Chapter 30
Days riding passed slowly for Daemon. While he liked horses, long journeys atop of one was not preferable. The fact that his sister began to talk less and less the closer to her keep they got didn't help his mood. Viserys and ser Harwin seemed wary of Maenera now. Ser Harold, still a stoic presence, didn't let much show. The northmen they were with seemed like a merry bunch. It pissed Daemon off. His sister was lost in her head most of the time, with thoughts or visions. He kept a close eye every time she seemed to fall into a vision, to be sure she did not fall off her horse. The northmen were either oblivious or were successfully ignoring every time her eyes unfocused.
He wasn't sure he wanted to know what she saw. Two days into their riding she came beside him and told him that by the weeks end she will kill a man. He didn't know how to feel about that. By now he knew that his sister was a killer, but what he didn't know was either she killed someone with her own hands before. She killed her mother unintentionally and she all but ordered Mysaria's death, but to actually kill someone, with a dagger or sword?
"We are approaching the Keep." Said Maenera and all eyes were focused now.
When it came into view, he could say that the Keep was nothing impressive. The home was a little bigger than that of a landed knight. Some land around it that was supposed to be used for farming. It felt cold, dead. Nothing could be heard, no buzzing of maids, no stable boys ready to take their horses, no children running around. Nothing. Even if it seemed in good condition the Keep seemed abandoned. The resignation on Maenera's face broke his heart. To know that your home was left for ruins was one thing, but to see it with your own eyes was another.
His sister stopped in front of the doors and got down from her horse. They followed suit. A strong wind blew and the windows began rattling. His sister looked around with keen eyes and a furrow began appearing on her forehead. She seemed confused for a moment.
"We are not alone. Take out your swords." His sister commanded.
Him along with ser Harwin ser Harold and Viserys immediately took out their swords. The northmen were slow on the uptake but seeing the King with Blackfyre in his hands made them move swiftly. They were all looking around for signs of danger. His sister though was focused on the front doors. He did the same. He would be stupid not to, she was the one with weird feelings. The doors opened and all of them tensed.
"My Princess, you are home at last." The voice said.
The man, if he could be named that, coming from the keep was not human. Daemon was pretty sure that in front of him stood a creature. He was young yet old. Beautiful yet ugly. Masculine yet feminine. Not too tall but not too short. Chubby in the middle but the rest of his body was skinny. He had long black hair and golden eyes. Brown skin that had a pale hue to it. That was not a normal man, Daemon could bet all the gold in the treasury. He threw a quick look around him and it seemed that he wasn't the only one thinking that, judging by the look on everyone's faces. The creature came before Maenera and Daemon was two seconds away from cutting it down, when it bent the knee in front of her. It bowed its head while Maenera stood frozen looking at it.
Maenera's reaction was visceral. She froze at the sight of it. Not moving an inch, Daemon wasn't sure she was even breathing. This was a mixed signal. Were they supposed to attack it? But then his sister began laughing, and laughing and laughing some more till she bent down a little and took the creature's hands in hers and lifted him up from where it was on its knees. She was smiling brightly at the creature. Daemon was still confused. Was he supposed to stab it or not?
"Jon, you old geezer, you gave me a fright." She said and embraced the creature(Jon?).
"My apologies little Princess, heard the horses, thought that they will try to enter the Keep again. Then I saw your snowy hair, knew then that you came back home. "
" Did anyone else stayed?"
"No, my princess. I, alone remained."
"You stayed here all this time? Alone?"
"Where would I go Princess? This is the only home I have."
"Oh Jon.... Show us inside. No point in staying out in the cold." His sister said and began following the man inside. When she realized they didn't follow she turned to them." No danger here. Put your swords away. Come on now, inside with the lot of you."
They did that of course, but they were still confused. His sister's mood did a complete turn. She seemed playful now. The smile on her face, still keeping strong. It wasn't clear if she was happy because someone was still here or because the creature, Jon, in particular was still here.
"I will light the fires at once Princess and prepare a meal for you and your guests. How many Lords and how many soldiers, if I may ask?"
"A dozen soldiers, two lords, one kingsguard, one prince and one King." She replied, her smile fond.
"Ah, so you found your kingly brother. Did you find your princely one as well or is this prince a different one, my Princess." He didn't know if he should be insulted or not. Viserys seemed in the same situation.
"Both of them are my brothers."
"Will your chambers surface, or should I open Prince Baelon's chambers?"
"Father's chambers will stay closed. My brothers will do just fine in my chambers. Lord Stark and Lord Strong will have rooms in the family wings same as Ser Harold. The knights will go in the east wing, you know the rooms already." She took control of the situation so quickly. He forgot that she received the education for taking care of a keep, all ladies did.
"Of course my princess."
"Show the knights to their rooms and you can start on dinner. The Lords and my brothers will come with me, I'll show them to their rooms. After you can start on dinner. Tell me if you need any help, we are a lot to cook for."
"There will be no problem Princess. In two hours I will have your favorites on the table in the dining room."
"Perfect, thank you Jon." Said Maenera and began walking to the western part of the Keep.
Her smile, still strong on her lips. She showed Lord Stark Ser Harwin and ser Harold to their rooms and began walking to the doors at the end of the corridor. When she opened the doors they were surprised by how her rooms looked. They were so... Maenera. The curtains were black and the carpets red. The bed sheets were deep purple and the pillows were white. The walls were beige, and on the ceiling were painted stars. Nothing on the floor but there were trinkets and pieces of parchment on every available surface. There were some toys that were probably hers since she was younger. A carved dragon that he recognized being his father's work. He and Viserys, both had received a carved dragon when they claimed a dragon of their own. A line of dolls, all had different coloured hair. Some red some black some blonde. There was a vanity and a mirror and on that a comb he recognized. He helped father pick it when he was younger. He never knew what his father did with it. He assumed he gave it to a woman. He was partially wrong. The room was calming and chaotic at the same time and Daemon could agree that it suited his sister.
"Are we not going to talk about the creature downstairs?" Daemon asked.
"Daemon! He is not a creature. He is a very lovely and loyal man." Maenera responded.
"If you are trying to tell me that, that man is completely human, you are delusional."
"Well... Mayhaps he is not. I do not know. Nor do I want to. He was here since before I was born, he was in the service of my mother."
"And doesn't he looks a little bit strange to you?"
"Not really, he was always a part of the household."
"Maenera what Daemon is trying to say is, are you sure that he is no danger to you or us?" Interjected Viserys.
"I am sure. He is a bit eccentric and set in his ways and he does look a bit strange but he is loyal."
"Then why didn't he send you a missive that he is still living here?"
"I do not know. I intend to ask him... To be honest I thought that he died. You stay and relax and I will go to the kitchens and talk with him." She said then turned on her heels and left.
"Are you going to let her go alone?" Viserys asked.
"No chance in all the seven hells. Go stay with Ser Harold, I do not want you alone either." Daemon responded then sprinted after his sister. He caught up to her just as she was entering the kitchens.
"My Princess shouldn't help with making food. She should wait with her brothers." The man said.
"I will help. I missed cooking with you, Jon." His sister could cook?
"Your loyal guard had followed you, princess."
"Daemon! I said to wait with Viserys."
"Can you blame me for wanting to spend some more time with my sister?"
"Honeyed words your princely brother has." Said the creature. Daemon could feel its eyes on his person. He felt judged. Manera didn't respond anymore. Just lifted her sleeves and began chopping some vegetables. They worked in silence, Daemon stood at the side just observing how well they worked with each other. It was a practiced ease in their movements. They weren't bumping into each other or getting in each other's way.
"Jon?"
"Hmm?"
"Why didn't you send a letter that you were still here?"
" With each letter I would send to your Grace, I could feel that you became more and more upset by the lack of loyalty, so I didn't send any letters anymore."
"You could have told me you remained alone."
"And what would that solve, your Grace? You would feel obligated to come back for me and you had an important mission to see to, from what I understood."
"I could have sent some more people."
"Bah... Cattle the lot of them. They were greedy and lacked loyalty. My princess offered fair wages, roof over their heads, a place to raise children and still they were displeased. Your Grace didn't need more of those animals dirtying your home. I managed alone."
"Did you receive the gold I sent?"
"But of course, Princess. All of the gold I received is accounted for. All comings and goings are noted in the books."
"Was it enough?" Daemon could tell that his sister was feeling guilty for unknowingly abandoning the creature. He was surprised of the amount of loyalty the man seemed to have. If what he was saying was true, and all the gold was accounted for, it was almost unheard of, especially under the circumstances. Not to take one silver for yourself it's hard to believe.
"You send wages for a small army of maids and servants, it was only me here after a time, so do not worry it was more than enough. Most money went unused. The only expense your Grace had was a year ago when I employed three boys from Wintertown to come and repair the stables."
"Didn't you have to buy food?" The creature laughed.
"Why would I do that, Princess? All this land, and the glass houses are more than enough to feed one man. I even sold some at the market, it would have been a shame to let it spoil. You even made some profit. Small but is there. For the rest of my needs I had mine own wage to spend from."
"Do we still have animals?"
"Some, three cows and a bull. Two horses and some hens. And let's not forget the cat that is always around. To be honest I do not know where that one came from."
"When we leave, would you like to come with us? With me? To Kingslanding?"
"And to abandon the Keep? No, no Princess. I was born on this land and I will die on it."
"I will send some more people, trustworthy ones to help you around."
"If your Grace thinks is necessary." The creature clearly thought that more people were a waste of time and resources, but he indulged her.
They didn't continued their conversation. His sister seemed pleased with his responses, and didn't considered necessary to question him some more. Something was still rubbing Daemon the wrong way. He had some questions himself. The way the creature was looking at him was a bit disturbing. His sister didn't seem to notice anything amiss, however.
"At the risk of sounding impertinent, wouldn't the Princess feel more comfortable if she had a clean change of clothes?" His sister laughed.
"Are you saying I stink?"
"Not at all, your Grace, i just believe you would feel better if you had something clean and confortable on as opposed to your riding leathers."
"Alright, i get the idea. I'm going. I will be just in time for dinner." The creature offered her a small bow as she vacated the room. Maybe his sister forgot about him, but it worked in his favor. He could speak with the creature alone.
"You wanted to speak to me little dragon?" The creature said and again he felt a bit insulted. He was Prince Daemon Targaryen, nothing was little about him.
"I did." He responded and Jon just raised his eyebrows waiting for him to begin. "Why all the loyalty?"
"I owe my life to the Princess bloodline." Well he didn't expected that." When lady Stark found me, may the Old Gods bless her soul, I was a feral thing, left behind by my kin. She took me under her wing. Thought me how to behave, how to write, how to read. I was already old by then, set in my ways, it took three weeks only to convince me to come inside the house."
"How old are you? And what are you, exactly?"
"I am old,young prince, I was born before your ancestors destroyed Valyria. As to what I am? Well isn't that the question. My father was a human man, my mother was a child of the forest."
"Are you expecting me to believe that?"
"What you believe, little dragon is inconsequential to me. As I said, I lived long enough not to care either way."
"Do Maenera knows what you are?"
"Not exactly. I believe, my Princess does not want to know. She knows of course that I am not completely normal but she never asked."
"You said that Lady Stark saved your life, how so, if you were already old by then?"
"The children of the forest age more slowly that the humans, when my mother's kin left for the lands beyond the wall I remained, rebellious youth, you could call it. And so I found myself alone in those woods, I didn't know enough to blend in with the humans, couldn't find my way to my kin in the land of always winter, and so for centuries I lived of the land. For a time nobody wanted this part of the woods, they believed it haunted because of me."
"You still hadn't said how Lady Stark saved you."
"Patience young prince, I was getting there. And as I was saying, nobody wanted the land. In a mockery the then Lord Stark gave his sister and her bastard this little piece of land and just enough gold for them to be able to leave Bear Island and start the construction of the Keep. I got curious, there were humans on my land. And so I began coming at night, looking through the windows when the Keep was asleep. Lady Stark saw me one night. She wasn't scared by my appearance, she just wanted to help, and so just like a feral wolf I began to follow her home. She saved me from a life of loneliness, so I remained loyal to her daughter after her, and her daughter after that, and I will remain so until the day I die."
"You do not address me or my brother the King property." Daemon stated.
"I already have a master and Queen, don't need anymore."
"You consider Maenera your Queen?"
"But of course."
"Why aren't you calling her that."
"Tried before, she grew upset, said that she is not the Queen. Didn't try after that."
"She will be Queen. My Queen."
"I would like to see the day she is crowned... Now run along little dragon, your siblings await you. You should change as well, you do stink of horse." Oh that bastard.