"Snow on Dragon's Wings" - Chapter 1
Fandom: "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"
Pairing: Baelor x fem OC
Rating: M / E
A/N: I think I speak for everyone here that we need more fix-it fics for Baelor Targaryen. I hope you enjoy my take on it! Likes and comments are aaaaaalways highly appreciated! <3 And if you like to be tagged just let me know!
-> Chapter 2
The third week of the journey was the tipping point in her mood as Layla noticed the towers of Kings Landing rising at the horizon. Even though this was still not her final destination she knew from here on out it was only a few more days until they'd reach Ashford Castle.
Her father had insisted she brought protection and so she turned her head toward her companion.
“Should we rest in Kings Landing or press on?”
Meeko looked thoughtfully into the distance before his eyes caught hers. “It is entirely up to you, but I’d say we press on a little further. There are less crowded inns along the way.”
She gave a short nod and pressed her heels into her horse’s flanks. The bay mare huffed a little and fell back into a trot. Meeko followed on his white mare. The closer they came towards Kings Landing, the more riders and caravans crossed their path, a lot of them seemed to head the same way further south toward Ashford.
“I am certain that most of these men think you’re the one who wants to enter the lists.” Layla said amused.
“And we cannot blame them if they do. Like your father said, you should not expect them to accept you as a contestant at the tourney. For all we know, they will laugh you out of their castle. It might have been easier if you’d asked him to vouch for you in a sealed letter.”
“Which he would not have done and you know that as much as I do.” She replied. “He still thinks I am making a fool out of myself and might bring shame over our house.”
It was true, even though her father never truly had an issue with her taking sword lessons from her elder brother, Donnor, Lord Beron Stark had rather wished her to take up duties of a proper lady. When she had overheard there was a tourney in Ashford for the young lady Ashford’s thirteenth nameday, she was all on fire to enter the lists. Jousting, swordfighting, possibly archery, even though she was not a good archer.
After a lot of huffing and puffing and discussions she had managed to sway him to let her go. On the condition of bringing at least Meeko with her to protect her on the long journey and, she knew that was the case, to make sure she behaved.
Meeko was part of Winterfell’s guard and barely ten years older than her. Being in his mid thirties made him the more likely candidate to join the tourney. Especially when considering that women were definitely not allowed to enter. Layla knew it would not be easy, but she had the blood of the North in her veins and would not give up that easily.
“Out of the way!” Someone suddenly called rather brusquely.
They stopped as they almost rode straight into the man. He looked tired, his blonde hair hung into his bloodshot eyes. He didn’t even look at them as he rode past.
“You’re welcome!” She called but he was already too far to hear. She looked at Meeko. “Who was that?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Not someone worth worrying about, that’s what counts.”
“Always on duty.” She said amused.
“Your father would hang me if anything happened to you.” He said.
She laughed despite the morbid insinuation. They fell back into companionable silence for the next few hours until they reached the small market town of Tumbleton. They decided to stop at the Bawdy Badger Inn for the night before they’d reach Ashford hopefully by afternoon the next day if they left the inn early on the morrow.
They entered the inn through the hardwood door and were immediately greeted by the smell of roasted meat. The innkeeper behind the bar gave them a short nod in between serving two other customers tankards of ale. It was rather packed this evening, lots of wary travelers, most of them knights from all over Westeros. Several long tables were occupied by men talking and laughing and downing their ales. A few of the smaller tables were still free though and so Layla went to the one rather in the back of the inn while Meeko went to order food and drinks.
As he returned he lowered onto the chair across from her, facing the entire room behind her. She leaned her forearms onto the table.
“I think you can take your ease for now. I doubt anyone here wants any trouble tonight.”
“I’d be a poor guard if I would take your word for it.” He replied and leaned back a little though.
The barmaid came over and placed two tankards of ale in front of them as well as a platter of roast lamb and chicken, a loaf of bread, dried fruits, some nuts and root vegetables. Meeko dropped the coins into the woman’s hand and she left them alone again.
“That’s quite a feast.” Layla said and picked up a piece of chicken. She took a bite and closed her eyes, humming. “Mmmmhmmmm…this is the most tender chicken I had in a while. You should try some.”
Meeko followed suit and picked up some chicken as well. “I agree, it is juicy. I saw it on one of the other guest’s plates and had to order some for us.”
She nodded and popped some nuts and dried cherries into her mouth. Soon they had finished the entire platter and washed it all down with their ale. Layla leaned back in her chair, putting her hands on her stomach.
“I am officially stuffed and unable to move for the rest of the night.” She sighed with a satisfied smile.
“I have booked two rooms upstairs. Do I need to carry you?” He joked.
“I might be able to handle this little obstacle after all.” She said and they got up and headed toward the stairs leading up to the rooms.
“I will be right across, if you need anything I will be right there.” Meeko said as they stopped in front of their rooms.
“Thank you. I know I haven’t said it yet, but I am glad you joined me despite the recklessness of my plan.”
“I had a feeling it might lead to something like this when you first picked up a sword at the wee age of five. Twenty namedays later we’re here. I am not surprised.” He said with a gentle smile. “Now go and get some sleep. Tomorrow will be an interesting day for sure.”
“Good night, Meeko.”
“Good night, and lock the door.”
He waited until she was safely inside and heard the key turn in the lock before he, too, settled in his room.
After a quiet night filled with dreamless sleep, Layla woke before sunrise. She stretched and kicked the blanket away, then got up to have a quick wash in the small basin by the window. Next, she drew her long, chestnut hair forward over one shoulder and began combing through with her fingers, untangling the little knots.
Once it fell smooth again down her back she gathered a small section near her temple and divided it into three strands. She braided them by guiding them diagonally toward the back of her head. Then she repeated the same on the other side until both braided sections met at the rear. She secured them by interlocking them so they appeared like one woven band across the back. From there she braided another, slightly broader braid which then fell freely down the center of her back and tied it with a Direwolf-shaped hairpin. She gently tugged at the edges of the braid and finally turned to her bag to get dressed.
After putting on everything she finished it off with her long sleeved, fur-lined jacket. Finally, she grabbed her sword and fastened it onto her back. Once all this was done, she grabbed her bag and left the room, knocking at Meeko’s door. It didn’t take long for it to swing open and she saw that he, too, was fully dressed.
“I see you’re as eager to leave as I am.” She said.
“Am I that obvious?” He replied and pulled the door shut behind him as he followed her down the hall and downstairs. The tap room was deserted at this time. They left the inn and swung back onto their horses.
“If we ride without stopping we can make it by midday even.” He said as they left Tumbleton behind them and followed the Mander river further south. They passed by Bitterbridge, Longtable and Cider Hall until finally they reached Ashford.
The town and castle grounds were packed already. Many tents had been erected across the fields. She spotted the banners of Baratheon, Lannister, Tyrell, Fossoway, Beesbury, Penrose, Targaryen and of course their hosts of House Ashford.
“I didn't expect there to be this many people. Even the Targaryens are here.” She said as they slowly rode toward the castle where she suspected she'd had to go to enter the lists.
“I wonder which one of them is present.” Meeko said. “I doubt the king himself will attend.”
“His Hand then, most likely.”
“That means his son, Baelor.”
“Have you ever met him? Or…any of them?”
“No, truly have not. But let's not talk about them. Are you sure I shouldn't come with you?”
She shook her head, a light smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “I want to do this on my own. You should go and get us a place to stay.”
He wasn't pleased with her decision. Leaving her alone in this place was not what he had signed up for, but on the other hand they still needed somewhere to spend the following days at and that would mean either he could organize a tent for themselves or go all the way to Ashford town to rent a room in a tavern.
“I will try my luck on a tent first. If it fails I'll be in town but we will meet again right here at the front gate of the castle by the time the sun hangs low.” He said as they stopped by the gate.
“I will be here, waiting for you then.” She said and dismounted. “Take her with you, will you?” She handed him the reins. He took them and turned the horses around. “Good luck, Lady Stark.”
She waved at him and turned toward the castle. She exhaled and stepped through the gate and made her way inside. She followed a few of the younger men after she overheard them talking about entering the list and so she knew where to go now. Two boys stood in the line in front of her by the door that led into the Steward’s chamber.
“Next!”
She realized she had been so deep in thoughts that it was her turn now. Looking over her shoulder she noticed she was the only one left at the time.
‘You can do this, Layla.’
She stepped into the chamber and approached the desk. The man whose name was Plummer, as she had found out before from one of the boys, scribbled something onto a scroll. He didn't look up and so she cleared her throat.
That got his attention and he cast a glance at her, then sat back and took her on properly.
“Are you lost, lass?”
She faked a smile and straightened a bit. “No, unless this isn't the Steward's chamber and you're not responsible for the lists.”
He sighed. “I am said man, but I still fail to see what I can do for you. We have enough maids and cooks.”
“Do I look like I am here for any of those tasks?” She said and pointed at the sword strapped to her back.
“You borrowed your father's or brother's or…lover's sword and came in here to jest and waste my time?”
She felt a surge of hot flashes course through her but kept her face straight despite the urge to reach over the desk and break his nose.
“This is my sword. It's called Snowsong and was forged for me. My name is Layla Stark of Winterfell and I came here to enter the tourney in Lady Ashford's honour.”
Plummer put his quill aside and steepled his fingers together slowly, looking her over. She heard the shuffle of boots behind her in the hallway and had a feeling someone was watching, most likely a guard. She cast a glance over her shoulder but couldn't see anyone but she was certain someone was right there, watching, listening.
“You claim you're Lady Stark, but do you have proof? Is your father here? Or your brother?”
“No, they are not here. It's me and my guard. He is outside in town at the moment but if you need a man's word I can bring him here later.”
“That won't be necessary.” He got up. “Even if you are who you claim you are, it doesn't change that you're not allowed to enter the tourney. As a guest you're more than welcome to stay and watch, but a woman will not joust and fight out there.”
She narrowed her eyes and pulled her sword out of its scabbard. His own hand flew to the dagger at his hip.
“I'm not here to kill you.” She said. “I'm simply demonstrating that I am more than capable of holding and swinging a sword.”
“Put it away and then leave before I need to get the guards involved. I could have you locked up for this.”
She groaned and sheathed her sword again, then threw her hands in the air. “I will leave for now, but mark my words you haven't seen the last of me.”
She turned on her heel and stormed out of the chamber. Whoever had been watching out here was gone by now. She left the castle, fuming. Meeko wasn't back yet and so she removed the sword from her back and sank onto a wooden bench near the gate. Yes, she had expected this to happen but hearing this arrogant weasel talk to her like that made her blood boil nonetheless.
She kicked at a few pebbles and leaned her head back against the wall. She still had time to find a way into the lists, the tourney would begin in two days. That should be enough time to either sway the man or find another way in…come what may come!
