Lady Alysane Mormont possessed a spirit of steel that belied her tender age. She never uttered a word of complaint whenever she trained with Ra, and neither did she repeat her mistakes once they were pointed out to her.
Ra had begun adding physical conditioning and light spars to her regimen from time to time, though he never pushed her beyond what her young body could endure, and he would always tend to her with the utmost care after they trained.
After one such grueling session Alysane was sitting on her bed with Ra kneeling in front of her as he applied herbs to a scraped wound on her knee.
"I will tell you again that the broth will help you heal faster and strengthen your bones," Ra said, a touch of exasperation in his voice.
"No. I will not drink that foul sludge unless it is a matter of life or death," Alysane said, folding her arms tightly across her chest and turning away with a stubborn pout.
"Stop exaggerating. It is nowhere near as dreadful as you claim," Ra chided gently, reaching out to pinch her cheeks.
"It is so dreadful that even in a life or death moment I may well choose death before drinking it," the girl said, turning back to stick her tongue out at him.
Ra pressed his lips together into a thin line before standing and suddenly hoisting her onto his shoulder as though she were a sack of potatoes.
"It is time for the midday meal and everyone must be waiting for us," he said, striding toward the dining hall.
"What? No! I apologize, kind ser! I will drink the poison if you wish it, just set me down!" Alysane pleaded loudly as she flailed her arms and legs against his back.
"It is not about that anymore," Ra whispered to himself with amusement as the girl's desperate pleas went ignored.
"I hope you did not have to wait too long," Ra said as he entered the Great Hall where everyone was already seated.
Alysane was silent now, lying limp over his shoulder in defeat as he set her into her chair and gave Elia a soft kiss before taking his own seat. The adults at the table chuckled while Rhaenys and Aegon giggled at their friend's expense.
Lord Robb had no such reservation for politeness as he pointed at Alysane and laughed as loud as his little lungs allowed.
Catelyn gently closed his mouth and chided him with a warm smile before the food was served and everyone began eating.
When Elia was not looking, Rhaenys hopped down from her chair and climbed into Ra's lap, wanting him to feed her.
"This girl has him wound round her little finger," Elia muttered with a shake of her head, earning a chuckle from Catelyn.
"Ra, I received a letter from Lord Arryn today," Ned said as they ate, hesitation in his expression.
"Hm?" Ra hummed as he offered Rhaenys a spoon of stew.
"It seems some of the mountain clans crossed paths with a golden giant. None have been seen since," Ned said, a frown creasing his brow.
He had received a raven from Jon Arryn stating that several of the most vicious clans of the Mountains of the Vale had gone missing after encountering a golden giant while attempting to raid a caravan.
"Must be one of my brothers coming to meet me," Ra muttered with a casual shrug.
"Are your brothers like you?" Ned asked with wide eyes as the table fell silent.
"Yes. I simply look better than all of them and am far more intelligent," Ra said with a chuckle, earning a discreet pinch on the thigh from Elia beneath the table.
"Did you not receive any letter indicating his arrival?" Catelyn asked, surprised to learn of Ra's brothers.
Ra was about to shake his head but paused when a majestic owl landed on the open window sill and hooted loudly as though calling for him.
Ra lifted his hand and the owl flew across the room to land gently upon his forearm. Robb giggled in delight as Ra removed a roll of parchment from the owl's leg.
Elia took the beautiful bird from him once he had taken the letter and set it on her lap, feeding it small scraps of meat. Ra placed the letter before him and began reading, while Rhaenys read as well from his lap.
"It seems he will be here in a mood," Ra muttered.
"Which uncle is it?" Aegon asked curiously.
"Uncle Zeus," Rhaenys answered with a wide grin.
"Ra, please explain," Ned managed after regaining his composure.
"Yes. My brother Zeus is arriving here to meet me in about a month. He asks your leave to allow his visit," Ra said with a nod as Rhaenys took the letter and began reading it again.
"Was he in the Vale?" Ned asked thoughtfully.
"He mentioned arriving through the Vale but nothing about the mountain clans," Ra said, glancing toward Elia, who looked quietly amused.
"Hm. I will write a decree granting his passage," Ned decided after a moment.
There were a hundred questions still unasked, but they trusted the answers would come with time.
Later that night the fire in the hearth burned low as the Drakensar couple rested together.
"Strength such as yours seldom goes unnoticed," Elia observed as they chatted in the comfort of their bed.
Ra only shrugged with a soft hum as he played with her dark curls.
"You have grown rather carefree," Elia said with a small smile as she cupped his face.
"Well, I have all that I want in my arms and in the room next to ours," Ra said, pulling her closer by the waist.
"Do you think there is any concern in his coming here?" Elia asked, burying her face against his neck to breathe in his scent.
"No. He may be here because the children bonded with the wyverns and Father sent him with the beasts. Or he simply wishes to spend time with his good-sister and his niece and nephew," Ra whispered, his hand trailing slowly up her back in soothing strokes.
"We will be moving to Nightshade soon, will we not?" Elia said, more statement than question.
"For two hundred years it was only us brothers. Had one of them wed before me and had children, I would have spoiled them beyond measure," Ra said with a deep chuckle.
Elia laughed softly as she understood perfectly. She remembered how, on her wedding day, her good-brothers danced at Rhaenys's whims and doted endlessly on Aegon. She welcomed the thought; the arrival of Zeus only meant her children would have someone to protect them always.
Ra leaned over her and kissed her deeply, drawing a soft moan from her as she locked her legs behind him.
"I thank fate for crossing our paths, my love," she whispered.
A/n: Give me your thought on the chapter and reviews on the fic.
And.. you got any power stones? Well, hand em over then.