Main Content
Archive of Our OwnArchive of Our OwnHi, TheBrimmedHat!PostLog Out
FandomsBrowseSearchAboutWork Search
tip: words:100
Actions
Entire Work ← Previous Chapter Next Chapter → Chapter Index Bookmark Mark for Later Comments Share Download
Work Header
Rating:
Explicit
Archive Warning:
Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Categories:
F/MMulti
Fandoms:
Game of Thrones (TV)House of the Dragon (TV)A Song of Ice and Fire & Related FandomsA Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin
Relationships:
Arya Stark & Daemon TargaryenArya Stark/ ?Arya Stark/Daemon TargaryenArya Stark/Aemond "One-Eye" TargaryenAegon II Targaryen/Arya StarkArya Stark & Laena VelaryonDaemon Targaryen/Rhaenyra TargaryenAemond "One-Eye" Targaryen & Arya StarkAegon II Targaryen & Arya Stark
Characters:
Arya StarkDrogon | Daenerys Targaryen's DragonDaemon TargaryenAemond "One-Eye" TargaryenAegon II TargaryenLaena Velaryon (Daughter of Corlys)Baela TargaryenRhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Daemon)Rhaenys Targaryen VelaryonRhaenyra Targaryen
Additional Tags:
Arya Stark-centricTime TravelAlternate Universe - Canon DivergenceBAMF Arya StarkCanon-Typical ViolenceWarg Arya StarkTime Travel Fix-ItFamily DynamicsDragon Rider Arya StarkAegon II Targaryen is Not a RapistThreesome - F/M/MDigital Art
Language:
English
Stats:
Published:2024-09-01Updated:2026-06-17Words:520,544Chapters:90/?Comments:1,601Kudos:2,362Bookmarks:446Hits:94,300
A Song Told Through Time
wicked17writer
Chapter 5: Arya, part 2
Summary:
Arya POV
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Chapter 5
~Arya, part 2~
It was odd to be amongst a crowd without Drogon nearby. Soon after accompanying Daemon to Pentos, she discovered her dragon was not so overly protective as long as she was in the Targaryen Prince's company. Reclaiming the freedom of anonymity was actually what led to her dragging Daemon out into the city in the first place.
She had wanted to see a play, so he took her. She wanted to visit the Red Temple, so he took her. She had a rough night sleeping, so he took her for a drink at the tavern. It wasn't long until she wasn't the one dragging him about, but the other way around. As they grew closer, Daemon was eager to share his knowledge and see the city he'd come to call home, through her eyes.
Without Daemon to chaperon Drogon would follow about and her excursions were impossible to navigate without causing great commotion. It was a great annoyance as she yearned to see and experience as much of the city as she could. Laena had confided in her that she wished to return to Westeros, Driftmark specifically, to have her child. Daemon wasn't enthused at the prospect, but she was sure his wife would wear him down eventually and they would all soon leave.
In some ways Pentos was very different from Braavos, and yet as she walked the bazar, she noted how some things were ever the same.
"Fourteen coins." The silk merchant told her. She was attempting to buy Lady Laena a scarf, but the man was insane if he thought she fool enough to pay such an inflated price.
"You'll take seven and be grateful." She told him flatly. After some back and forth the man took eight coins and wished her to come again. Arya hid the purchase at the bottom of her basket before looking around for her people.
Laena and Baela were admiring some gloves and a little further down Daemon stood by Rhaena as she sampled some exotic looking fruit. She was pleased by what she saw, the smiles on father and daughter as they chatted. It was obvious how divided Rhaena often felt from the rest of her family, she was the only one without a dragon after all, and Daemon was so proud of being a Targaryen. As a result, Rhaena had a hard time connecting to her father. Arya was sure the love was there, but the language to express it often needed a little nudge. She blamed Daemon's emotional constipation. Subtly she'd been trying to push them together for a while now, much to Laena and Baela's approval.
Recently she'd taken Rhaena under her wing and had them annoying the kitchen staff into teaching them how to cook, Daemon was easy to rope in to do menial tasks in the same vicinity, peeling or cutting ingredients. This gave the pair time and a relaxed setting to develop a deeper relationship. All thanks to her well thought out machinations.
The choice was clear, Arya went over to Laena and Baela.
Once spotted Baela lit up, "Arya! Quick, which do you think is better for dragon riding?"
Arya looked to Laena, surely the woman was far more educated in fashion and dragons than she to offer such an opinion? Laena ran a comforting hand down her back, whispering, "Just pick a color."
Baela held out two options, one brown, one dark green.
"Green?" She suggested unsurely.
Baela squealed in delight. "That's what I thought too." Arya shook her head at her young friend's childish but innocent ways.
"Ah!" Her head jerked up as a sharp cry caught her attention. It came from a child a few stalls down from them.
One of the merchants had hold of a young boy's arm. From a glance she could read the situation easily enough. The child, no more than five, dirty, small, terrified. The merchant filled with righteous anger and waving a loaf a bread with a bite taken out of it.
Closing her eyes she opened her mind and silently called out to Drogon, it only took a few seconds, and then she was on the move. With a grip on the hilt of her sword, she wove her way through the crowd towards the conflict.
"Thief!" The man was about to strike the boy. She drew her sword and held it to the man's throat.
"I will pay for the bread." The merchant looked startled by her sudden appearance but not afraid by the unspoken threat her blade held. "I will buy all your bread." She told him coldly, "Let the boy go."
The boy in question cried out, the man was squeezing his wrist tightly. She judged him to be cruel and in an instant his odds of survival plummeted.
"I gave you a chance." She whispered. She pulled her arm back slightly, about to run him through with the pointy end when a strong hand gripped the collar of her vest and yanked her back.
"Do as she said and let the boy go." Daemon had his own sword drawn, though he held it in a more relaxed manner. Daemon pulled her close until her back was pressed to his chest with an arm across her clavicle keeping her secure. She didn't need the help but she appreciated it. She let her head 'thunk' back onto his chest trying to appear as relaxed as he.
"I am but a humble baker my lord. And yet this boy and his wretched gang of thieves are a constant plague upon my business, and that of my fellow merchants! I cannot afford to let this incident go when I've finally caught one of them red handed."
In her periphery she saw Laena and the girls push their way to the outskirts of the crowd of onlookers that now surrounded them.
"Oh, bully for you, yes a great victory to capture and beat a four-year-old child." Daemon sneered. She could feel the tension in his body though she admired the way he still appeared nonchalant if slightly disapproving.
The merchant pulled the boy close and lifted him up, his meaty arm tight across the child's throat cutting off his air supply. It was a twisted mirror of the protective pose she and Daemon were in.
"An example needs to be made." The baker said coldly. He squeezed the boys throat making the child go red in the face, his deadly intentions clear.
"I agree." Arya grits out as she reached for the throwing dagger she kept in her boot. Daemon spun her around and pushed her towards the crowd. But she was undeterred.
As Daemon charged the man she turned and let the dagger fly. Her aim was true.
Daemon stopped short as the man dropped the boy and clutched his face with a scream. Her dagger had hit him in the eye, sinking deep. The man's hand hovered over the hilt as if in shock and afraid to pull it out.
The child once released, took a moment to catch his breath but quickly ran getting lost in the crowd.
"Arya." Daemon growled her name as he clamped a hand to the back of her neck.
She turned and stared him down. "I gave him a chance; he chose not to take it."
A big burly man from the stall next to the baker shouted at her, "Bitch!" He went to tend to the wounded man. Another merchant called out, "We'll have you flogged for that girlie!"
"Like hell!" Baela shouted before Laena shushed her. It was evident from the murmurs; the crowd was not on her side.
She could easily read the looks of contempt being thrown at her silver haired friends. The Targaryen's while, dressed casually, were obviously wealthy. This crowd of working-class merchants did not seem fond of her companions based off this fact alone. Or perhaps it was their association with her when she had harmed one of their own. Still was compelled to show the scorn she felt inside. She sneered at the crowd for they thought the death of a child was justice for petty theft, "Fuck you! Fuck all of you!"
Daemon gave her a stern look, "We need to go."
"Someone grab the bitch!" The Baker screamed; an accusatory finger pointed at her. A butcher, holding a cleaver, made steps towards her when a roar overhead saved her from responding or contemplating the possible consequences of her actions further.
Drogon screeched a warning as he descended. The narrow over crowded street was not ideal for a landing, but her winged friend did not care. People scattered, stalls were crushed, and Arya just laughed, "All this for a loaf of bread."
Daemon did not look amused as he rushed to help his wife and children climb aboard Drogon who was snarling at the hiding people. Once they were all secure on his back Drogon let out a terrifying roar and set fire to the bread stall, which just had her cackling.
Rhaena who was right behind her, gripped her waist tightly and yelled, "Tell him to stop!"
She would not.
Rhaena shook her urgently, "The fire will spread! Innocents will die! ARYA!"
The girl had a point.
As Drogon burst into the air Arya connected to him. Opening her mind to the dragon and invading his, she pictured the dragon going to the ocean and scooping up some water. Disconnecting quickly, she called out over her shoulder, "Hold tight!"
Drogon banked sharply to the left. Daemon shouted, trying to be heard over the distance between them and the whistling wind, "Where are we going?"
She ignored him, they would understand soon enough.
Drogon did as she asked and scooped up a mouthful of water before returning to the bazar, they had left ablaze.
"Oh dear!" Rhaena cried out as they saw the fire had indeed spread quickly from one stall to the next, the entire street burning.
"It doesn't matter." Arya said quietly, mostly to herself. As far as she was concerned the wicked merchants got what they deserved. And what they had wanted, indeed an example was made. Was it not?
Drogon flew overhead mouth open and water spilling in a neat line, putting out the fire he had caused. She grinned at the others over her shoulder, "I think my point was made, don't you?"
The girls looked scared, Laena upset, and Daemon furious.
"Down!" He demanded. Her answer was a roll of her eyes, but she did as he wanted. Flying them back to the magistrate's manse.
She knew Daemon would explode upon her as soon as everyone had dismounted and he did not disappoint.
"How could you be so reckless!" He gripped her by the shoulders and gave her a shake. "What is wrong with you! The girls, Laena, did you even consider their safety? That stunt could have gotten you killed! And my family along with you!"
She twirled out of his grasp, "Oh yes, the fat Baker was terrifying, I don't think I've ever seen such a fierce some warrior."
"Arya was right to punish them!" Baela passionately defended. However, Rhaena stared at her sister with wide eyes, "What are you talking about? Had she not returned with water she might have burned the very child she was trying to defend!"
She looked away from the girls for a moment, Rhaena was horrified with her actions because she didn't understand and it hurt that the girl she loved so well did not have faith that she knew what she was doing.
She was about to explain when Laena put a gentle hand on her head, effortlessly moving her husband out of the way and placing herself between them.
"Daemon's right Arya, you were reckless. A mob could have formed." She informed her sternly, "My dear girl, I know you are strong and fierce, after seeing you spar with Daemon on so many occasions, I know you are capable, but not even you can take on twenty angry men at once."
She could.
Her eyes narrowed, "You would have me watch as a child is murdered?"
"No," Laena said at the same time Daemon yelled, "You should have let me handle it!"
She looked at him coldly, "You would have let him live."
He took a step closer, a hand around Laena's waist deftly maneuvered her behind him once again.
"You acted rashly." He hissed.
She looked at Drogon, "I disagree."
Everyone was tense. She moved to her dragon's side and pet him more to comfort herself than him. She felt her actions were justified and therefore she had no remorse, but she understood their anger. They didn't know she had called Drogon to her aid before the confrontation began and thus she knew all would be well even if things did escalate out of her control. Which they had NOT.
Still, Daemon had no right to criticize her actions. She thought he knew her better than this.
"I am going to go." She announced quickly. She moved to climb aboard Drogon once again.
"No!" Baela cried out running towards her, but her sister held her back. "Arya no!"
Rhaena was crying, Arya wondered why. Rhaena was the gentler of the two girls by far, and she knew her actions had rattled her the most. So, she wondered, were they tears of relief? Or grief? For she had come to love Rhaena and Baela both like dear sisters and she knew they felt the same.
She paused briefly but then climbed into the saddle.
"You do not have to leave!" Laena echoed, she like her daughter moved forward to stop her, but they all knew it was an empty gesture. Daemon was the only one who would be able to force her to stay.
He did not move, but to stop his wife from getting too close to her dragon. To her.
When she looked at his face it was unreadable. She could not tell if he wanted her to go or stay or cry apologies or die and never return. It was one of his most annoying qualities, his ability to project nothing. Reveal nothing, of what he felt or thought.
So, she decided to return it.
She said nothing more.
And then she and Drogon left.
.
.
.
She did not have a plan or a destination in mind, she gave over control to Drogon. Her dragon took them west, over the ocean and to an island. From the air she could see there were two islands close together, but Drogon set them down on the larger one.
The island had two large port towns on the coasts and a castle. She circled the castle, admiring its beauty. It was built from pale stone, with slender towers crowned with roofs of silver. She knew it to be low tide and noted that a causeway was what connected the island to the castle. Meaning at high tide by boat or air would be the only way to reach it.
Drogon landed on the cliffside. She was tired. And pathetically, she had shed a few tears amongst the clouds and so now her eyes were puffy and sore.
She was not surprised when men in armor bearing a silver seahorse on their armor rushed out to greet her. "Halt, who goes there!"
"Where am I?" She asked just to be certain, "Is this Driftmark?"
Laena had described her home perfectly and she recognized the older woman's House sigil but she could be wrong. An older man with dark skin and silver dread locks moved to the front of her greeting party.
"It is my lady." He confirmed in a deep voice, "And the answer to my man's question? Your name?"
"Not a lady," She informed him with pursed lips. He tipped his head in acknowledgment and then raised one eyebrow, as if asking her to go on. "Arya."
"Arya Targaryen?"
She scowled, "Just Arya." She said firmly.
The man smiled, his hard weathered face transforming into something warm and inviting in an instant, "Are you the same Arya my daughter Laena has written of?"
All at once she was struck by joy and a terrific plan. There was joy in knowing that Laena cared enough to tell her family of her existence. And she knew just the way to reunite them all, and sweep this little disagreement under the rug.
"I am." She confirmed with a wicked grin, "Would you be her father? The famed Sea Snake Lord Corlys Valeryon?"
"I am." He echoed, his eyes darting to the sky behind her, "Is she with you?" He looked down, a brief look of sadness overtaking his face, before returning to a more cordial expression, "You are of course welcome on Driftmark regardless. I know my wife will be eager to meet you after all we have heard."
"All good things I hope?" The man gave a hearty laugh as he signaled to his men to lower their weapons.
She dismounted from Drogon and made her way to the older man.
Her tone softened as she informed him, "Laena is not with me, no." She laid a gentle hand on his arm, "Tell me my lord, how long has it been since you saw your daughter last?"
His smile fell slowly, "Near ten years."
She clasped her arms behind her back and tried not to grin, "Daemon's being disagreeable, but I know Laena is eager to come home for a visit and for you to meet the girls."
The man's face did not change, "He is her lord husband, if he does not wish to return--"
"Which is why I purpose we trick him and force his hand." She smiled slyly, "If you are not afraid of a teensy-weensy bit of deception."
The older man barked out a laugh, the light returning to his eyes as he said, "You are every bit as audacious as my daughter said you were."
"Shall I tell you my wicked plan then?"
"I am all ears my dear girl."
.
.
.
Baking Bonding With Arya & Rhaena
Notes:
Who doesn't love a good Aladdin reference?
Actions
↑ Top ← Previous Chapter Next Chapter → Bookmark Comments (18)
Kudos
obsedian_dream, halfbloodprincess_01, Ghostwriter347, WannaBeDragon, Ogenke, LadyTulipBoleyn, Topidoutlaw33, Kw921225, To_be_or_not_to_be20, Irn_1, Nolenag03, Fladoama20, alwayslovely14, NalaSparkles23, AmethystAyame, Dami95, Asthere, Aliii1, Zeke09, Terasol, Lina_De_Aguas, Bex000, Nniem1234, finna_rose, Nadia666, Indy_MusicLover, Icantsay, Centurielle, Kcneutzling, OeCp, wildcat717, Dredre2024, Tigerhorse717, Roswin, HandofPalpatine, ALWright101, ICE0987, p_Scrumptious, Justapassionatebookworm, 11SummerSun11, ary_lanryen, avadakedavrabitch, ambysmal, Atikin, znksmckm, memma2002, DamianWayne_IsA_Mood, Izuna123, Pys, Iryna_Iryna, and 777 more users as well as 1535 guests left kudos on this work!
Comments
Post Comment
Comment as TheBrimmedHat
Plain text with limited HTML ?
Comment
10000 characters left
Footer
Customize
Default
Low Vision Default
Reversi
Snow Blue
About the Archive
Site Map
Diversity Statement
Terms of Service
Content Policy
Privacy Policy
DMCA & TIDA Policies
Site Status
Contact Us
Policy Questions & Abuse Reports
Technical Support & Feedback
Development
otwarchive v1.2.0.0
Known Issues
GPL-2.0-or-later by the OTW