The Heir of the Dragon: A Rhaenyra Targaryen Quest

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Rhea, you and the Mormont broke from the group and made your own way, with Rhea taking the lead. It didn't take too long to find the great elk's tracks again and pick up the trail. Annoyingly though, you seemed forever stuck trying to catch up to the beast.

The elk clearly knew the forest well and was frustratingly clever, leading the three of you on a winding path through the trees for hours. Occasionally you caught a glimpse of it, but it would run off before any of you could get a bow or spear ready. Before you realized just how long you'd been at this chase, night set in. With not even the meager light of the moon to help you, you had no choice but to make camp for the night in the Wolfswood.

Soon enough, you had a small camp set up. It wasn't much, just a few small tents surrounding a meager fire with a couple of logs for seating, but it was comfortable enough for the evening.

The noise of the forest was different than what you were familiar with. While the Red Keep had many people within it, once it got later enough the place became rather quiet, with only the low din of the city below providing noise of any sort. You had not known that quiet since the journey began.

While traveling, you often stopped for the night alongside the road, near empty fields and pastures. Despite the lack of people, things were far noisier than in the Red Keep. Birds were calling at all hours of the night while insects and other things moved through the grass, making their own unfamiliar sounds.

The forest was even worse. Every so often you could hear an owl that sounded not all that far away calling out for own of it's own. You could also occasionally hear distant howls, rustling in the trees and other, less familiar noises. You found yourself unsettled, knowing that you and the others were not truly alone out here, even if it seemed so.

Mormont left to collect more fuel for the fire and presumably do other things he dare not do in the presence of two women, leaving Rhea and you alone. It did not take long for her to strike up a conversation.

"So, how does it feel being a tourney winner?" Rhea asked, her voice filled with a amusement.

"Now that my shoulder's stopped screaming at me," you found your hand reaching towards the still rather bruised limb on reflex. "Really good. I'd been training for sometime now, but actually competing... It's a rush. One I really enjoyed."

"I must admit that was one of the more compelling tourneys I've seen in a fair while, even before you took of your helmet," Rhea remarked. "Too many tourneys these days descend into men beating the crap out of each other because they have nothing to do with themselves. It was good to see someone win through actual skill for once. Shame Daemon wasn't there. I'd have given anything to see you knock him off his horse."

"No thanks," you said quickly. "I'd rather not have to duel my uncle. It would cause my father far too much stress."

You had seen how Daemon fought. He'd cheat to win and if the cheating failed, he'd demand a duel. You could win that, you had no doubt, and you were certain Alicent would enjoy you seeing you humble the Rogue Prince, but you knew it would make things far more complicated if you competed against each other, no matter how much you wanted to see your uncle humbled.

"Fair enough, I suppose," Rhea said a bit dismissively. "Though I'm curious if he might challenge you on his own. Actually, I'm wondering if a great many men are going to challenge you now that you've shown what a monster you are in the saddle and on foot, or if they'll be too scared of being beaten by a little girl."

"Did you just call me a monster?" You arched an eyebrow.

"You're a girl of six and ten and I've seen you knock around men who've been training for longer than you've been alive like it was nothing," Rhea's voice was largely filled with humor but you could sense a faint edge to it. "I mean this in the nicest way possible, but that's a might bit terrifying to behold. You wield a sword like you were born with one in hand."

"I trained very hard these past few years," you got a bit defensive for a moment before relaxing. "Though I can't deny fighting comes really easily to me. When Ser Tarly teaches me something, it's rare he has to tell me twice."

You wished other things were that simple. It would certainly have made studying the law books Lord Strong gave you less of a pain.

"Well, it works well for you. You've humbled half of the realm and the Manderlys will probably love you forever," Rhea grinned- "Plus I noticed Alicent quite enjoyed the show and the crown of flowers you gave her."

You went quite as you stared at her, a knot of worry beginning to twist inside of you.

"Relax girl," Rhea added, clearly seeing your concern. "I'm certain the only people who really noticed where me and Alicent's brother. And if experince has taught me anything, when two girls or two boys are romantically entangled, unless they're literally caught in the act, most people won't realize what's going on right under their noses. Since Alicent's your handmaiden, you have even more excuse than most."

You found yourself looking even more incredulously at Rhea. "What kind of experience are you talking about?"

"Nothing personal, though I won't deny a few girls have tempted me over the years," Rhea said with shocking casualness, "But two stable hands at Runestone had been having a romantic affair for years. I saw them starring at each other like love sick puppies almost every day and yet my father insisted there was absolutely nothing going on between them until, one day, he stumbled across them just going at it in an old storage shed. Nearly gave the old man a heart attack. As long as the two of you aren't idiots, you'll be fine. Don't worry."

"What makes you so certain there is even anything romantic going on between me and my handmaiden?" you said, half teasing.

Rhea looked at you as though you were the dumbest person to ever live.

"Princess," she somehow turned the word into an insult. "I watched the Hightower girl spend half of the tourney either terrified for your safety or imagining what your wedding would look like. Others maybe blind, but I'm not, girl."

"Right, fair enough," you said with resignation, making sure the Mormont fellow was nowhere nearby. "Speaking of marriage, I must ask, have you had any luck finding a suitable new husband?"

That had been one of Rhea's goals in coming here after all.

"I've gotten a fair amount of interest. Being heir draws a quite a bit of attention," she said giving you a pointed look. "Bennard even offered the hand of his first son, Benjen Stark. Normally my father would scoff at the son of a lord's brother, but a marriage into House Stark would be nearly as prestigious for our family as my first marriage, without the drawbacks."

"What's Benjen like?" you asked.

"He's nice, sweet even," Rhea admitted with a shrug, "but he's also a dullard. I mean this in the nicest way possible, but I honestly think that man was born with a rock in his head. He makes that Redfort knight look like a maester, which is honestly just kind of sad."

"So, sweet but stupid," you summarized. "Any other options that appealed to you?"

"Lord Bolton offered the hand of his first born son. Didn't get a chance to meet the boy, but apparently he's fairly smart. Honestly surprised the Boltons didn't try to push him at you. You're about the same age," Rhea went on. "Problem is he's Lord Bolton's eldest, so any children we had would have to carry the Bolton name until one of them inherits Runestone and I'm not sure how I feel about having children who have a flayed man as a sigil. Additionally, I didn't get the chance to actually meet the lad myself, so for all I know anything good his father said is just wind. I remember distinctly as young girl my mother telling me what a dashing prince Daemon Targaryen was and how he'd sweep me off my feet."

"I don't think Daemon has ever once even considered sweeping a girl off her feet," you remarked. "Maybe his enemies."

"I could see it," she agreed. "Anyways. There was also Lord Ryswell's younger brother, Barthogan I think. Terrible name if you ask me, but he was quite handsome and dashing. Clearly a born warrior. Maybe not as much of one as you are, but impressive in his own right, and he even expressed interesting in hunting with me at Runestone. I offered to have him come along, but apparently he's in some sort of quarrel with Bennard. Lord Stark tells me Barthogan gets into a lot of quarrels. Very hot blooded for a Northerner. Reminds me a bit too much of Daemon, though he's far nicer to me than your uncle ever was."

"Any likely candidates among them?" you asked.

Rhea sighed wearily. "They all seem decent enough. None of them are as bad as my last husband at least, but... I don't know. What do you think?"

You weren't sure yourself. The romantic in you said she should listen to her heart, and you couldn't deny that you had noticed her mention that other girls had tempted her in the past. But the more pragmatic side of you weighed the options. Marrying into the Starks would be quite the prestige boost, even if the Stark in question seemed rather dense. Marrying the Bolton or Ryswell would give her powerful allies as well, but they also had their drawbacks.

Relationship with Rhea Royce Improved. New Status: Friendly Ally

What do you suggest to Rhea Royce?

[] [Rhea] The Stark

[] [Rhea] The Bolton

[] [Rhea] The Ryswell

[] [Rhea] Suggest she hold off for better options

[] [Rhea] [Romantic] Tell her she should follow her heart.

[] [Rhea] [Romantic] Suggest Maybe she doesn't have to marry, at least not yet, she does have plenty of cousins after all. Maybe she should consider other interests instead.

[] [Rhea] Write-in (Subject To QM's Approval)

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A loud scream filled the night air. You were on your feet before you had time to even mentally process what was going on.

"Oh shit, it's Mormont!" Rhea exclaimed as she grabbed a boar spear and her bow.

The scream was blood curdling. Clearly he was more than just in pain. Something far worse had occurred.

You briefly considered mounting your horse, but the scream was very close and you didn't have the time to saddle it again, even if you managed to calm it down. You had to move now. You grabbed your sword and a torch, then quickly followed Rhea into the forest.

It didn't take you long to find Mormont, groaning in pain on the blood soaked ground, his arm a shredded mess. Looming over him was a massive beast.



"It's a shadowcat!" Rhea hissed in surprise.

Shadowcats were huge wild cats, easily bigger than wolves, with black fur covered in white stripes. The beast glared at you with great big eyes that almost seemed to glow. It snarled angrily at you, revealing a mouth full of blood soaked teeth, one of it's fangs clearly broken.

Shadowcats were dangerous animals, claws sharp enough to disembowel a man in one swipe, teeth that could crack bones, and even their tails could knock a man off his feet. But to your understanding, they also hunted silently, preferring to sneak up on their prey. And you had caught this one out in the open.

You strode forward, weapons in hand as you placed yourself between Mormont and the huge cat.

"Back!" You command as you swung the torch broadly. "Back you foul beast!"

The cat defiantly stood it's ground, refusing to yield it's future meal, snarling loudly at you as it swiped with it's massive claws.

You swung hard, all but shoving the torch into the Shadowcat's face. It swiped at the torch, trying hard to smash the thing out of your hand or break it. That's when you struck.

Your sword cut deep into it's leg, it's dark fur stained by blood.

The beast recoiled as it howled in surprise, perhaps realzing it had picked a fight it could not win. You didn't give it a chance to flee. You dropped the torch and with both hands plunged your sword deep into the beast's skull. Blood sprayed all over you as tired in vain to bite you. After a moment, the beast collapsed to the ground.

You breath came quickly as you picked up your torch again, your heart racing in your chest. Rhea went to Mormont's side.

"Thank you, Thank you so much!" Mormont said as Rhea picked him up. "I didn't even hear the beast until it knocked me off my feet. By the gods, I thought I was a dead."

"You probably would have been," Rhea said as she quickly dressed the wound. "I've seen Shadowcats gut Aurochs in the Eyrie. Don't normally see them go after people like this. Clearly it was desperate."

"One of it's fangs was broken," you noted as you pulled out your sword.

"That would do it," Rhea nodded. "Good news is, this cat got sloppy. The wounds are bad, I won't lie to you Mormont, but you'll live."

"Thank you," Mormont said through tears before turning back to you. "Thank you both so much."

"I'm just glad we got here in time," you replied.

"We definitely need to bring that beast back to Winterfell," Rhea remarked as she turned her attention towards you. "It's no great elk but that's a kill anyone would be proud of, particularly since you took it down singlehandedly."

"Aye," you agreed. The beast was massive, and it's dark fur was very striking to behold. While you couldn't make a trophy out of it's skull, the rest of it was quite intact. You could easily do something with it's pelt. And with Mormont's injuries you had to abandon the hunt already, so might as well make the most of a bad situation.

When you returned to Winterfell you found Bennard and the others there already, debating if they should send out someone looking for you yet. Apparently they had completely lost track of the elk and returned home empty handed.

Your return, half covered in blood and with a fallen Shadowcat in tow, made quite the impression on the people of Winterfell. A few stared in disgust, but you noticed a number of men, and a few ladies, seemed rather impressed and quite taken by the sight.

While it was no great elk and you regretted the injuries Mormont sustained, you were pretty proud of your kill. Lord Stark quickly had the beast skinned and had it's pelt presented to you. You weren't sure what to do with it, it could easily make for a stunning cloak. One that would make quite the impression when you returned home. It would also make a fine gift for many people.

What Do you Do with the Shadowcat Pelt?

[] [Shadowcat] Keep for yourself.

[] [Shadowcat] Give to Alicent as a Gift.

[] [Shadowcat] Give it to Rhea Royce as a Gift

[] [Shadowcat] Give it to Your Father as a Gift

[] [Shadowcat] Write-in (Subject To QM's Approval)

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QM's Note: Rhaenyra's trip north is turning into quite the violent affair. So I'll note that The Wall will be an interlude because I can't handle it like a normal update for so many reasons.