Chapter Five, Winterfell

~ Sunspear, Dorne ~

The dreaded day had arrived. The day Visenya, her family and their guards who were more like friends or family would be travelling to Winterfell from Sunspear, Dorne. Visenya had them measured for saddles and breastplates, before they left - Alaenla and Aithusa would be joining the ships, while Visenya and Rylen would leave on Thanatos with Daenesa when the ships were nearly finished with their journey as it would only take one sweep of Thanatos mighty wings to be the other side of Westeros. They had grown exponentially, but the Maester at Sunspear, Maester Adonis, had deemed them fully grown; however, Visneya had read enough of her book, which Death or Thanatos (who her gorgeous black dragon was named after) had confirmed, to know that dragons never truly stopped growing.

It made her wonder just how big they would get in a century or two. They were already unbelievably large.
"Are you sure you won't sail with us?" Laenar questioned his love, after he'd shared a passionate kiss with Visenya before he boarded the ship.
"I'll be fine. We both will." Visenya reassured, resting her head on her love's. "Just make sure all of you are well. I'll send Alaenla and Aithusa with you to protect all of you. Rylen and I will have Thanatos and Daenesa. Besides, you have the literal personification of Death sailing with you so you'll be fine." She teased playfully. But in all seriousness Death had decided to better protect his Mistress and decided to look like a distant cousin of hers with white hair but with black eyes.

"I love you both." Laenar whispered in Dothraki to Visenya and Rylen, who both replied in kind as they watched him board the ship before wishing the rest of their family luck. Looking at her fiery beautiful girl who looked the personification of dragon fire and her beautiful snowy white boy, she gave them an order while resting her foreheads against their snout one after the other.
"Mīsagon ziry, Alaenla, Aithusa! Se sagon, careful ñuha loves." The moment she and Rylen stepped back the two dragons took off into the air flying alongside the ships as they travelled North to White Harbour ruled by House Manderly and the only port in the North which all of Dorne thought was strange due to its sheer size.

They stood and watched the majority of their family sail away until they disappeared onto the horizon before they turned and reentered Sunspear protected by Sir Aero and a band of dedicated Knights sworn only to House Martell and House Targaryen even though Visenya was fully capable of protecting herself and her son even without her magic as she was skilled at wielding two broadswords, a bow and arrow, daggers and knives and spear which was all made by Valyrian steel which they had found with the dragon eggs on one of their many voyages, the spears were even able to shrink and collapse into itself to be able to be strapped to your person and then lock together with a sharp flick before fighting.

She was also skilled at hand to hand combat which would enable her to never be unprotected if the worst came to the worst. Shaking those thoughts mentally from her mind, Visenya listened to Rylen's animated talk about the flight they had on Thanatos (Visenya's bonded dragon) that morning and how he couldn't wait to tell Uncle Doran, as well his Uncles (Visenya's cousins) Quentyn and Trystane, and his Aunties Arianne, Lorenza, Dorea, Obella, Elia and Sarella. Elia II was now a fully qualified Knight and part of the guard to protect Dorne, and Sarella was a Ships Captain but had stayed to command their fleet and army that had staid to protect Dorne.

While Tyene, Nymeria and Obara had left on the ships with Oberyn - Visenya's Master of War, Ellaria - Visenya's Master of Weaponry and Laenar - Visenya's lover and Master of Ships as he would one day soon take over from his father and command the Velaryon fleet and House.
"Mama, I miss them already." Rylen whispered despondently, causing Visenya to stoop down and hug her son tightly. "When will we see Uncle Vis-Vis again?"
"I miss them too, baby, and we shall see him soon, not tomorrow and maybe not next week but we will see him again soon that I can promise you, baby.

Us Dragons have to stick together and you, my darling boy, are just as much a dragon as you are a vulture." Visenya said passionately, looking her son in the eyes before she kissed the bridge of his nose making him giggle. "How about we have a fly on Daenesa later, after your lessons?" She asked, a smile on her face as her son cheered excitedly as they continued their journey back into Sunspear.

* * *

~ Winterfell, The North ~

Catelyn Stark was in a flurry of activity as she got Winterfell up to scratch - in her opinion - for the Dornish Princess who was betrothed to her sweet eldest boy, Robb. She had protested this match most vehemently as Visenya wasn't only Dornish, she was also a Targaryen and who knows what the girl had been up to. She knew how both sides of her family had such lose morals, knew how to fight with all weapons and poisons and was far too vocal with her opinions; she simply didn't want her sweet son to be matched with such a girl. She had wanted a sweet docile young lady who was proper and did what she was told and knew how to act correctly; in other words, she wanted a malleable young woman who would listen to what she had to say and let her, Catelyn Tully Stark, rule Winterfell even when Robb took over.

She had protested this continuously to her Lord Husband hoping to wear him down so he would listen to her, she hadn't come this far and hadn't done what was necessary to become Lady Stark in the first place, just to be pushed aside and have the North changed back to how it was with women knowing how to fight and have her precious sept and sewing lessons removed, but she had been ignored at each and every turn and it only made her angrier. Angrier at the girl who was the cause of all this completely overlooking that it was in fact the King's fault. She had a month to plan, to come up with something to either put a stop to this wedding or to ruin it somehow after the fact, so plan she will; nothing and no one was going to stop her. And if she took it out on the bastard Jon Snow, and Arya in the meantime, and then the girl, Princess Visenya Targaryen when she arrived then so be it.

* * *

~ Winterfell, The North, a month later ~

As Catelyn Stark looked around the assembled - for lack of a better word - small army donned in, mostly, bright yellow and orange leathers, including the women to her horror, except one knight donned all in black and who looked like a Targaryen or a Velaryon with his white hair except he had black eyes compared to the violet the Targaryens usually had or the sea blue the Velayrons had; looking around once more she failed to see Visenya Targaryen amongst them.

When they suddenly heard a roar that none had heard for an age, as one the entirety of Winterfell looked up spotting the four beasts that appeared, like four great mountains looming ominously over them signifying that things were changing and shifting within Westeros. There was a large pitch black dragon (Vis's dragon) was the largest out of the four. The male creature was two-hundred-and- seventy feet long with a wingspan of two- hundred-and-ten feet; much larger than the Baelor the Dread. The second dragon was a red and orange girl dragon, her scales look like fire. She was two- hundred-and-fifty feet long with a wingspan of two-hundred.

The third dragon and second female was blue and green in colour with blue scales that gleam purple in the sunlight. She was two-hundred-and-thirty feet long and had a wingspan of one-hundred-and-eighty. Finally, the second male and her fourth and smallest dragon, but still larger than any average dragon recorded, was silver in colour with pure white scales. He was two-hundred-and-twenty feet in length and had a 170 ft wingspan. Their heads were bigger than an average person's entire body.
"If you so much as fire those weapons you will be in for a hell of a war, Stark!" Oberyn snarled, glaring fiercely at the Lord of Winterfell as the Dragons all hissed at them when they spotted Visenya sat regal on the black dragon's neck as if he were just a large horse and she was made to be there with her ward or son sat in front of her.

"Look!" Arya shouted excitedly, even though everyone was looking at the odd and awe inspiring sight. "She rides dragons like her namesake! Did she hatch them?!" She asked, vibrating with her excitement and ignoring her mother and sister's sharp reprimands.
"She did indeed." Ellaria agreed, smiling tightly at the young brunette girl. "It was three years ago now, we were in Lys when the Usurper set the Temple of the Stranger on fire. A Temple that held not only my niece, Visenya, inside but also Lasa's daughter, husband and son-in-law."

"And countless others." A man added, he was a dark haired man and who was dressed like a Sell-sword but with the Targaryen emblem stitched to his leathers in bright red. "She was the only one who came out of that blaze alive. I was trying to help put the fire out when a Three and Ten year old girl walked right through the flames that had burnt away all her clothes with four newly hatched dragons clinging to her person. While everyone bowed to her I quickly shrouded her in my cloak to protect her before I decided to offer her my sword."
"But how did they hatch?" Jon Snow asked, confused as Lord Stark told everyone to put away their weapons, finally.

"With Fire and Blood." Visenya announced, attracting everyone's attention as they watched her dragon lovingly place her on her feet over the wall, she turned her back to them all - confident she wouldn't be attacked - and stroked his massive wing as her son slid down the wing giggling right into his mother's arms. With the young boy - who looked to be the same age as Rickon - safely on her hip she turned back to face the waiting crowd looking every inch a Queen even with a child on her hip. "I had been trying to lift a beam off of my friends that had crushed them, and ended up cutting myself on it; my blood mixed with the flames caused my three babies to hatch. I stayed with my friends until they took their last breath, leaving Rylen an orphan so I took him in as my ward and son."

As she turned to the men and women alike of Winterfell, her violet eyes seem to glow as they blazed with anger and pain standing out against her olive complexion and black as night hair held in intricate braids and dressed in a white fur coat with a red cloak pinned to one shoulder with a silver three headed dragon broach, black trousers and boots could be seen as she walked and to Arya's delight and most horror - Catelyn and Sansa to name a few - she had multiple weapons strapped to her person: a quiver and bow and Blackfyre we're stepped to her back, Dark Sister and and a collapsible staff to either hip and a dagger to either thigh.

"Introducing Queen Visenya Fireborn of House Targaryen, Second of Her Name, of the Blood of Old Valyria, Mistress of Death, The Unburnt, Mother of Dragons, the Rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, the Shield of Her People, and Protector of the Realm." Lasa introduced smirking at the Starks as they immediately became uncomfortable with her titles. This was certainly going to be interesting and no one from Dorne would make it easy for the Starks for the hand they had to play in the last war.

"Welcome Princess Visenya Targaryen to Winterfell." Lord Stark introduced with uncertainty showcasing from every pore. "Our bread, salt and wine are yours and your companions." He added as servants brought out said items initiating the Guest Rights but as they all took it Laenar glared darkly at the Lord of Winterfell for not issuing Visenya's proper title as although she was A Princess of Dorne in actual fact she WAS a Queen.

* * *

Visenya had been in Winterfell for two weeks now and she could no longer keep her silence. Instead of her usual daily training session, she made her way over to Lord Stark who stood on the ramparts.
"Lord Stark, may I have a word in private?" Visenya asked seriously. Obara and Arthur standing firmly at her back. Noting the serious tone, Ned nodded looking away from his sons and Theon training in the yard with Sal, Marros, Sir Barristan and her Uncle Oberyn.
"Of course Princess. If you would follow me to my study we can talk freely and privately there."

"Thank you." Visenya said graciously, before she crouched down before her son; uncaring of the dirt now coating her skirts. The words that next came out of the mother's mouth shocked the Warden of the North for he had never heard the guttural tones of Dothraki before.
"Enta, anha want yeri to gwe play ma yeri Aunties Tyene ma Nymeria. Yeri eshna aunties will join yeri qisi, ma anha'll be save qisi."
"Okay mama. Laz anha train ale?" Rylen asked eagerly, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Ki course." Tyene answered a little shakily in Dothraki.

"Yay!" Rylen cheered, throwing his little arms up into the air. Kissing his mother's cheek he ran over to his auntie who picked him up, settling him on her hip, and was soon flanked by Sirs Thanatos and Laenar Velayron. Visenya watched them go with a fond loving smile upon her lips, as she stood gracefully to her feet; brushing the dirt from her skirts; when she noticed the surprised expression upon the Lord's face.
"We all learned many languages with Visenya, including father and Ellaria, who took us on their travels, though Vis is more proficient at it and she wanted Rylen to have a well rounded education. His grandmother and great-Aunt Lady Lara Blackmont agreed." Obara informed him proudly, but a daring note was in her tone.

As if daring him to argue how her cousin is unfit to be his mother; like his Lady Wife has been doing the past fortnight. Ned grimaced, cottoning on to what Obara implied. He'd had many stern discussions with Cat over what her actions could lead to, but she was relentless.
"You are great with him, Your Grace." Ned complimented, smiling warmly at Visenya.
"I've had to grow up fast to give Rylen what he deserves. No thanks to Robert. Seems to be a common theme; making babies orphans." Visenya snarled sharply, before she took a calming breath. "But that's not what I want to discuss with you, My Lord."
"Of course. If you would follow me, Your Grace." Ned conceded, leading the way to his study.

"What is it you wished to discuss with me, My Lady?" Ned asked curiously, after they were both seated on either side of his desk.
"I'm sorry if what I have to say offends you Lord Stark but I can no longer keep my silence. I know Jon is my younger brother. It's known within Dorne that my father married your sister as the marriage is recorded, but I also wish to speak of Theon, Arya and Sansa." Visenya informed him.
"W-what seems to be the problem, Your Grace?" Ned asked pale-faced, his voice trembling slightly which Visenya thankfully did not comment on.
"I've noticed how your wife treats my brother and the barely withheld disdain she holds for my Aunt Ellaria and my cousins. How she treats Jon is not right, it's abuse!

I understand you're trying to spare him from what has happened to our family, but you've subjected him to a life of torment, a life without love or happiness. He's miserable. All he wants is to be loved and to be a Stark. As for Arya and Sansa, your wife and the Septa are the cause of their fractured relationship. They worship the ground Sansa walks on and put Arya down at every turn, instead of kindly showing Arya where she goes wrong with her sewing they belittle her which encourages Sansa and the other girls to bully Arya. It's why she likes to train so much. Plus this is the North, I thought you worshipped the Old Gods and taught girls how to protect themselves. The other Northern Lords look to your example, my Lord.

This is also leading Sansa to hate the North and segregate her other siblings; she wishes to be away from them, instead of treasuring her family. As for Theon, I know my Uncles have told you of my abilities, my Dragon Dreams. I've seen Theon betray Robb, but only because like Jon, he's pushed to the side and not counted as a true member of House Stark and just a glorified prisoner; or that's the way he feels. He tries to prove to Robb he's a valued member by going to his father for more men. I'll give more details on this later, this is more important for the time being." Visenya added, when Ned opened his mouth to question why his son is leading an army and not him, as he knows that's what she's hinting at.

Sighing, Ned nodded reluctantly and gestured for Visenya to continue, his eyes a little wider than normal. "As I was saying. You know how Baelon is, he tricked Theon; told him to prove he was a true Greyjoy if he wanted his help. So he had to choose between Stark and Greyjoy; he tried to pick both and ultimately failed at both." It was silent for a few minutes before Visenya spoke again.
"I apologise if this was hard to hear, my Lord, but I thought you should know. And if it was Rylen, I would like to know. No matter how hard it is to hear, I would prefer him to be happy, loved and safe." Ned absently nodded his head once Visenya finished, stapling his fingers together beneath his chin with a look of contemplation upon his face.

He had to admit it was hard to hear that his children were so unhappy, and that with him being a man of little words, was the cause of what happened with Theon. Which hurts as he has grown to care for the boy. But he was also grateful that Visenya had brought this to his attention, besides, he wasn't angry with her but at himself and his wife.

Angry he hasn't tried harder to stop Cat; angry he hadn't told Theon and the others how he felt or even showed them enough. Instead he let himself down in his Lordship duties. He just hoped it wasn't too late to correct all of his mistakes. Plus, he respected Visenya more now than he did before, as the root cause of this discussion was her son; which held hope for her and Robb's future. Yes, she wanted to help his children, but her main worry would always be her son, as it should be, and she didn't want his behaviour to be influenced by what he sees around him. And it would if things didn't change and soon, as would Rickon's; Ned hated and reluctantly admitted.
"What do you suggest I do, Your Grace?" Ned asked finally, a resigned sigh escaping his lips.

"Jon should be told the truth, in fact, they all should. Even if you just tell the truth to your family and those who reside here, but to the rest of Westeros they just know that you've claimed Jon as a Stark. As your ward, Theon should come to the same standards as your children, including Betrothals. Perhaps Dacey Mormont. Also, he seems like he needs verbal confirmation that you see him as a Stark as well as visual. For the girls, teach them both how to fight, to defend themselves, the ways of the North and limit the ideals bred into Sansa about the South, Knights and Princes and what's classed as a proper Lady, perhaps." Visenya mused.

"Thank you, Princess. I must confess I never wanted to build a Sept or do away with the Northern ways but my hands were tied. I was never taught how to rule, that was my brother Brandon. But I won't make the same mistakes my father did. I'll teach all my children how to rule the North including Theon, Jon, Arya, and Sansa along with Bran and Rickon. They can all join Robb's lessons. I'm tearing down the Sept and will use the materials to fix the Tower, the walls and the infrastructure!" Ned mused aloud, starting to pen letters to Meage Mormont and the builders to get things going. "I'll call a meeting after dinner. Thank you Princess Visenya." Ned added gratefully, looking up from his letters.

"You're welcome, my Lord." Visenya smiled, standing with a small courtesy, she left feeling rather satisfied.
"That went well." Obara mused, a smirk upon her dark lips.
"Yes." Visenya agreed. "Least things are going to change around here. I didn't want Ry learning such abhorrent behaviour."
Reaching the training yard, Visenya smiled when she spotted Lasa, Nymeria, Tyene, Marlessa, Nora and her Auntie Ellaria teaching Rylen, Arya, Bran and Rickon how to spar while Morros and her Uncle Oberyn sparred with Sal, Theon, Jon and Robb.

While Sirs Barristan, Thanatos and Laenar (who was flowering every so often at Robb) were patrolling with the other men of their retinue and Arthur and Obara stood beside her.
"Care for a sparring session with Arthur and I, cousin?" Obara asked teasingly, pulling her spear from the holder on her back which elongated once released.
"But of course, dear cousin." Visenya agreed, a smirk of her own on her red painted lips, detaching the skirt at the waist revealing brown leather trousers hidden beneath her blue and purple dress. After throwing the skirt to the side she pulled Dark Sister from her left sheath and her other sword, Blackfyre, from her right.

Arthur copied his protège and her cousin, pulling his own swords from the sheaths as the three started a three-way sparring session. Which often led the three getting carried away, resulting in them coming away with more than a few cuts and bruises, but nothing Visenya's potions couldn't fix. As they sparred Visenya holding her own against the two assailants, they were attracting the attention of the others as Visenya quickly disarmed Arthur of one of his swords, only to be knocked to the ground by Obara. Robb stepped forward to help her or interrupt, worried for the young woman he was growing feelings for, only to be stopped by her Uncle.

"Wait!" He commanded, a smirk upon his lips. Confused, Robb turned back to the fight, spotting Arya being stopped by Ellaria and Jon by Sal. As they all watched, Visenya swept her legs under Obara -who was advancing on her with Arthur - knocking her cousin onto her back with a thud, before she did a backflip kicking Arthur under the chin as she did so and grabbed her swords once more and kicking the spear away from her cousin. The fight continued between Arthur and Visenya, Obara stepping back with a smirk on her lips, as Arthur tried to use his height and weight against Visenya.

She used her advantage of two swords to knock Arthur's sword from his hand with a sudden quick twirl and twist of Dark Sister against Dawn knocking it from his hands, and pointing one sword behind his neck and one against his neck; winning the fight.
"Well done my protégé! You've done well." Arthur praised proudly, his baritone voice echoing across the now silent training yard.
"Thanks, I've been practising." Visenya panted, proud of her success.
"You have to teach me how to fight like that! And how to fight with two swords at once and a spear. In fact every weapon! Except for a bow I already know how to do that, I taught myself. But can you teach me to be better? Like you! Please?" Arya begged, her grey eyes alight with excitement, ignoring the scandalised sounds from her mother, sister, Septa and her mother's ladies.

"But of course." Visenya agreed, taking a gulp of water as she smirked at Catelyn causing the woman's anger towards her to heighten even further. She knew it would soon erupt in her direction, and it would happen soon by all accounts but she just wondered HOW. She knew the woman was greedy and power hungry and had hoped to use her as a pawn but she'd been there and done that and she never wanted to be in that position again. Just thinking of that old man was causing her magic to roil beneath her skin. Taking a calming breath to regain her control she sent a reassuring smile at Lasa and Laenar (who she had confessed everything to when they were Three and Ten just after the fire and he had believed her and she imagined that was when she fell for him).

Checking her son was safe and well guarded (she would never trust someone in league with the Usurper and the Lannisters, and as of yet they have not showed her otherwise) she turned and gave Arya her full and undivided attention while Jon Snow, Laenar Velayron and Robb and Eddard 'Ned' Stark watched on.

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Valyrian to English translation:

• Mīsagon ziry, Aleanla, Aithusa! Se sagon, careful ñuha loves = Protect them, Alaenla, Aithusa! And be careful, my loves.

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Dothraki to English translations:

• Enta, anha want yeri to gwe play ma yeri Aunties Tyene ma Nymeria. Yeri eshna aunties will join yeri qisi, ma anha'll be save qisi. = Baby, I want you to go play with your Aunties Tyene and Nymeria. Your other aunties will join you soon, and I'll be back soon.

• Okay mama. Laz anha train ale? = Okay Mama. Can I train too?

• Ki course = of course.

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Author's note: DO NOT ask me to update in any way shape or form. There are other ways of telling me what you thought of this.

Author's Note 2: some of you have asked for Visenya to be with the following pairings instead of Robb Stark. So I'm going to put it to a vote and I will include Robb as well, but the one with the most votes will be the pairing chosen for this book and there will be no changes afterwards.

The votes are as follows:

• Visenya Targaryen x Laenor Velayron: 2

• Visenya Targaryen x Laenor Velayron x Tormund Giantsbane: 2

• Visenya Targaryen x Robb Stark:

• Visenya Targaryen x Laenor Velayron x Robb Stark: 1

• Visenya Targaryen x Laenor Velayron (on the side) x Robb Stark: 1

• Visenya Targaryen x Robb Stark x Tormund Giantsbane