Balerion
The coziness of mamacat's belly and the faint scent of nourishing milk greeted him. The instinct urged him to reach the nearest teat, but to his surprise, he wasn't alone. Two other blind kittens, just like him, were in a playful struggle to claim the treasured treat. They smelled like... sisters? Nevertheless, he wouldn't let them beat him in the race for nourishment!
But those sneaky girls didn't play fair. They teamed up, using their tiny paws to push him away. The unexpected sibling betrayal nearly brought tears to his little eyes, but mamacat's soothing purrs wiped away the sadness.
After a brief playful scuffle, he found another teat and happily continued his meal, completely forgetting the earlier commotion.
Then he drifted into a cozy nap. And when he woke up, it was time for another delightful meal. Playful tussles with his sisters followed, and soon, he dozed off again. The cycle of joy continued, and he couldn't have been happier.
Three times a day, mamacat gave them all gentle lick-baths. On one of these occasions, a soft rumble from her belly signaled her hunger. With a lazy stretch, she rose, instructing him and his sisters to be good while she went into 'the city' for a snack.
He tried to understand... or at least, he wished he could. Being just a tiny, sightless kitten, logic was a bit beyond his grasp. Sticking close to mamacat was the only thing that mattered - and if she wasn't there, he would cry!
Soon his litter-sisters joined him in a high-pitched chorus, crying for their mother to return. They cried so much and with such enthusiasm that they forgot what they were crying about in the first place... and eventually, they wore themselves out and fell asleep.
When they woke up, their mother was back, wrapping them in warmth and comfort. Maybe it was all just a dream.
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The routine continued. Napping, eating, fighting, bathing. Every so often, mamacat would leave but by now he had more or less become accustomed to her short outings. She said she hunted 'mice meats' like no other cat in the 'Red Keep'! The kitten was proud of his mamacat. When he grew up, he wanted to be just like her!
After a few weeks, his tiny eyes blinked open, revealing a world of blurry shapes and shadows. First in focus was his beloved mamacat, looking just as kind and gentle as he had imagined. Then, his attention turned to his siblings, who, in his not-so-humble opinion, didn't inherit mamacat's good looks. Maybe they were adopted.
As he scrutinized them, their eyes opened too, and they responded with a toothless hiss. Clearly, they weren't winning any beauty contests.
Either way, after he acquainted himself with his family, he took a closer look at their cozy nook. They were nestled between a warm stone wall and some dusty old crates. Mamacat placed a dirty rag as carpet, to protect them from the cold cobblestones during frigid nights.
His home might have smelled a bit moldy, but it felt safe. It was his.
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At some point, they gained permission to explore the nest, though stepping a single paw 'outside' was still a big no-no. The kitten used this time to get used to the whole 'walking' thing. At first, his stubby legs felt treacherous and slippery, leading to occasional stumbles and falls on his tail. Luckily, his sour-faced sisters faced similar challenges, and he found their stumbles to be highly amusing. Mamacat stood guard, lifting them by the scruff whenever they fell.
In a few days, the uneasy steps were replaced with playful zoomies, much to their mamacat's chagrin. Sometimes, she'd slip away to hunt 'rat meats,' and her little fierce kitten, armed with newfound confidence and curiousity, would offer to bravely come and help her.
But the answer was always the same: 'you're too small.'
Too small? He didn't think so! He could walk super fast (with just the occasional stumble)! Surely, he could protect his mamacat and hunt with her.
Alas, he couldn't disobey her. He could hope, in his tiny heart of hearts, that his mamacat would come back safe, like she always did.
...She always did...So why was this feeling gnawing at him deep inside his stomach like a furball?
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Mamacat was gone, so he play-fought with his siblings until sleep took them. But in the middle of the night, he woke up with a sneeze. The air was chilly, and something was amiss – mamacat's comforting warmth was absent.
She never took so long to come back. It felt too long. Restlessness, that awful chest-tightening feeling, slowly crept in, starting with him and then spread to his sisters. He lost sleep, worrying about his precious mamacat. The entire day passed in a haze of worry. He wanted to gaze out from their nest, hoping to catch a glimpse of her familiar silhouette. However, going outside was forbidden, and he didn't dare disobey her words.
When hope was fading like the evening light, he heard it—the familiar sound of mamacat's weary steps. Relief flooded his tiny being, and he rushed to greet her, eyes shining with a mix of joy and concern.
'Mama?' he cried out in surprise, which quickly turned into horror. She barely mustered the strength to stumble into the nest. Her fur was disheveled, her neat black coat marred by crimson blood, seeping out of long gashes and bite marks.
'Mama, what happened?'
'Are you alright?'
The kitten and his sisters were distraught. They cried out, asking their mamacat all sorts of things. But she was too tired to answer. She staggered beside them, her purrs now feeble attempts to comfort. With her last strength, she hugged them one last time. The kitten couldn't help but fall asleep in her tight embrace.
When he woke up the second day, he wasn't greeted by mamacat's vibrant warmth. Her body grew cold, as she succumbed to the grievous wounds. Her kind eyes lost their light, her comforting purrs forever gone.
His sisters were there with him, and now they only had each other. For warmth, they huddled together as close as possible, and managed.
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As the days passed, hunger and dehydration consumed them - but they were too afraid to venture outside... afraid of the dangers that caused their mama so much harm. The kitten was afraid and unsure what to do, so he instinctively turned to his mamacat. But she could offer him no comfort. By now, her belly had already become bloated with the scent of decaying air, maggots festering inside her eyesockets.
<< What's that wretched smell, stinking the whole of Maegor's Holdfast? Did something die here? >> he could hear a strange noise, an alien meow. Noises were a common thing, but this one was coming closer, quickening with an unknown anticipation. It sounded like... steps?
When the rhythmic sound ceased, the crate shielding them from the world finally moved. Light streamed down on his face, blinding. It felt like opening his eyes for the first time once more. As his sight adjusted, he found himself staring at something he had never seen before.
It was very tall, with almost no hair, and it walked upright on two legs. It's fur was weird - metal around the body, white on its back and a lavish golden mane on his head. The kitten, sharp-witted as ever, promptly linked this unusual creature to the 'humans' warned about by his mama.
Yet, this was no ordinary 'human.' It was the most fearsome kind—the 'man-in-metal.'
<< Seven Hells, it's a dead cat. With kittens to boot! >> the man-in-metal shouted in protest. << Stay away, Princess. The stench is rancid! >> the youth took an ornate handkerchief with a golden lion blazed on top. He used it to cover his nose, whilst moving closer to the kitten's dead mother.
'How dare he! Don't touch my mama!' The kitten hissed, showcasing all his feline might. He jumped in between the evil man in metal and his mama, protecting her from his large, clawless paw.
To his merit, the little kitten was succesful in stopping the 'human' from touching his mamacat - at the cost of being caught instead.
The kitten tried to fight back, but he was too weak. He tried to bite, but his teeth were no bigger than pinpricks. He couldn't help but be swept up, alongside his sisters.
<< Quite the feisty ones, aren't you, little cubs? Such a shame, Being parted from your mother so soon... There's no greater injustice in this world. I know your pain. >>
The kittens were still struggling, crying as loud as they could for help. Their meows inadvertedly caused for the attention of another human sitting at a distance, this one much shorter, with a rounder and chubbier face.
<< Are those kittens? Look, mommy! Ser found kittens! Look how cute they are, I want them mommy! >>>
She began meowing in her own language, words he couldn't make sense of, while looking up at human.
<< Mommy, pleeease! You promised I could have kittens! >>
The little human meowed in her own language at the graceful human, words that he couldn’t make sense of. And she too meowed back in their human speak that felt to alien to him.
<< Fine, my sweet desert rose. We'll ask kind Ser Jaime to let you keep one. The other two we'll gift to my handmaidens, Ashara and Lemore.>> the big human spoke in a sweet voice. << Say, which fur-ball will you choose? >>
The little human pointed his way, and the golden-maned human and other men-in-metal came and carried him and his sisters away...
They took him far... so far, far away from their nest, and their mamacat ... and he was too weak to resist.
When the men-in-metal let finally placed him down in an unfamiliar place, he was ready for the worst. All coiled up, hairs on end, trying to appear as fierce as possible. He wouldn't go down without a fight!
Yet to his surprise, he himself swathed in a soft red ribbon and gently settled onto a cushion of silk that felt as snug as mamacat's warm belly. The cushion carried a different scent than his, but it quickly became a secure spot for him to curl up. He was placed in the corner near the fire, where it was nice and cozy.
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[https://i.imgur.com/icgQn9y.png]
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...swathed in a soft red ribbon and gently settled onto a cushion of silk...
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He was alone, away from his litter-sisters, but he didn't have time to feel sad or bored. The little-human loved to play and give him pets with her tiny paws with no claws. He was wary of her at first, but quickly learned she was nice, warm, and caring, like his mamacat. He liked the little human, and her pets between his ears which made him purr.
Once he gave her a pet back, but his tiny claws weren't used to soft skin. There was a strange noise, a shriek. A single bead of red came out from a wound, causing water and snot to trickle down from the little-human's face.
The scent of blood permeated the air as it trickled down her finger, and in that moment, two dancing motes of fire leapt from the fireplace, drawing circles in the sky before finally settling on both his and the little human's heads. As they did, the image of a smiling old crone flickered in his feline mind, only to vanish as quickly as it appeared.
Despite the magical display, nobody paid any attention to the fire motes, except him. The men-in-metal, focused solely on the little human's tears, promptly took him into their arms, ready to spirit him away, at a moment's notice.
But the little-human hissed at them: << No! Don't take my kitten! I want him, he's mine! >>
One of those men dressed in metal meowed strangely at her: << Princess, your father would never let you keep a pet cat. Especially one so feral that it would hurt you so. >>
But the tiny human meowed back: << What cat? Can't you see this is a dragon! Look how big and mean he is! He is Balerion the Black, a Targaryen dragon! >>
There was laughter and giggles, and the big humans made merry.
Just like that, he was given a name. The kitten became "Balerion".
[Whether drawn by the King's blood or the fiery name of the old dragon, the motes of Eternal Fire chose them... and thus the bond between Balerion and Rhae was unknowingly sealed... ]
[Azor Ahai and Nissa Nissa have been selected]
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> She had a small black kitten she called Balerion, did you know? I always wondered what happened to him. Rhaenys liked to pretend he was the true Balerion, the Black Dread of old, but I imagine the Lannisters taught her the difference between a kitten and a dragon quick enough, the day they broke down her door. — Varys to Eddard Stark, A Game of Thrones
[https://i.redd.it/vr2anc6clwna1.jpg]
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The princess and her cat-dragon
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Rhae
The Red Keep was quiet, like when the grown-ups whispered before bedtime. Usually, it was all bustling and people rushing, going from place to place. Bringing food. Taking it away. Emptying chamberpots. But not today, no. Rhae didn't like quiet. She liked noise and play, like the sound of laughter and pots clanging in the kitchens. She wanted fun!
She spotted Balerion the Black Dragon, rubbing against her legs. She stared into his yellow feline eyes and asked, "Would you come on a little adventure with me, Balerion?"
Balerion was her great-and-fierce-and-fire-breathing cat dragon cub. He would surely grow up to be the biggest dragon in the world one day! He was like a little brother to her, except Rhae already had a little brother, but he was a baby and babies don't play.
Luckily, cats dragons love to play! Rhae gave Balerion a little scratch behind his ears and he purred, like a happy kitten dragon, as all dragons do when they get scritches.
"Okay then! Follow me, fearless Balerion! " Rhae raised her hands high and marched to the door. " I'm not just a little girl, I'm big now, and I'm going on an adventure!"
Like magic, the door swung open - and there was her mommy, with her Dornish look and pretty brown eyes, standing there. "Where's this adventure I hear of, little one?"
Was her mommy waiting there for her to wake up? The princess giggled, shaking her head. Silly thought. She puffed her chest out and said, "Adventure today, mommy!"
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Her mommy's response was not what Rhae expected. "My sweet dragoness, I'm afraid you shouldn't go out today. People are… busy. Perhaps you should stay in your room. How about you play with your new kitten?"
Rhae thought her mommy looked troubled by something, and her eyes looked tired. Did she have a bad dream? Either way, Rhae would have none of it.
"He is a DRAGON!" And we're going on an adventure! AD. VEN. TURE!" She enunciated each syllable, stomping her foot down each time, with extreme seriousness and seriosity. "We go, today!"
Her mommy shook her head, and couldn't help but smile. Rhae liked to see her mommy smile. "There is no changing your mind once you set your sights on something." Her mommy remarked in her tender voice. "I wonder if that's the Targaryen fire in your blood speaking, or the Dornish stubbornness that you may have well inherited... from your uncles."
Her mommy gave Rhae a second look over, but Rhae didn't budge. She was very determined to be the bestest explorer today!
Her mommy could only sigh in defeat. "You are truly mommy's weakness, my sweet desert rose. " she said as she moved out of the door, leaving room for Rhae to pass. "Before you go, how about a little snack?" Her mommy reached into the recesses of her robe and revealed some sweets. Rhae liked sweets, but she would not be deterred today. She shook her head, saying no to sweets!
"I'm not a baby, mommy. I'm big now, almost four. Snacks later, now it's adventure time!" She told mommy to move so she could go on her adventure with her cat dragon Balerion. Her mommy smiled and placed the sweets on a nearby table. "Of course, my big girl now. Lead the way. Where to?"
Rhae put her little finger on her lips and hummed, eyes going up as if searching the ceiling. She saw grown-ups do this when they were talking with her father and thinking very hard. And Rhae was thinking. And she was very grown up!
"Hmm, ok! Let's go mommy! I'll take you somewhere you've never been before!"
Being the big girl she was, Rhae took the lead. She decided to let her mommy come along on her adventure.
"Give me your hand, mommy! Or you'll get lost all by yourself in the big Keep!"
Her mommy laughed, but Rhae knew this was no laughing matter. She knew for certain people got lost in the big castle every day! Once, a long time ago it even happened to her! She was playing with Balerion, when she realized she didn't know the way back to her rooms, with all those confusing corridors. At the end of the day, men in gold cloaks came to search for her and she got a bad scolding!
But that was last week, when she was a little child. Rhae was now sooo much more grown up!
Hand in hand with her mommy, they ventured through the castle, their steps echoing in the quiet halls. Where should she go first? Rhae was thinking when her tummy rumbled, like a little dragon. She blushed and looked away, but her mommy gave her a knowing smile.
"Hungry, are we? Mommy told you to take some sweets." Rhae got lightly chided, and she could feel her cheeks burn. Betrayed by her own body! Rhae felt shame, but her mommy didn't scold her. Not for reals. Instead, she spoke with honeyed words. "Let's start our adventure in the kitchens, my sweet little desert flower. There is no shame in that. Every great explorer must at first pack a mighty lunch for their travels!"
Rhae felt the blush in her cheek still, but nodded silently. Yes, she was just like the great explorers going for their travels. She definitely wasn't hungry!
Rhae liked the kitchens. The cooking ladies would always greet her and her mommy with big smiles and sweet tarts, with lemon curd and crumbly crusts. Her mommy said in Dorne they have the best lemon tarts, but Rhae wouldn't know. She never went outside of the Keep.
That's why she was exploring today!
With treats in hand, and mother in tow, she continued her journey to the gardens in the courtyard. It was like her own secret world of green and colors. She imagined herself deep in the heart of the Sothoryos jungle, where dangerous beasts lurked. The fierce cat dragon Balerion, was there to protect her, a mighty guardian. As she navigated the perils of her jungle, Rhae's imagination ran wild. She was an explorer, brave and fearless. She giggled, playing find-the-treasure and hide-and-seek, like all great adventurers do!
Soon, her mommy left to take care of baby Eggy. Eggy was Rhae's little brother, and he cried all the time, because that's what babies do.
Since Rhae didn't want to be alone in the big jungle, Rhae left at the same time her mommy did. Yet she didn't feel like going home yet. The day was still long, so she chose to go on another adventure!
She went down the steps, giggling all the way. Then up the steps, huffing and puffing, for whoever made those stairs made them too big for her little legs. Luckily, Balerion was there with her, meowing encouragingly!
After a long and perilous journey, they arrived at the White Sword Tower, a place where knights lived, strong and noble. Going down the halls, she met with a Ser with golden hair who always treated her kindly. He was like a big brother, smiling in a way that made her feel safe. She found him, standing tall in his armor, like a shining knight from her stories.
"Hello, Ser," she greeted with a bright smile, using the word she heard everyone else use.
"Hello, Princess Rhae," the knight replied, his voice gentle and warm. "What brings you to the White Sword Tower today?"
Rhae shrugged, a playful twinkle in her eyes. "Adventure! I'm exploring like a big girl!"
The knight chuckled. "Well, you make a very brave explorer, princess."
She beamed at the compliment. "Thank you." She smiled giddily. As she stood before the knight, her innocent curiosity sparked a question in her mind. "Ser, why did your mommy call you Ser? And why are all the knights called Ser? Do you have the same mommy?"
The knight's laughter rang out, a beautiful lion's smile adorning his youthful face. He looked at her with care. "Forgive my laughter, princess, but you just remind me of my little brother, Tyrion. He's always possessed an inquisitive spirit, much like yourself." With a reminiscent gleam in his eyes, he added, "And as much as it would have been a funny predestination for my mother to call me Ser, that honor was granted by another. " He smiled fondly, straightening his back with pride. "I was knighted by the greatest knight in these lands, none other than Ser Arthur Dayne himself."
She listened with wide eyes, absorbing his words, not quite comprehending. "Oh.That's nice." She tried to mimic the ser's pride. She straightened her back, resting her tiny hand on her chest where the Maester told her the heart was. "I have a story too," she began, her eyes shining brightly. "My mommy named me Rhaenys, just like our really, really old great-great-great-great-greatest-grandma. She was a wonderful and strong queen, and I want to be just like her when I'm all grown up!"
The knight's smile turned tender, and his words held a gentle warmth. He bent down, meeting her gaze with his piercing green eyes. "I have no doubt that you'll become a remarkable queen one day, little princess."
Rhae's brows knit together in a pout. "I'm not little! I'm..." She counted slowly on her petite fingers. " I'm three and nine months already! That's almost four!" she spoke with determination. "See? I'm almost grown up!"
The ser shook his head, flashing a wide smile. "Of course, my princess. Please, find the mercy to forget this slight." With a gesture as graceful as a lion's stride, he lowered his head in a knightly bow. "Should the princess ever require the aid of this humble knight, I stand ready to serve. Your unwavering loyalty, my lady, you shall always have." His words flowed with the grandeur of an ancient ballad, like verses sung of knights of old in tales of valor and honor.
Rhae beamed at his offer. "Sure!" she said giddily. She felt warm and fuzzy. She really liked the ser, just like all the sers, because they were kind and strong, just like her daddy said. Sers protected the King, who was her grandpa. But in the future it would be her they protected.
Rhae wanted to thank the ser for always being so nice and taking care of her family, but her words didn't quite find their way. So she stretched out her little arms wide and wrapped them around him in a big hug. Hugs solved every problem!
"I love you lots, big-brother Ser! And I really love the tall Ser, and the one with the shiny sword too! When I'm big like you, you'll come with me, and we'll have a grand adventure. We'll see so many things, and oh, we'll find a huge mountain of treasure and lemon tarts, and we'll eat them all up! There's going to be so much!" Her hands stretched high above her head, showing just how much there would be. "You and my fierce Balerion will be super strong and keep me safe from any bad men or ugly beasties."
The knight was caught off guard by her declaration, yet her sincere words melted his heart. He tenderly tousled her hair, his voice carrying a gentle affection. "Absolutely. I'll stand by your side, ever vigilant to shield you from any harm. You can count on me, little princess."
Rhae's brows furrowed again, and she shouted. "I'm not little!"
The knight smiled, bid her farewell and made his way down the hall. He had to see the King, which was Rhae's grandpa, so Rhae didn't follow him. She didn't like her grandpa very much, because he always looked at her with mean eyes and said she smelled too dornish!
Rhae didn't smell! She had a bath every other day!
Together with Balerion by her side, they found the rest of the White Tower greatly uninteresting. All the other knights were gone, so she had to do her exploring alone. Some doors were too heavy for her to open, and others led to boring rooms with next to no furnishing. No toys, no dresses, nothing! What were the Ser's playing with all day?
When she got bored from searching the place, Rhae turned back, only to find Balerion licking his paws in the shade. A devilish smile etched itself on her face, and she started running at her fluffy companion."We're playing dragon hunting now! Run, dragon!" Her smile lit up her eyes, and she burst into giggles as she raced ahead. Startled by the sudden shift, Balerion dashed forward with all his furry might, leaving room for Rhae to chase.
Yet even in their energetic run, Rhae would always stop and greet people she knew, because that's what her mommy taught her. She ran past the bald man that smelled of perfume and flowers, remembering his name to be Varys.
"Hello, Varys!" she would say, and the man always greeted her with a smile. "Lovely to chance upon you, princess. What are you up to today?"
"I'm adventuring, like a big girl!"
"I can see that very well." Rhae liked Varys, he knew how to be patient with children. He would always ask plenty questions and spoke many things with her, especially about her parents. Like now.
"How does your mother fare? I'm afraid being locked up in the Keep may have put a lot of stress upon her shoulders. My sincere prayers go out to her."
Rhae didn't know what Varys was speaking about. Mommy isn't locked up. She can go everywhere as long as she stays in this Keep, just like Rhae! Silly Varys.
"Mommy is fine! She was playing with me but then she went to Eggy because he was hungry and crying. You know, because that's what's babies do!"
Varys whispered something to himself about "unfortunate timing" that Rhae didn't quite catch as she was too distracted searching for Balerion's whereabouts. Only when he met her eyes did she pay attention. "I appreciate your insight, princess. It's valuable information." Varys nodded thoughtfully, a measured gleam in his gaze, but Rhae's attention wandered.
"You're welcome," Rhae chimed in a quick hurry. "But now I gotta go or Balerion will slip away, and he's a really fierce dragon! I'm the only one who can make friends with him," she declared with a hint of seriousness.
Varys grinned warmly. "Absolutely, princess. Off you go to catch him. If you don't, we might all be shaking in our boots tonight, scared of the mighty Balerion the Black Dread." Rhae liked it when other people saw Balerion for the dragon he really was!
She laughed, and continued her playful running. Her little eyes spied Balerion's black fur in the distance. She dashed to his side, enthusiastically reminding him of their ongoing game. "Dragon hunting! Run or I'll catch you! Hehe!"
Without hesitation, Balerion jumped back in the fun. They ran around the place, a song of giggles and meows filling the yards. Rhae was so happy she didn't mind where she was going.
"Ouchie" Rhae suddenly found herself headbutting someone. A man came from the rookery, and as Rhae ran into him, he dropped a tiny paper. "Sorry!"
"You little p... Oh, princess, is that you there?" an older man with long chains on his neck greeted Rhae. She didn't remember his name, but knew he was the Maester. At first he seemed upset, but Rhae found all the anger dissapeared from his eyes the moment he saw her. "What are you doing at this late hour here, princess? It's soon getting dark." he asked, stumbling on his words.
"I'm chasing dragons! And adventuring, like a big girl!" Rhae said with pride. Then, to be polite like her mommy taught her, she asked him back. "What are you doing here, Maester?"
Rhae was confused when she saw the old man's face drop as she asked her question. Did she say something she shouldn't have? The old man shifted in his spot, searching with big eyes for something.
"Where, where is it?" he asked. "The message, where did I drop it?" he turned around and looked down searching desperately.
"Are you looking for treasure? I'm the bestest treasure finder!" Rhae said, trying to be helpful. She started searching for treasure and found a little scribbled paper at her feet. She took it in her tiny fingers, observing its front and back. It looked like letters, but Rhae didn't know how to read yet. There were no drawings, so she wasn't interested in it.
"Are you looking for this?" Rhae asked.
The man's mouth fell agape. "Y-y-yes, quite so. I - I cannot stress how important it is to me." he came closer with uneasy steps, reaching his hand towards Rhae in a begging gesture. "Please, may I have it?"
So it was treasure! Rhae considered it for a second. "Treasure is important! I can't give it to you for free."
"W-what must I do to get it, princess? What is it you want?" the old man asked, like a lost puppy. Rhae held one of her fingers on her lips, as if pondering a great secret. "Hmm. I know!" she beamed, a devilish smile on her lips. "You must ask for it nicely. Very nicely!"
The old man did a double take. "Is that so? Then, ugh- can I please get that message, princess?"
"No." Rhae she rejected, a playful twinkle in her eyes. "You must ask, veeeeeery nicely! Say pretty please."
Rhae saw the Maester gulp, as if swollowing something heavy. He outstreched both his cupped hands. "Pretty please, princess, may I have it?"
"Sure!" Rhae laughed as she gingerly placed the message in the Maester's arms. Rhae saw he felt very relieved!
"By chance, have you read its contents?" he asked.
Rhae shook her head. Silly Maester. Rhae didn't learn her letters yet!
"Good." the Maester put the message in the deep recesses of his robe, and dashed quicker than Rhae ever saw him. He didn't even say thank you! The Maester was very rude!
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When Rhae tumbled into her room, the sun was doing its sleepy dance on the horizon. She flopped onto her bed, sinking into the squishy mattress like a marshmallow. Her little feet were tired and her eyelids drooped with weariness.
"Had a good adventure today, my sweet?" Her mommy's voice chimed in, and Rhae turned her head with all the energy she could muster to meet her gaze. Mommy was holding little Eggy, who stared at her with his round curious eyes. The babe was sucking on his thumb, drooling all over.
"The bestest ever!" Rhae beamed, before nestling her head back into her pillow fort. "But I'm tired now and I want to sleep!" Her words became muffled as she buried herself in the sheets.
Softly, she heard her mommy's voice, like a lullaby, "Fine, my love. Then sleep well."
Suddenly, Rhae's head popped up from between the soft pillows. "Wait! You forgot something!"
"What is it, dear?"
"Can't I get a good night kiss?"
"Old enough for adventures but not too old for night kisses, are you?"
Rhae's cheeks flushed with warmth, but the feeling melted away as her mommy leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. Then, with the gentlest touch, her mother tucked her in.
"Sleep well, my dear."
With that, Rhae snuggled into her dreams, feeling all cozy and loved.
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Rhae woke up to the cries of Eggy in the middle of the night, because Eggy was a baby and that's what babies do. She groggily rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, her small fingers working diligently. With a little yawn, she pushed herself out of bed, her feet shuffling against the cool floor. Balerion accompanied her, so she wasn't afraid of the dark.
The baby's cries guided her through the dimly lit hallway, and Rhae found herself standing before her mommy's door. Eggy sounded like a hurt kitten, and she wanted to ask mommy to make him stop, as she did many times before. When she opened the nursery's door, however, everything felt strange. The room was dark, and her mommy's face looked different – like she was scared or something. She cradled little Eggy in her arms, away from the fierce big man.
Rhae stared up at the big scary man, who seemed to almost touch the ceiling with his head. She wasn't little, not anymore – but compared to the man standing in front of her, she felt so small. He was as tall as a mountain, big and broad, dressed in knightly mail, splattered with red, and had a long red cape.
When the large man turned around, Rhae's heart raced. His eyes were all cold and mean, like there was no kindness in them at all. Just by looking at him, she could tell he was one of the bad men that father used to sing about, the ones that heroic knights in shiny armor would have beat.But in the dark room, there was just Rhae, mommy, Eggy and Balerion. She thought of the big-brother ser that promised to protect her, but he wasn't here now. Not when she needed him most.
"Run!" her mother's voice broke through the air, filled with desperation. "Run, Rhae!"
Rhae didn't need to be told twice. She turned around as fast as she could, as fast as her little feet could carry her, away from the scary room. Her heart was racing so fast she felt like a wild horse.
Yet her baby brother was still crying, and Rhae didn't know what to do. Just before she turned the corner, Rhae looked back and saw her mommy trying and failing to push the scary man away. The man then took Eggy from her mommy's arms, and Eggy's cries turned into even louder screams, then the bad man threw him against the wall. There was a crack like walnut breaking, followed by the sound of liquid splattering, and the wall turned red. For a second, everything turned silent. Her brother fell to the ground and stopped crying.
But why? Isn't crying what babies do?
As Eggy's tear's stopped, her mommy began. She let out an anguished and sorrowful shout, tears going down her cheeks. Rhae didn't quite understand what was going on, but since her mommy was crying she started crying as well. With tears in her eyes, she watched as the bad man, with his large hands, grabbed her mommy's head, and squeezed with his thumbs. He pushed his fingers into her mommy's crying eyes, and it sounded like grapes popping. Then her mommy's eyes were gone and blood tears fell down her cheeks. Then her mother's scream got only worse as the bad man began to rip her mommy's dresses. He took down his breeches and then…
"Kill the kid, Lorch" the giant man said in a gruff voice, and Rhae felt a greasy hand grab her shoulder. Instinctively, she turned around to see another bad man, this one shorter, bald and fat like a pig. But his smile was so evil, Rhae shuddered.
He laughed at her, a horrible, high-pitched thing, like a pig's cries. He stared down with scary bloodshot eyes into Rhae's. With his right hand, he unsheathed a long and pointy dagger, licking its cold metal underside from hilt to tip. "Run, little girl! For my claws are long and sharp, and tonight I am hunting dragons!"
Rhae was scared, more so than even in her worst nightmares. So she ran. She ran as fast as her little feet allowed her to, huffing with each step, going down the hall – had it always been so long? – then up the stairs, searching, searching for somewhere safe. She thought of father, craving to jump in his protective embrace, to feel his strong arms and hear his soothing songs. One second she was running, the other she found herself in her father's chamber - the last safe place in her mind.
Rhae was crying harder, forgetting why she was there. Only upon seeing Balerion jump underneath the bed, did she remember she too had to hide. So hide she did, in the shadow beneath the bed, where grumkins and monsters lived.
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In the grip of darkness, Rhae trembled. She wasn't grown up. She wasn't an adventurer. She was just a little, scared girl, who wished for someone to save her.
Tears flowed as she listened to the approaching laughter of the pig-like man. He drew nearer, close to the bedpost. Did he spot her? Her breath hitched.
There was silence in the room. An eerie quiet, for a single heartbeat.
Abruptly, a meaty hand clamped onto her leg, and she yelled as her body was yanked up. She heard Balerion hiss, jumping to scratch the bad man, but his claws only met the metal armor. The evil man was unharmed, instead it was Balerion that got hurt, his left ear being cut by the evil man's blade. With a pained meow, Balerion ran away into the shadows.
The pig-man laughed and laughed, like he was to burst. With each step, he came closer, and Rhae felt her heart beating rapidly in her chest. She tried to run, but the bad man gripped her harshly, whispering devilishly in her ear. "Lord Lannister sends his regards."
The metal blade whooshed in the dark room, and Rhae could only cry. The stabs came one after the other. Three, four, five, then it went higher than she could count without using her fingers.
She felt pain, and cold, and weariness. She shut her eyes one final time, and all the hurt simply faded away.
Amidst the Sack of King's Landing, as the Mad King felt the cold steel of a sword piercing his back, the nursery's once-vibrant giggles morphed into a haunting silence...
Outside, a black kitten with a bleeding ear fell to the ground, like a puppet with its strings cut.
The bond was broken. One of them died... and time was turned back.
Again.