章 20: Children's View, Parents Dilemma
Snake Mount, Age 297 AC:
Garth Dragen paced back and forth within his study with a scroll in his hand. "The roads are underway and the buildings along the roads are being built. News of the craftsmen arriving to the promised rewards for cooperation are glad to my ears but the influx of spies being caught is heavy on my mind. If Alexios's troops weren't in charge of checking every traveler at our posts then I would hate to imagine what would've happened." Lady Alice, Garth's wife came into the room holding a bundle of cloth cooing into it while approaching him.
"Beloved, won't you come to bed with your wife and son for the night, it is already late into the night." "I wish I could love but I have to review all of these reports so I can have my replies and orders sent out tomorrow. The letters sent to the nobles have received a mixed result but Lord Stark has given us permission as long as we do not cause the kingdom into a war." Alice looked upon her husband with saddened but thoughtful eyes before placing a hand on his back when he continued pacing. "Finish it tomorrow morning, it will do no good for you to do this while with a tired mind and falling eyes."
Garth sighed and placed the scroll onto the table and went to his wife and son. "I hope you don't fault me for keeping Alexios as my heir even though he is not of both our blood…" "We have kept much from Alexios in fear of him feeling that he will have no place here. That is not the case as he is our son and our first born no matter what blood he carries."
Garth looked at the baby in his wife's arms and thought of his children. He worried of what would come but resolved himself believing Alexios a better man than some. Down the hall two children both of roughly 15 years of age, one girl and one boy. The boy broad shouldered with shoulder length black hair and having amber eyes with a reddish hue. The girl with a slender build and long black wavy hair, her bluish green eyes similar to Alice.
They listened to the conversation and looked at each other for confirmation. "Do you think he is as scary as people say? A giant who drinks the blood of his enemies and a monster who fucks their corpses?" The boy whispered in hushed tones to the girl next to him getting a disgusted look in return. "Eww, you're so disgusting, no I don't think so, I believe what our mother and father say about him even if you don't"
The boy snickered and inched closer to his sister. "Oh yeah? Then why are they keeping us a secret from him? Even after he came back from Essos we were not allowed to be around him, locked away to our bedrooms." "If you kept up with your studies and listened, it's most likely because they worry if he will overthink the matter believing that he will not be the heir to Snake Mount with us being alive. He is a legitimized bastard born from not our mother while we are born from our mother."
The boy started to think hard about it then as if having a eureka moment grabbed his sister's arms. "So that means I am the true heir to Snake Mount?!" The girl shortly dazed for only a few moments before shaking her head rapidly. "No, even now our father said our brother will be his heir and from what I hear, He is already supporting the house with his achievements and gold. Even all those soldiers in the wooden fortress that was built in the open land belong to him and him alone already outnumbering the house's own soldiers."
The boy now downtrodden upon the words looks down then to his sister. "Well at least he is going to be doing a good job, just means we will have an easy life." Again the girl shakes her head disappointedly. "Why do you think we have been going through all this training everyday with no breaks, it is so our brother doesn't see us as just a useless family. He may have a family bond with us, but that wouldn't stop him from marrying us off to get rid of us."
The boy's eyes go wide and then he sighs looking up dramatically. "Well if that's the case then I'd just be a soldier to him while you would probably have to deal with managing and the like." The girl looks up and then back at him wondering what he was looking at. "I am sure he would find a suitable place for us in his council once we prove ourselves through experience and hard work. First things first, we need to train harder and father did tell me he hired a few tutors for us to further ourselves past our current limits."
The two began to walk back to their rooms just as Garth walked Alice to their room. He saw them and sighed hoping they were not distraught with the possible words they said. The following days came and went, with many changes that came with it. With many things progress shown not only in the projects and workings the people had but in the people themselves. Two people in particular with the help of the new tutors showed remarkable progress.
Snake Mount Age 297 AC:
The air was crisp and cold, it's touch making one shiver and yet in the training grounds, the heat emitted by two individuals were so intense that it was as if the cold cowered before them. Garth watched a young girl fight against a young boy. The young boy held a spear as he thrusted outward with rapid succession providing little time to counter. The girl dodged and parried the tip of the spear away using a short sword and a small buckler strapped onto her forearm.
The two were sparring with a speed fast enough to make the onlookers sweat and yet they kept the pace up for minutes on end with little to no mistake from what any of them could see. The boy swept his spear down at the girls feet. She back flipped back and threw a dagger mid air back at him. Seeing the dagger, the boy rolled with his spear's momentum and used it to quickly recover his standing. The two circled each other looking for any opportunity before the boy thrust his spear again but as the girl dodged he smirked. He let the spear carry him and used its carried momentum to outstretch his leg at her unbalanced body.
The girl was sent tumbling onto the ground and just as she spun around recovering her position, a spear tip was placed at the edge of her neck. The boy's smirk never left but his spear did to which a hand replaced it. "Very well done Mira, You're getting better everyday. I was surprised by the addition with the dagger. You're skill with all weapons but never committing to any is getting bothersome."
"Well that is the point since you're a natural warrior already better than some of our best soldiers. Your use of the spear never ceases to amaze me as you begin to start thinking more and more in battle Lucius." Garth stepped forward before both of them and just as he did, they both kneeled in front of him. "You have grown through every year but as you get closer to adults, I start to see your personality refine itself more and more. I have received word that your brother will be here by morning, I do hope you're ready for your meeting."
The two kept their heads down before Lucius stood up. "I am father, brother will have to acknowledge me not just as his brother but as a skilled warrior who deserves respect if not for my skill then my dedication towards our house." With his last words, Mira stood up next to him with her eyes never losing focus. "Brother will see both of us, I believe that we will get along just fine. I am honestly more intimidated by the recounts of his accomplishments more than anything but if it's true than I have no worries on his character."
Garth was conflicted about the words of his children. He thought they would see him with open arms after telling them stories of him and all he has done for the house but instead it built a wall of intimidation and superiority over them. He wished to fix it but no matter what he said or did, nothing changed so he hoped them being together would help it. He wondered if his son changed much over this time spent away even if a little. Last time he changed so much he frightened him so much that he thought him an imposter if not for the men he sent with him.
As he sighed, a guard ran up to him panting out of breath. "Lord...Sir Alexios is here...He's riding here and will be here any minute…!" Just as he said that, the stomping of hooves resounded over the area followed by a warhorse coming to a halt at the entrance to the training grounds. A large man atop the horse swung his leg over and dropped off the horse. The man took a large intake of air and then exhaled as a smile bloomed across his face.
Lucius and Mira looked at the man with racing hearts and mixed feelings, they knew already who he was. Long black hair that was hanged past his broad shoulders that were covered by steel pauldrons. The man's crimson blood red eyes that looked happy were terrifying to see for the first time as they scanned the area. His height towered over everyone nearly at six foot eight accompanied by a muscular build that challenged even Gregor Clegane. They could see his smile as sharp large canines showed before the man laughed loudly in the quieted yard.
"Father, is this how you welcome your son after a long journey, I am hurt beyond mere words, haha!" Garth was stunned at Alexios's arrival so early and then at his words before recollecting himself. "My son, Alexios, Can't you let your father revel in how you have changed before you start spouting nonsense, haha!" The two began to laugh louder before the two hugged each other warmly for the first time in a long time without realizing it. "Alexios, come, I wish to introduce you to three people that have been long overdue."
クリエイターの想い 
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BBQChickenAlertBB A little bit diffrent view as we get to explore the Hourse of Dragen and the family. The plans are in the works and now the real challenge is to come. Will they survive the test of time alongside Alexios as a family or will they fade with the trials ahead of them? How will they grow and how will the thoughts of children grow with them? Comment your thoughts and review if you like. Hope you enjoy the second chapter. sundays will be relaxing day, heads up. love you all for the support you give.
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