"No..."
"I want..."
Gendry's slender hands gently caressed the silver-haired, purple-eyed girl's body—her face, waist, and thighs.
His kisses were as wild and passionate as his warhammer.
"I'll ride you..."
The silver-haired girl pushed Gendry down beneath her. Her hair shimmered with a silver-gold hue.
"Wait..."
Gendry's hair was a rich charcoal black.
The King had a thousand fine steeds, but tonight, he was riding a different kind of mount.
Gendry gently caressed Daenerys's silver-gold hair. Tonight, he was waging a different kind of war.
Daenerys carried a faint fragrance, delicate and alluring like a beautiful snake.
"I have the nature of a dragon. Kiss me, Knight."
Daenerys giggled.
"I have the mind of a deer."
Gendry gently wiped her beautiful face.
The two kissed, their passion burning like a flame that seemed to melt them together.
Elsewhere, in the darkness, many others were engaged in their own battles, with beds serving as their battlefields—including Duke Eddard Stark and his wife.
"Look how sweet they are, the King and that girl."
Eddard glanced at Catelyn Tully.
"I think my old friend would be happy to see this."
"They really are a good match."
Catelyn nodded.
"That true Dragon Princess is so beautiful that she makes other women feel ashamed."
"Our children have all grown up."
Catelyn hesitated before continuing.
"Robert originally wanted to reserve the Queen's position for Sansa."
The situation had become somewhat absurd.
"There's no need to talk about that anymore."
Eddard sighed.
"If that girl gives the King an heir, the Kingdom will surely prosper."
"My journey south was a foolish mistake. So many people died because of it."
"Robert was a fool, and so was I."
Eddard spoke with a pained expression.
He, too, had suffered greatly because of his wife's and daughters' vanity.
Catelyn also felt somewhat guilty.
Eddard had gone south after being manipulated by Lysa and Littlefinger. She had been one of the people who encouraged him as well, and her two daughters had suffered greatly because of the journey.
"You don't need to think too much about it either."
Eddard's tone softened.
"After all, I couldn't refuse my old friend's request."
"The children are indeed old enough now."
A wife's responsibility should be to her family. Interfering in matters beyond one's responsibilities often led to incompetence and turned things into a complete mess.
The war had expanded largely because of Catelyn's attempt to abduct the Imp.
"We have five children."
Catelyn sighed.
"Rickon is still too young, and Bran suffered that terrible misfortune."
"I have six."
Eddard corrected her.
Catelyn's blood ran cold.
She knew that her husband still thought about that strange woman—the woman who seemed almost like a ghost from his past.
That child was Jon Snow.
He was Eddard's son, but he wasn't Catelyn's.
"You don't need to worry about Jon."
Eddard comforted his wife.
"I've already made my decision. Let him become a branch of House Stark, just like the Karstarks."
"He's now the King's squire, and he probably won't return to the North in the future."
"Whether he remains in the Crownlands or crosses the Narrow Sea, King Gendry is generous enough to provide for him."
Catelyn secretly felt relieved.
If that were the case, Jon wouldn't one day return to compete with her own sons and daughters for the inheritance of Winterfell.
Just like the Karstarks, the branch descended from House Stark would eventually establish its own lineage.
"We can't give our daughters the highest honor anymore."
Catelyn considered the matter carefully.
"Perhaps we can settle for the next best thing."
"Marrying within the North could strengthen House Stark's position there, while marrying into the South could expand our influence."
"A crown isn't merely a matter of honor."
Eddard shook his head.
"But I do want to find suitable marriages for the children. They're not young anymore."
"When my father sent me to the Eyrie as a foster son, I was only eight years old."
Eddard wasn't a typical Stark either.
He had yet to arrange marriages for his children within the North, while his wife, Catelyn, was already thinking about marrying them into southern noble families.
"Robb, Sansa, and Arya."
Catelyn listed the names of her three children, still thinking about advantageous marriages.
"Robb needs to marry a girl from a great noble house."
"As for Sansa and Arya, I'll also help them find the most suitable young nobles—brave, gentle, and strong."
"No matter who they are, the most important thing is that they're suitable."
Eddard emphasized the point.
Hoster had forcibly married Lysa to Jon Arryn, and that marriage had ultimately harmed everyone involved.
"As for Robb, I've already considered a few candidates."
Eddard thought for a moment.
"House Royce and House Manderly both have suitable girls."
"House Royce has intermarried with us many times, while White Harbor, ruled by House Manderly, is the gateway to the North."
"What about House Tyrell?"
Catelyn naturally thought of the Tyrells after seeing the prosperity and wealth of the Reach.
"House Tyrell regularly sends its daughters to court. I'm afraid things wouldn't be that simple with them."
Eddard shook his head.
"Sansa's marriage is also quite troublesome."
His expression became serious.
"If none of our daughters remains in the North, it could give rise to criticism against House Stark."
"Alright."
Catelyn reluctantly nodded.
"Let's think about it again later."
Catelyn had initially ruled out Robert Arryn, even though he was her sister's son, because the boy was sickly.
As for Willas Tyrell, he was rumored to be crippled.
"I'm worried about Arya."
Eddard frowned.
"That child is too wild. I'm afraid she'll have trouble in the future..."
"She's already suffered so much, my lord."
Catelyn's heart ached whenever she thought about what her youngest daughter had experienced.
"I'll keep a close eye on her."
"She's too headstrong."
Eddard sighed.
"She reminds me of my sister."
"Arya even wields a sword."
Eddard's thoughts drifted back to Lyanna.
He remembered her face.
He remembered the deep-blue ice rose that had once pierced his palm...
The night was as dark as ink.
In a secluded courtyard in King's Landing, the area was heavily guarded by members of the Gold Cloaks.
The commander of the Gold Cloaks, Ser Boros, brought several delicacies for Podrick Payne and Tyrion Lannister.
Roasted trout, roasted lamb ribs, honey-glazed quail, mushroom soup, and a bottle of Dornish summer red wine.
"What does this mean?"
The decadent Tyrion asked.
His beard was scruffy, and he looked much older than before.
"Eat."
Ser Boros looked at him with a sympathetic expression.
"This is a gift from King Gendry. The King's coronation, the King's wedding... Poor dwarf."
"Eat, Podrick."
Tyrion motioned toward his squire.
Tyrion began eating heartily.
"Even if I'm about to be beheaded, I'll still eat."
Podrick hesitated for a moment before sitting down and eating as well.
He was still young, after all.
"Where are my old adversaries, Grand Maester Pycelle and Varys the Spider?"
Tyrion asked.
"The Grand Maester is writing a book."
Ser Boros shrugged.
"He might not finish it until the day he dies. Other than writing, all he does is praise the King."
"As for Varys the Spider..."
Ser Boros snorted coldly.
"Ever since all of his Little Birds were killed, Varys has practically become a dead man himself."
"Then it seems I'm quite lucky."
Tyrion smiled faintly.
"I haven't been beaten, and I still have my head."
"Your luck is good, Tyrion."
Ser Boros chuckled.
"That little head of yours is still attached."
"Thank the Storm for me."
Tyrion raised his cup slightly.
"Where is my cousin Lancel?"
"That boy has changed considerably."
Ser Boros glanced at the Imp.
"He's become a devout follower of the Seven."
"My lord, could you please report to King Gendry?"
Tyrion asked again.
"My squire is still a child. Please ask the King to take care of him for me."
"The Storm is a generous King."
Ser Boros nodded.
"That child can leave whenever he wants."
"Thank you."
"My lord, I cannot leave you."
Podrick stood frozen in place.
"I am your squire."
The thin young boy remained beside Tyrion.
No one else had been willing to follow the Imp.
Only Podrick had remained with him from beginning to end.
________________________________________
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