let her go, "You cannot change and I am done fooling myself into thinking you can."
And then she walked away, her heart aching but not shattered as she heard Viserys calling for her to return.
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
"I hit him."
The sound of crickets filled the air as Dany and Reyna lay in the Khaleesi's hut. Reyna had taken notice of how the Khal had stopped bothering Dany ever since she became pregnant, which was the reason why she had chosen to stay with Dany instead of getting her own separate hut. And maybe also because Reyna now preferred to not sleep alone, she thought sourly.
Whispering, Reyna stared into Dany's eyes as they lay opposite each other. "Who?"
"I hit the Dragon," Daenerys murmured with a frown.
Rolling her eyes, Reyna scoffed. "He is no dragon, you must stop seeing him as such."
The Khaleesi with silver hair pursed her lips, her eyes lost in thought. "He is still the rightful king," she said.
Viserys had proven himself unworthy countless times, but his lies still held a tight grip on Dany.
"Let me tell you something, Dany," Reyna began, her tone firm, "Once a king is overthrown, it does not really matter who the true king is."
"But the common people are waiting for him. Illyrio said they're sewing dragon banners and praying for his return," Daenerys reasoned, though it seemed as though she was trying to reassure herself rather than Reyna.
"From what my father has told me the common people pray for rain, health and a summer that never ends. They don't care what games the high lords play," the brunette princess asserted.
After a moment of silence, Dany turned her violet eyes back to Reyna and asked, "What do you pray for, Reyna?"
The Stark girl faltered. Her faith in the Gods had diminished since leaving Winterfell. She hadn't prayed in a long time, feeling like it was futile because her prayers were never answered. But if she were to pray, there would likely be only one true desire.
"Home."
Home meant many things to Reyna Stark. Her family, a safe haven to raise her babe, and maybe even a home for her and Dany.
"I pray for home too," Dany said softly.
Reyna could tell the precise moment when everything fell into place in Dany's mind. "My brother will never take back the Seven Kingdoms. He couldn't lead an army even if my husband gave him one. He'll never take us home."
"No. No, he won't," Reyna added with a sorrowful sigh, then moved to turn around, her back now towards Dany as she attempted to get some sleep.
She heard Dany's voice again after a minute, "Viserys used to be good."
Reyna hummed in question, her eyes blinking with exhaustion.
"Good to me, I suppose," Daenerys went on, "Loving and protective."
"Suppose it doesn't matter now," Reyna mumbled as she closed her eyes, hoping sleep would grant her a reprieve from this exhausting day.
"He used to share tales of the Targaryen dynasty and their dragons with me," Reyna suppressed a groan as Dany went on, "He used to comfort me by letting me sleep in his bed when I was frightened."
She then paused, the next words coming out of her mouth much softer, "But his anger only consumed him after he sold our mother's crown for food."
"Why are you telling me this?" Reyna asked, her voice sounding like a pleading child.
"Whenever Viserys is around you, he seems... gentler. I've noticed the way he gazes at you," Dany said, staring at the back of Reyna's head.
A bitter taste filled Reyna's mouth as she inquired, "And how does he gaze at me, Daenerys?"
"Like you are his moon and stars."
"Even when he's with you or near you, I can see how much he yearns to be even closer," Dany spoke slowly, struggling to articulate what she had noticed. "I thought you could have helped him become a better person... given me back the brother I used to know-"
"-Well, clearly I've failed at that, Dany, judging by the matching red marks on both our faces," Reyna stated harshly, cutting Dany off.
And before Dany could continue, Reyna spoke one more time, putting an end to the conversation, "Night Dany."
With her eyes already closed, Reyna heard Dany's gentle reply, "Goodnight, Reyna," and then felt Dany's arm wrap around her round stomach. Instinctively, Reyna placed her hand on top of Dany's.
•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•
"The whore is pregnant," King Robert spat, as he sat in the small council meeting.
"You're speaking of murdering a child," Ned Stark said in disapproval.
Robert turned to glare at Ned, "I warned you this would happen. Back in the North, I warned you, but you didn't care to hear. Well, hear it now. I want 'em dead, mother and child both. And that fool, Viserys as well. Is that plain enough for you? I want them both dead."
Ned sharply inhaled as thoughts of Reyna came into his mind, "You forget my daughter is married to that fool. Would you like to murder her as well. You will dishonor yourself forever if you do this."
"Honor?!" Robert yelled, "I've got Seven Kingdoms to rule! One King, Seven Kingdoms! Do you think honor keeps them in line? Do you think it's honor that's keeping the peace? It's fear! Fear and blood!"
"Then we're no better than the Mad King!" Ned yelled back, matching Roberts tone.
Roberts glare turned lethal, "Careful, Ned. Careful now."
"You want to assassinate a girl because the Spider heard a rumor?" Lord Stark said in an exasperated tone.
"No rumor, my Lord. The princess is with child," The Spider in question chimed in, then paused, "There is something else as well."
"What," Ned asked rubbing his eyes in irritation.
Lord Varys looked at Ned warily before saying, "Ser Jorah Mormont. He is serving as adviser to the Targaryens. And he has told me your eldest daughter, Reyna, is also with child."
Ned froze in shock. It couldn't be. It can't be. He felt his heart begin to beat faster and suddenly his mouth became very dry. He could feel Robert's gaze on him, so derisively he deflected, "Mormont? You bring us the whispers of a traitor half a world away and call it fact?"
"Jorah Mormont's a slaver, not a traitor," Littlefinger added, "Small difference, I know, to an honorable man."
"He broke the law, betrayed his family, fled our land. We commit murder on the word of this man?" Ned Stark said, his anger slowly rising.
"And if he's right?" Robert shouted, "If they both have sons? Two Targaryens at the head of a Dothraki army....what then?"
Ned looked down in anger, for the first time his voice was low and threatening, "You speak of murdering my daughter."
"Calm yourself Ned," Robert scoffed, "We may yet allow your daughter to live, but her child cannot."
Ned's eyes widened in incredulity, "And that's better?"
He took a deep breath before saying, "The Narrow Sea still lies between us. I'll fear the Dothraki the day they teach their horses to run on water."
"Do nothing," Robert once again yelled, "That's your wise advice? Do nothing til our enemies are on our shores?!" He looked to the small council, "You're my council! Counsel! Speak sense to this honorable fool!"
"I understand your misgivings, my Lord," Varys began gently, looking at Ned, "Truly, I do. It is a terrible thing we must consider, a vile thing. Yet, we who presume to rule must sometimes do vile things for the good of the realm. Should the gods grant Reyna or Daenerys with a son, the realm will bleed."
"I bear your daughter or this girl no ill will, but should the Dothraki invade, how many innocents will die? How many towns will burn? Is it not wiser, kinder even, that they should die now so that tens of thousands might live?" Pycelle felt the need to say.
"We should have had both Targaryens killed years ago," the youngest Baratheon uselessly added.
"When you find yourself in bed with an ugly woman, best close your eyes, get it over with. Cut her throat. Be done with it." Littlefinger said before taking a drink.
While Ned looked around at each of them, disappointment filling him. He then looked at Robert, "I followed you into war - twice, without doubts, without second thoughts. But I will not follow you now. The Robert I grew up with didn't tremble at the shadow of an unborn child."
"They die," Robert announced with an air of finality in his voice
Ned looked away in disapproval, "I know I cannot stop it, but I will take no part in murdering my grandchild."
"You're the King's Hand, Lord Stark," Robert said in warning, "You'll do as I command or I'll find me a Hand who will."
Ned shook his as he removed the Hand of the King badge and tossed it onto the table, still looking at Robert with disappointment, "And good luck to him. I thought you were a better man."
Roberts face was red as he screamed, "Out! Out, damn you! I'm done with you!"
Ned looked at him one last time before turning around and leaving as Robert yelled after him, "Go! Run back to Winterfell! I'll have your head on a spike! I'll put it there myself, you fool! You think you're too good for this? Too proud and honorable?! This is a war!"
Lord Eddard Stark, proud and honorable. Ned scoffed at himself, while walking away. A truly honorable man would always put his family first. A truly honorable man would have never exiled his daughter for a fault she could not control. An honorable man would have never sent his daughter to her doom.
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An - next chapter coming in soon. Stick with me.
Hope you enjoyed
Word count: 2794 words
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