Disclaimer: In hindsight, trolling y'all like I did in the last chapter and then not updating for a year is a pretty dick move. Unintentional, but still, my bad. I was an asshat. Thanks to WAEGirl and rareID for giving me the nudges I needed to get back to it. Also, sorry for being a few days later than originally scheduled; I came down with a severe case of the job that I was wholly unprepared for (but, I'm super thankful to actually be employed again, so, mixed bag from my perspective). Warning for bloody rituals and truncated sexy times.

The sun seemed duller as it rose over Vaes Dothrak, weak rays falling upon the city like a cloud of smoke. The air seemed thick and grimy, but that could easily be attributed to the acrid stench of charred flesh he swore lingered in the air. Some poor souls had removed Hans' remains from the fire pit after the meal when most of the warriors had retired, their bellies full of fermented mare's milk as they chortled about the hunts to come. In fact, Kristoff was hard pressed to think of a single person in the khalasar who appeared perturbed by the previous night's events.

Well, aside from himself, of course.

"Sven... what am I going to do?" He whispered, gloved hand stroking along his mount's neck as the animal busied himself with breakfast. Kristoff couldn't entertain the idea of food yet, the metallic tang of spilled blood fresh in his mouth. He'd damn near bit his tongue two out of fright as Anna emerged from the fire pit, wreathed in the physical manifestation of her rage. Sure there were stories- old tales spun by every nanny across the Seven Kingdoms- but he'd always chalked them up to idle chatter drawing upon rumors. He never thought any of them were real- that the Firemanes earned their moniker not from a vain attempt at pretension but instead a real and tangible strength that ran in their blood. To witness it himself... by the Seven... "What am I going to do?"

It was only a matter of time before he would earn himself a similar fate to the burned prince. He didn't particular feel any amount of regret or pity for Hans- the bastard got what he deserved, truly- but if that was a sample of the princess' ire... things didn't look too good for him.

Perhaps he was overreacting, he thought while mechanically going through the motions of checking Sven over, a task that helped settle his nerves. That brat of a prince had racked up nearly two decades' worth of reprehensible antics to push his sister to such measures. A little fib here and there was a far lesser crime, was it not? And he'd never insulted either Anna or her wife, which he suspected probably boded well for him.

After all, there were many worse ways to go than being burned alive.

"Bearhead!" He blinked, jumping slightly at Chafka's booming voice. The tall warrior was striding towards him with purpose, jaw set in aggravation. "The Queen will speak with you. Now."

Great, as if he wasn't already concerned about the state of his health in the immediate future.

Kristoff nodded, wordlessly following the bloodrider as they wound their way through the khalasar's encampment within Vaes Dothrak. Whatever had Chafka on edge likely had the woman he was being led to wound up as well; the burly trio often reflected the emotions of their liege, though he wasn't sure if it was entirely intentional or merely a permutation of their philosophy. Blood of blood, multiple souls sharing a single life, tied together by a bond no one back in the Seven Kingdoms would understand. If anything, Kristoff wished the knights of his homeland could learn from the Dothraki's concept of loyalty. Perhaps he wouldn't be in this mess at all if such a thing existed outside of the Dothraki Sea.

After a few minutes, Chafka stopped and motioned for him to continue alone, lips pressed into a thin line. The blond gathered his courage and proceeded to the main tent, where Elsa and, no doubt, Anna resided within. Despite the sweat rolling down his face from a combination of nerves and walking in his stifling armor, he could tell the air outside the tent was no warmer than usual but also lacked the bitter cold of winter's touch. He hoped that meant whatever powers lay within their blood, neither woman was keen on releasing them any time soon.

He drug his feet, boots scraping against the dirt as he trudged up to the tent's flap, but he was prevented from wasting any further time by the woman he was seeking storming out, her brow was furrowed in a telltale sign of agitation, already adorned in her white war paint with her bells tinkling softly at every step. Had she been wearing her arakh, he would've expected her to be on the way to a battle, and one she was intent on winning to boot.

It did nothing to assuage the worry pooling in his gut, to say the least.

"Kristoff." She barked out, blue eyes flashing as she stopped in front of him. Despite being taller than the khaleesi, he instantly felt like she was towering over him and it took a conscious effort not to be immediately cowed. "We need to talk."

Well, he wasn't in much of a position to argue, and the distinctive aggression that shaped her words was more than convincing in its own right for him not to be so foolish. It was rare that she bothered herself to switch to the Common tongue outside of Anna's presence, so whatever she wished to say, there was a safe bet she wasn't willing to chance a language barrier standing in her way. "Of course, Kahleesi. Is... something wrong?"

Elsa gave him a withering glare for all of two seconds before her expression fell, a sigh escaping her lips as she massaged her temple. "I don't know, yet." Her voice was tight, displeasure oozing from every pore. "The Dosh Khaleen have demanded my presence immediately for some reason they didn't deign on relaying. As much as I'm tempted to push the old crones, Anna's trial begins at sundown and the last thing I want is ill will poisoning their opinion." She shifted her gaze sharply, boring into his own brown eyes. "However, I'm not inclined to leave Anna alone given recent events." The look on her face softened, worry shining through her frustration. "She was concerned enough about the ritual as it was; now, she's dealing with her brother's death, which she absolutely refuses to talk about-"

"I understand." He held up his hands in a placating gesture. "I'll keep her company while you deal with the Dosh Khaleen. I'm... sure she's still processing what happened with Hans." With a shrug, he gave her a lopsided smile. "I'll tell her stories of the Seven Kingdoms. That always seems to cheer her up."

"Indeed it does." She eyed him suspiciously, not bothering to hide her unease. "Kristoff... I did make myself clear last night, correct?"

Mentally, he gave himself a congratulatory pat on the back for seeming unfazed by the clear threat in her words. "Of course."

"Good." The Khaleesi nodded, turning to where her bloodriders had gathered, each seeming as agitated as their liege. "We shouldn't be long but Olaf will come by if we've yet to return by the time Anna needs to start getting ready." She threw him one last glance over his shoulder. "Do not let anything happen to her in the meantime, Ser Knight, or you will be jealous of Hans' fate."

He nodded, waiting to be sure there were no further instructions to be given before turning and heading into the tent. Truthfully, Kristoff had little idea what to expect when he stepped beyond the animal hide barrier, but seeing the redhead asleep on her side in a pile of skins was not near the top of the list. It also belatedly occurred to him that she'd taken after the Dothraki style of sleeping nude, putting the fresh bruises scattered across her skin on full display. Quickly averting his gaze, the blond took a deep breath and allowed himself to shudder, acknowledging that he was already further between a rock and a hard place than when he first crossed the Narrow Sea. Either Elsa's lack of concern for her wife's modesty was born from her frustration or, more likely, the Dothraki culture and she wouldn't hold it against him. Whether or not Anna did was another story.

Could this possibly get any worse?

There was a series of soft noises- grunts and groans he recognized as ones that often accompanied stretching, plus a long yawn at the end- and he straightened his spine and coughed into his hand, a small blush coming to his cheeks. Absently, he conceded that Elsa's annoyance was quite well earned; he wouldn't take kindly to being roused from a warm bed and company, either.

"Elsa?"

He mulled over his response a moment before speaking. "She's been called by the Dosh Khaleen for something. She... wasn't very happy about it."

"Is that normal?" There was a pop and a happy sigh that made his brows raise in surprise; admittedly, he'd expected her to be a bit more... morose upon waking, or perhaps nervous. "I thought it was common for the, uh, Khal and Khaleesi to remain near each other until the trial."

"I don't think it's about that." Kristoff grit his teeth, unsure if he should tread in such uncertain seas. "They... are probably ensuring no laws were broken last night. The Dothraki take them very seriously."

"Oh... right." The cheer slid from her tone quickly, like water down a tanned hide. "Ser Kristoff... may I ask you a question?"

"Kris." He corrected gently, wincing as he did so. It was a bit of a gamble but perhaps a more personal approach would put the princess at ease. If it happened to earn him a bit of good will, well, that was just a bonus. "It's just us, Your Highness. No need for formalities."

"Ah, but isn't that a bit of a double standard, then?" The redhead chuckled, though there was hardly any humor in it. "I'm just Anna. Nothing special."

"The Khaleesi would disagree, and I'd be inclined to as well." That small laugh that followed was a touch happier but still lacked the usual cheer the princess possessed. He wagered he was heading in the right direction but still needed to be cautious. "You may ask me anything. I'll do my best to give you an honest answer."

Which would be a first, he thought wryly.

There were a few moments of silence that followed before the small woman's gentle footsteps approached him. Hoping she'd covered up a bit more, he turned, silently releasing a short sigh of relief. While she was clothed, Anna's troubled expression didn't put him at ease. He'd rarely seen the young woman troubled but every time he had signaled that she'd come to a decision or taken another step towards becoming one worthy of the surname she bore. He hoped whatever her question, he'd actually have a halfway decent response.

"I don't feel anything." She admitted, biting her lip in thought as she searched for the right words. "Every battle, I've felt something after I've taken a life. A touch of guilt, a pang of loss- something to remind me that... I only killed out of necessity. To defend my wife, my... people." The last word was delayed, but it didn't sound like she was hesitant to admit it. If he had to guess, it seemed more like the redhead was merely unaccustomed to verbally acknowledging her place within the khalasar. "But this... nothing. No shock, no remorse, no doubts, but nothing else either." She shook her head. "I thought I might be glad he's gone. Gods know he's given me enough good reasons." She shrugged. "If anything, I just feel... numb. Like there was no other outcome. I... don't understand why. Why don't I miss him? Why don't I feel happy about it? Or sad? Or guilty or-"

"Anna," Kristoff said, reaching out to put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Why would you feel guilty? He tried to kill you."

"But it didn't work," she replied, shaking her head as if to clear it of a fog. "I didn't have to... attack, let alone kill him. I could've walked away, just like every other time. But last night, I was just so angry."

He bit down on the reminder that he was there; he saw exactly how livid she was. It wouldn't do any good. What would, however, was perhaps following that specific thread. It was just a hunch, but better than nothing. "Do you remember what sparked your rage?"

"That he tried to kill me." Her tone indicated that she thought the answer was obvious. However, her hand drifted subconsciously to her belly, fingertips brushing against the slight swell there. The moment she realized her own actions, teal eyes sparked with understanding. "No... not me. My child."

Kristoff allowed his lips to quirk into a small grin. "A mother will do unspeakable things to protect her child and never once question if she was right in the process." He shifted his gaze, momentarily losing himself to memory. "I remember my mom beat a man bloody with a broom handle, once. Some official of some sort, I don't remember, but he didn't like me petting his horse and shoved me to the ground." He chuckled. "I'd never seen a man run so fast. His horse couldn't keep up."

Anna laughed, raising a brow and setting her hands on her hips. "Really? He outran his horse?"

"On the Seven. My mother was a force of nature." He shook his head, glancing at her. "I think you already said it best, though. He didn't really leave you a choice. If you hadn't stopped him, he would've tried again." He pursed his lips, trying to find just the right words. "Hans... the only life he valued was his own, but never enough to listen to sense. Had you done anything else, he would've found some way to make you regret it."

The redhead frowned, diverting her gaze. "I could've just let Elsa kill him when she had him by the throat. I probably should've."

"Ah, but then you'd be stuck convincing yourself that there was a chance he'd change and you missed it." He pointed out, lips quirking into a grin as she begrudgingly acknowledged that. "You're a kind soul, Anna. That some of your actions seem to lack compassion doesn't diminish that, as long as you look at the big picture. Your brother was never meant to rule, either a kingdom or over another person's life, especially yours."

"Maybe that's it, then." She mused, reaching up to run a hand through her unbound hair. "Why I don't feel anything- there's nothing for me to feel. I already knew he would make an awful king, that he'd never really succeed... I guess I might've always known he would kill me one day, too, and I just didn't want to admit it. Does that make me foolish?"

"Not at all," Kristoff said, spreading his hands. "He's the only family you've ever known. How could anyone blame you for wanting to hold onto that?"

"Could you maybe try explaining that to Elsa?" She sighed, brows furrowing as her mood began to slip back into melancholy. "I've tried, but she doesn't seem to understand. I don't think she's upset with me or anything but... I just wish I could make her see why I didn't act sooner."

He tilted his head to the side and squinted, scratching at his shaggy blond locks. There was a story he'd heard about the fearsome Khaleesi some time ago, one that had been looked at with the same mix of understanding and confusion by those hearing the tale. What was it about, though? Ah, right. "She's told you about the kos who brought her back to Vaes Dothrak, right?" Anna nodded, prompting him to continue. "Have you asked her why she didn't hunt down the one who rejected her?"

"No," she replied, a strangely dreamy smiling coming to her lips as she looked away. After bearing witness to her fury the night before, it came as a bit of a shock to remember she was just a young woman with the power of a dragon running through her veins. "I didn't think about it, honestly. I was a bit... preoccupied at the time."

"Well, bring it up the next time you have the conversation." He crossed his arms with a smile. "She could've hunted him down, killed him much sooner than she did, but she made the decision not to do so. Her reasons may be a little different from yours, but I'd be willing to bet it will help her understand. There's a time and place to deal with those who have scorned us. It may not always make sense, but patience will make it right."

"That... might help." As the clouds were chased away from her teal eyes, the redhead turned a brilliant smile on him. "Thanks, Kristoff."

He shrugged. "Hey, what are friends for?"

... he should not have said that.

"Oh, so we're friends now?" The princess playfully teased, turning away from him to search for something. "You should be careful; I married the last person who wanted me as a friend."

Despite full well knowing that Anna was joking, the blond couldn't help but tense. "How about we keep that between us then, hmmm? Your wife's a bit... on edge."

"You mean 'over-protective'." Grabbing a bowl and filling it with water from a nearby barrel, the redhead sat on the dirt ground and began washing her face, probably setting about her morning routine now that her mind was a bit clearer. "I noticed. I hope she didn't offend you last night; she was... justifiably rattled."

"Oh, no, I understand." He waved off her concerns with a nervous chuckle. "Besides, I have nothing to worry about. I've no intention to cause you any harm, Princess."

"Now we're back to being formal." She dryly pointed out, chuckling softly.

"Habit." He shrugged, trying to play off his momentary slip up as being born out of something other than fear. "You are my liege."

She paused at that, once again looking over at him. "Kristoff... what do you make of the Dothraki bloodriders? What's a true Seven Kingdom's view on the tradition?"

"I admire them," he replied truthfully, cautiously stepping closer before easing himself down beside the young woman. "Their loyalty, their fierce reputation, their dedication... the Dothraki as a people may do some awful things by the Seven Kingdoms' standards but the bloodriders will never betray their Khal- or their Khaleesi, in your wife's case. They cannot be motivated by gold or swayed by sweet promises. As long as their liege rides, they ride beside him, or her. I have great respect for that."

"Are the knights of the Kingdoms fickle?" She reached out, pulling the bowl containing her own small army of bells closer.

"Well, a knight is more apt to fight for honor than for loyalty." He explained, crossing his arms over his chest while trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice. "Back before Arendelle was sacked, knights spent most of their time preparing for tourney. They treated the art of killing as a sport, to be admired by the masses, and they reveled in it. If their liege did something that earned the scorn of the lords or displeased the crowd, the knights who served them were as likely to stand beside them as they were to turn against them. A liege who was considered dishonorable wasn't worth their loyalty, regardless if the moniker was rightfully earned." He rolled his eyes. "Your father had a habit of knighting those who bested a knight, and lording those who bested a lord, so long as he didn't hold the defeated party in favor. Whoever lost would be considered dishonorable and shunned. Sometimes, the easiest way to improve your lot in life was to betray the one who gave you a glimpse of a better world. That... never sat right with me."

"It... sounds odd, I admit." The redhead furrowed her brows as she brushed through her hair, weaving oil and bells into the strands before tying them in her usual twin plaits. "With a system like that, he almost begged for himself to be challenged."

"He often was. Your father was a terrifying warrior on the field, from what I've heard." Kristoff shifted, feeling uncomfortable in his armor for the first time in a long while. This was his chance to broach the topic; he might be able to explain himself better when the princess was more interested in his explanations than the implications. "The late King believed that anyone could strengthen themselves with their beliefs; those who fell merely lacked conviction. It made him... somewhat unpopular."

"Of course it did," Anna said, rising to her feet as she tied off her second braid, glancing towards her arakh and bow with a twinge of sadness before turning towards the tent flap. "The Usurper probably hated knowing that he would never be considered my father's equal or a fit successor. He couldn't stand against my father on the field of battle, so he assassinated him like a coward."

While not technically untrue, Kristoff grimaced all the same. That wasn't exactly what he meant. "Princess-"

"It's alright, Kristoff." Anna turned a bright smile on him, her teal eyes shining like a flaming gemstone. "There's no need to put things lightly anymore. We've a year to prepare to cross the sea and I'll need your help to take back the Seven Kingdoms. Like you said, there's a time and place to deal with the Usurper, and I know when and where that is now." She glanced at her arakh again. "I can't knight you properly- and I'm not even sure if I can knight you a second time, come to think of it- so this will have to suffice." When her eyes landed on him again, Kristoff felt like a small boy once more, standing before the altar of the Seven for the first time and trying desperately not to quake in his boots at the unspoken, divine power he could feel permeating the air. Her rougher words as she switched to Dothraki just put an edge on the feeling, like a hundred swords pressed against him from all sides. "Ser Kristoff of the Riverlands, I ask your oath, that will live and die as blood of my blood, riding at my side to keep me safe from harm."

He met her smoldering gaze for a moment longer before his knee buckled, dropping to the dirt floor with a heavy thud as he bowed his head. "Blood of my blood."

Rejecting her was completely out of the question but there was a strong tendril of fear worming its way around his heart as the hushed words left his lips. This was not a promise taken lightly; if he failed Anna, there would be no escape for him. Not from her, not from her wife, and either punishment would likely strike lesser men dead to fathom.

"Thank you, Kristoff, blood of my blood." The kindness in her voice made his guilt even heavier, to the point that she had to help him stand on his shaking legs. "The way ahead is dangerous, but we will succeed. I know it." Once he was somewhat stable, she gave him a pat on his back and started to exit the tent. "For now, let's focus on today. The bloodriders' presence is a required part of the ritual but you could stand to polish your armor. This is my first meeting with the dosh khaleen after all. Do you have anyone back in the Kingdoms you trust to deliver a message?"

"Of course, Your- uh, blood of my blood." The words sounded strange coming from his tongue but the redhead gave him an encouraging smile, as if she truly believed he would become more comfortable with them over time. "What is your message?"

"When you have the time, pen a letter. I'm sure the merchant caravans will be able to help you send it. I want you to tell the remaining Wardens that we will arrive in Dorne a year from now with an army to break the Usurper's forces. Two months before we arrive, have them use the Iron Fleet to evacuate the North and abandon the Twins, moving their forces to the Middle Kingdom. We'll link up with them there and push north until the Usurper has nowhere else to run." She pulled open the flap and paused, the muggy morning having given way to a bright day and allowing sunshine to frame her, setting her hair alight. "In the meantime, remind them that a dragon yet lives. That should strengthen their conviction."

"At once," Kristoff replied, hardly a tremor in his voice as he swallowed past the lump in his throat.

With a smile, the redhead left him alone in the tent, the weight of his guilt and fear pressing down on him more forcefully than his armor.

Things just became a lot more complicated.

Anna's gaze roved over her own reflection, a strange sort of pride worming its way into her chest beside the other emotions vying for prominence. Usually, Elsa would take it upon herself to draw the lines of war paint in intricate, arching patterns across her skin, following some design that the redhead had yet to learn from memory. Each design carried significance, often evoking some sort of animal or thing to add to a warrrior's might. The blonde's varied between a harsh winter storm and a gentle snowfall, depending on how she felt that day. She'd helped draw the white lines across her wife's skin before but had little experience with her own markings, having taken to them so late. It was almost a thing she considered cursing herself for but the end result looked about as close as one could hope, all things considered. She'd probably seek out Olaf in a few minutes; the ko had far more experience with the Dothraki customs than she did and would likely be able to fix any mistake she made.

Before she did that, though, she took in all the little details of her appearance, comparing them to the last time she'd studied her reflection, back in Pentos before meeting the woman who would singlehandedly give her life new meaning. The ride to Vaes Dothrak had left signs all across her skin in the form of callouses on her hands from rein and arakh, smatterings of freckles that multiplied by the day, and a healthy tanned sheen that made her seem almost sickly in her own memories. Her muscles were more pronounced, flexing with every minute movement, and the faint and few scars seemed to frame them perfectly, the marred skin looking less like a defect that would horrify a proper lady and more like a badge of honor worn by a warrior. She held her head higher, allowing her longer hair to fall over her shoulders in her favored twin plaits, the bells tinkling softly with every breath that moved her chest, the light from outside being caught effortlessly by their metal bodies and her oiled hair.

Most importantly, though, was that despite wearing the cool, fiery vest and breeches conjured by Elsa's magic and tinged with her own, Anna had never felt more comfortable before this moment, not even when she was a child running around in thin summer dresses. She hadn't ever felt ill at ease in her own body, but at some point had forgotten it was her body. For too long, she'd been her brother's tool and little else. Even the past few months, when her wife did everything to push the man from her mind, the redhead found it difficult to take pride in her appearance, to feel like the woman staring back at her was truly her.

Anna's lips pulled into a smile as she traced her fingertips across her belly. Talking with Kristoff that morning had helped immensely, just as much as Elsa's quiet worrying had the night before. It forced her to confront the things she'd pushed away and ignored, thrust them to the surface for her to face on her own. They'd assisted but, ultimately, it was her battle to fight, and a surprisingly easy one at that. For so long, she'd relied on excuses and little lies to make light of her brother's foolishness, but no longer.

Hans was gone. She'd taken his life to ensure the little one inside her would thrive. If anything, she gained more from the exchange than she lost, and the acknowledgement was bittersweet.

"You will have much better siblings," she said quietly, nodding to herself. "And you'll be a better elder to them than Hans ever was to me."

She took a deep breath, turning away from the ornate mirror- which she was pretty sure was a wedding gift, now that she thought on it- and glanced again at her weapons, laying beside Elsa's. She missed the weight of her arakh at her side, the rub of her bowstring against her chest, and the curl of her whip on her hip. Having just one with her would do something to calm her nerves.

Because she was nervous, though it wasn't the horrible, gut clenching fear sort of nerves. No, she was excited, if such a thing were possible. Although the prospect of choking down a warm horse heart, freshly cut from the body of the beast, was no more appealing now than it had been when she first learned of the ritual, Anna felt markedly more prepared for the ordeal she was to face. Despite her wife's encouragement, she hadn't eaten the night before nor that morning after talking with Kristoff and her hunger was beginning to annoy her.

'Annoy' probably wasn't the best description. After last night, her temper seemed to be right beneath the boiling point, though she couldn't understand why. It probably had to do with how much energy she'd expended dealing with Hans- both in breaking whatever invisible seal had held her dragonfire in check and the emotional drain brought on by his words and actions. Although the talk with Kristoff helped, she found herself wondering what her brother thought he was going to do after kicking her into the fire pit. Where did his plan lead from there? Did he honestly think Elsa would just let him kill her and not question it? What could possibly have been going through his mind? Had he gone mad recently or was he always so?

"Zhavorsa?" She blinked, turning to look at the tent's opening just as her wife entered, stray hairs plastered to her forehead by sweat. She looked a little out of breath, which... honestly, Anna felt a little guilty about, because she was very tempted to push her luck with the dosh khaleen to enjoy the spectacle a little longer. However, the relief that immediately broke across the blonde's expression pulled her attention away from the lascivious thoughts flitting through her head, the annoyance that swiftly followed snatching it completely. "Where's Kristoff?"

"I... sent him on an errand." The redhead offered, stepping forward to set her hands on her wife's shoulders. "Did you need him for something?"

"I told him to keep you company while I was gone," the Khaleesi said, lips still twisted into a frown despite slipping her own arms around Anna's waist. "I didn't want you to be alone."

Raising a brow, she gave a soft hum of contemplation. "He's not in trouble, is he? I'd hate to reprimand my only bloodrider on his first day."

"I haven't decided- wait, your bloodrider?" The blonde blinked in confusion. "Did I hear that right?"

Anna eagerly nodded, pulling her wife a little closer. "Since this morning." Her expression fell a little as she lightly flicked a bell in Elsa's braid. "I've thought about it before but made the decision earlier today. You worry about me so much, my love. Now, you can share that burden."

Elsa pressed her lips into a thin line, not nearly as enthused about the development as her wife was. "Are you sure he can be trusted?"

She sighed, tempted to turn away in annoyance but deciding against it. Once the ritual began, they wouldn't be able to touch each other until it completed, and she'd rather revel in her lover's touch while she could. "I am. You may not like that he didn't stop Hans but I don't think it's fair to blame him; I was the one who stepped up and insisted on taking care of my brother myself. You can hardly fault him for that."

It was a fleeting comment from the night before- merely the Khaleesi lashing out in rage at her own inability to stop Hans, purely through circumstances being what they were. The blonde couldn't seem to accept that Kristoff had been right there and didn't attempt to help her deal with the man.

"He could've done something." Her wife insisted, though the protest was weak. "But if that's your decision, I will honor it." She narrowed her eyes. "Although, I hope you don't intend to share everything with him."

Recognizing the teasing for what it was, Anna laughed and stole a kiss from those soft lips. "Of course not. You are mine and mine alone, as I am yours."

The words brought back Elsa's good mood, though there was still a hint of doubt lingering in her eyes. Rather than dwell on it, the blonde pulled away slightly, eyes roving over the markings she'd painted on her skin. "You did these yourself?"

"Yes... though I don't think they're quite right." She admitted, allowing herself to be inspected. Despite not liking when Elsa slipped out of her arms, Anna remained still as her wife circled her, occasionally reaching out to trail her fingers across sensitive flesh. For whatever reason, she felt far more responsive to her lover's touch than usual, a gasp catching in her throat as the Khaleesi returned to standing in front of her. "Do I pass?"

"You never cease to amaze me," Elsa replied, genuine mirth shining in her eyes. "I usually paint 'fire' when you let me, but you've somehow mixed that with my own design." Blue eyes danced over her again. "I think 'firestorm' is rather appropriate for a battle."

"But is it appropriate for the dosh khaleen?"

Unfortunately, that soured her wife's mood instantly, though the dark cloud that passed over her face promised to not linger. "The dosh khaleen are a joke, my Dragon. Pay them no mind." She shrugged, lips curling into a grin. "In fact, I'll enjoy their reaction. Let them see you as the warrior you are. I'll strangle them with my bare hands before I allow them to speak ill of you."

Once upon a time, she might've considered a casual death threat the least romantic thing one could say to another. Here and now, her heart soared at the defiance etched into the blonde's expression. "For their sake, I hope they hold their tongues."

"Not likely." Elsa sighed, reaching out to pull her closer. She eagerly complied, curling beneath her love's chin and wrapping her arms around the woman's waist. "It doesn't matter what they say or think; I'll not let you go any time soon, my Dragon. I'm afraid you're stuck with me."

"Music to my ears," she replied, turning her head enough to press her lips against bare skin, forcing herself to keep the kiss chaste. "Do you want to talk about what the dosh khaleen wanted?"

"Do you want to talk about your brother's death?"

Honestly, she'd expected that, chuckling into the skin of her wife's chest as she nodded. "It had to be done. I feel no remorse for his passing but neither do I feel guilty for waiting so long. I gave him every opportunity to atone and he threw his life away of his own doing." The redhead pulled back until she could meet the blue eyed gaze watching her. "My only regret is that you walked in when you did. I didn't mean to scare you like that."

There was a shade of morbid humor dancing across her expression at that. "I've quite literally disemboweled men twice my size and bathed in their blood yet you wish to spare my feelings?"

Furrowing her brows, Anna dug her fingers into her wife's side in retaliation. "There's no use playing the fearsome Khaleesi with me, remember?"

With a laugh, her wife nodded, ducking down to lightly nibble on her earlobe in apology. "You're right- I was scared- but I think anger would be a more applicable description of last night."

"For both of us."

"Yes." Sighing, Elsa guided her head back to its former resting place. "But don't trouble yourself, my Dragon. I would've kicked myself had I been denied the opportunity to watch you emerge from the flames unburned. I'm more concerned about-"

"You don't need to be, really." Her eyes slipped closed, comfortable enough despite the fact she was standing that the idea of a mid afternoon nap seemed mighty tempting. "I'm at peace."

The wind blew softly through the tent, adding the light shift of their bells to its song. "I believe you." Elsa was the first to move, coaxing her down to lie on the animal furs they used for their bedding. As she curled into her wife's side, the redhead found herself torn with pursuing that nap or opting for something a little more... physical. Her musings were brought to an abrupt end when the blonde chuckled. "Don't even think about it. We've only an hour before we must leave for the Mother of Mountains."

"That's more than enough time."

"You're insatiable." The admonishment was tinged with amusement and Anna could hear her lover's chest stutter with the laugh she was trying to control.

"Is that a complaint?"

"Hardly, but I mean it. Not now." A soft kiss was pressed to the top of her head. "Tonight, though, is a different matter." Well, that was something to look forward to, at least. "The dosh khaleen wanted to talk about the khalar vezhven. It's a meeting of all the khalasars to establish what few laws we maintain. The old crones have set the meeting for nine moons from now."

"Nine moons?" Anna frowned, finding it impossible not to question the timing. "Did they say why?"

Cool, lithe fingers slightly roughened by callouses brushed against her belly. "It's probably as much to delay us from crossing the Narrow Sea as to introduce our child. While we don't typically pay such special attention to births, I think the dosh khaleen are eager to see if I can truly sire as I've claimed. This is an excuse to ensure that the results of my 'blessing' are... adequate."

"I think you're more than 'adequate'. Far above expectations, in fact." The redhead chimed in, tilting her head up in time to accept a grateful kiss.

"It's possible you may be biased." Her wife pointed out lightly, though the dancing shine in her eyes spoke volumes of her amusement with Anna's assessment. "But let's not worry about that now. You should rest. You'll need your energy."

While she had half a mind to argue, Anna was quite content with their current position and opted to instead accept the offer, burrowing further into Elsa's embrace. What lay ahead of them would be dealt with, in time; for now, she allowed herself to relax, slipping into a light, dreamless sleep.

The sun hung low on the western horizon, casting a golden glow over Vaes Dothrak. The redhead wasn't in much of a position to appreciate it, though, sitting on the far side of a bonfire with her legs tucked under her, waiting as she had been for hours. The afternoon was filled with the dosh khaleen's chants and the pilgrimage to the shadow of the Mother of Mountains, where Elsa and her bloodriders had put the wood together before turning their attention to the stallion. He was a tall, beautifully muscled bay, a truly magnificent creature and the finest horse in the Khaleesi's herd; it was a shame the beast wouldn't live to sire more foals come the next breeding season.

The dosh khaleen sat, arranged around the bonfire in a semi-circle but ignoring it completely in favor of watching as Elsa and her brothers fought to wrangle the stallion to the ground and cut out its heart. Armed with nothing more than sharpened stone knives, the four warriors used every trick up their sleeve and all their talents to wear it down, slicing when able and dancing away from its hooves with the same grace they rode their own mounts. Before she left Pentos, the very idea she could one day find the display worthy of that description might've seemed preposterous, but her braids were beginning to grow heavy from her own victories and improving skill. Not once did she dare look away, even as the sun began to set, and she barely contained her cry of joy as Vorsaka slammed into the stallion's hind quarter, distracting it long enough for Elsa to swoop in with the deadly final blow.

The stallion's body, caught in its final death throes, fell heavily to the ground but there was no time to mourn the loss of such a majestic creature. Already, Eyelke and Chafka were heaving the creature's legs up, allowing their Khaleesi more room to begin carving into its chest for their hard won prize. The dust began to settle as day faded into twilight and Anna found herself biting the inside of her cheek to discourage herself from squirming. Elsa was so close to finishing her part of the ritual and then it would be up to the redhead to complete it. Although she didn't feel particularly concerned about what might happen if she failed, something about seeing the sweat gleaming across the warriors' skin, their chests heaving from their exertions, made her want to succeed even more than before.

To her immediate right sat Kristoff, whose presence didn't seem to win her any fans among the council. Half of them eyed him with disgust while the others seemed to ignore his presence altogether, though their presumed leader offered nothing more than a thin smile when he was introduced. If nothing else, the redhead felt like she'd won this round against the dosh khaleen already, if for no other reason than to see the hint of satisfaction dancing in blue eyes as Elsa gauged their reactions. The knight's armor, polished to a blinding shine, make him the stark outsider at the sacred ritual but the blond was taking it rather well, remaining still with seemingly less effort than she was expending to accomplish the same.

With stars dancing overhead, Elsa pulled the stallion's heart free, turning towards the bonfire while holding it in both hands. Despite telling herself over and over it would be a difficult task if she allowed herself to be tricked by her eyes, Anna couldn't help but stare at the bloody muscle nearly the size of her wife's head. Her beloved was spattered with gore from head to toe but paid it no mind as she marched towards the bonfire, lips set in a grim line as her blue eyes blazed. It was almost like she was daring the dosh khaleen to underestimate the redhead and, honestly, Anna wouldn't put it past Elsa.

However, whatever mutterings might've entertained the old crones fell away as she watched her wife's approach, each step measured and lacking hesitation, blood oozing to splat against the dirt below. She didn't stop until she was directly in front of Anna, bending down on one knee to offer her prize. While her body language might've indicated confidence or nonchalance to the casual observer, the redhead could see that her Khaleesi was worried. There was a moment- a very brief moment- where she could've sworn that had she refused the heart, Elsa wouldn't hesitate to turn and freeze the crones where they sat, never giving them the chance to condemn her for her choice. It was tempting- she couldn't deny that- but the blonde had already done so much to prove her devotion; completing the ritual was a step towards her accomplishing the same.

Bolstered by that belief, Anna reached out, grabbing hold of the stallion's heart with her own hands, feeling the blood trickle across her skin as the muscle resisted her grip. She could've sworn the thing was still beating as she held it, Elsa standing up and stepping to the side, allowing the dosh khaleen an unobstructed view while remaining near enough to act if the situation arose. Finally, the moment had come for the redhead to fulfill her half of the ritual.

No one would ever claim she took to it with gusto. The heavy, metallic smell of blood made her nose crinkle and threatened to make her heave before taking the first bite, but she pushed everything aside and bit into the warm, sinewy muscle, jerking her head to the side to help tear off her first taste of the meat.

There were no words in Common, Dothraki, or Valyrian- any dialect- to describe how awful the taste was. Her jaw worked trying to chew it, pulling more and more blood from the organ until it spilled out of her mouth and dribbled down her chin. Swallowing that first bite threatened to make her empty stomach revolt, obviously displeased with her first meal in a day or so being something so downright disgusting.

Still, she took another bite, reminding herself that this wasn't for the council's benefit. While it was partly for Elsa's, that wasn't the full extent of it, either. It simply came down to the fire she'd felt coursing through her veins the night Hans attempted to kill her, the dragon's blood in her body surging to the surface and reminding her of her true self. Truly, what dragon would balk at such a fine offering?

The taste didn't improve as she continued but her senses fell away one by one as she mechanically worked her way through the trial. Bite, tear, chew chew chew, swallow, and then repeat, all the while her surroundings blurred into only three concrete thoughts.

She couldn't fail, because Elsa would gladly forsake her own people to protect Anna.

She couldn't fail, because she loved Elsa too much to let her do such a thing.

She couldn't fail, because the child growing inside her would one day become a dragon, too.

Suddenly, she was jerked back to full awareness by a sense that something wasn't right. She paused, mid chew, trying to decipher what had prompted her to stop, but all she could find was a niggling sensation at the back of her mind warning her not to finish the heart. Only then did she realize how little was left, a piece no bigger than the palm of her hand. The entire front of her body had long ago been soaked by the blood leaking from the heart, half dry rivers smeared across her forearms. The pungent scent assaulted her nose, threatening to make her heave, and she beat down the impulse through sheer force of will. Instead, she lifted the last piece to her mouth while raising her gaze, silently willing her wife to remain calm. She bit into what remained of the stallion's heart, conscious of the ache in her jaw and leaving only a tiny sliver, before chewing and swallowing. Cool blue eyes watched her every motion, an unspoken promise passing between them. If Anna wanted her to remain silent, Elsa would... to a point.

That was all the redhead wanted.

With the thick, cloying taste of blood still on her tongue, Anna put the sliver down on the ground in front of her, folding her hands neatly in her lap and focusing her sights on the woman who apparently lead the dosh khaleen.

However, it was another of their number who grumbled out something first, disdain clear in her voice. "She fails to finish the heart. The Prince will be lame."

Smoothly, the redhead turned her head so she could look at the one who'd spoken. "You are wrong. She will be magnificent."

That was the purpose of the ritual, anyway. If an expectant mother finished the heart, the child she bore would be a strong Prince, fit to ride and lead a khalasar of his own. Failing to do so would result in a lame or sickly Prince or, supposedly worse, a girl. Her wife had explained this when she initially brought up the ritual and the niggling sensation seemed sated now, as if trying to tell her she was correct. Somehow, she knew she was.

The crones seemed slightly taken aback- either by her clear pronunciation or her proclamation, she couldn't be sure. She was little more than an outsider to them, a Milk Man's daughter, but she spoke the language as if it had always been on her tongue, thanks to her dedicated teachers. Either way, the mutterings that flew between the women seemed equally bemused and angry until their leader raised a hand, effectively silencing them.

"You complete the ritual?" Coal black eyes burned into her but she remained unfazed.

"Yes."

"Very well." Gathering up a handful of some sort of dust sitting in a bowl near her, the woman strode forward and gazed into the bonfire's flames. "The Mother of Mountains will speak to us and show us visions of what fate awaits the one you bear."

With a flick of her wrist, the dust was tossed into the awaiting flames, which leapt up high, far higher than any fire Anna had ever seen. Colors appeared in the flame that she had never imagined- greens and blues and purples- as the tongues lapped eagerly at the dirt and rocks around its base while reaching for the stars above. The dosh khaleen recoiled initially, their mutterings turning curiously excited, and Elsa took the opportunity to lean closer.

"Anna. Stop that." Although the words were firm, the redhead could see a poorly concealed smirk out of the corner of her eye.

Turning her head slightly, eyes wide in shock, she replied, "that's not me."

Her wife's brow furrowed, head turning more to ascertain if she was joking and surprise coloring her expression when she realized that, in fact, Anna was being entirely sincere. As far as she could tell, she wasn't calling the fire to burn hotter than it should, and she deviated her gaze a few times to no effect as the bonfire roared, crackling like a thousand whips. When it finally began to return to normal, the crones looked among each other, whispers flying around the half circle before they quieted.

"Ice Queen... Fire King... the Mother of Mountains speaks to us. You will listen to this council's guidance," one of the women said, a slight tremor to her voice.

Elsa's bloodriders fell prostrate at the proclamation, Kristoff following suit quickly, but the blonde herself hesitated a moment before kneeling and bowing her head in reverence. Only Anna was allowed to face the dosh khaleen straight on, for whatever reason.

Another of the women took up the next part, looking... the only word that came to mind was 'spooked' and the redhead wasn't sure if that was good or bad yet. "We have seen the fate of your child in the flames. We have seen her swoop across the plain on wings to guide the herd. We have seen her burn cities to the ground with a breath and weave through mountains on a whim. We have seen her take the clouds themselves for her bedding."

"Men will bow before her and women will pray to her for strength, as they did in the time when the Great Stallion roamed the open plain." Another spoke, raising a hand to gesture behind them. "We have seen the spirit you carry: an Idol reborn."

Furrowing her brows, Anna looked over her shoulder, eyes scanning the darkened city lighted only by firepits for a few moments before her gaze landed on one shadow in particular. She'd seen it on their way into Vaes Dothrak but she'd paid it little mind until now. A towering, if a bit weathered, stone dragon, hauled from the crumbling ruins of a Valyrian town after it was sacked and brought to kneel before the Mother of Mountains like so many others, one wing broken off by time or spite. Honestly, she hadn't thought much of it, arranged as it was among a plethora of similar statues.

"But be wary!" One of the women warned, giving her a venomous smile. "Wherever her flames fall, a winter storm follows swiftly, and a thousand arrows seek to bring her from the sky." She jabbed a finger at Anna. "Treading the poison water brings only sorrow for dragons. A mother you will be, Fire King... but you may build a smaller pyre before your own."

Her eyes widened for a moment, unsure of exactly what she'd just been told, but the moment the threat registered, the redhead jumped up, mechanically reaching for an arakh that wasn't at her hip. Her movements were stopped, however, by Elsa's hand encircling her wrist and those beautiful blue eyes boring into her own teal. While the Khaleesi only ever issued orders with her best interests in mind, Anna couldn't help but scowl at the clear command to sit back down. She considered arguing or resisting but, slowly, lowered herself to the ground once more, heart pounding in her chest as she leveled her very best glare at the dosh khaleen. That had to be part of some ruse to incite her anger and make her do something foolish; no one in their right mind would so blatantly threaten the life of a child, of her child.

Would they?

Once again, the leader of the dosh khaleen spoke up, a slight smile on her lips. "The Mother of Mountains gives us her name: The Dragon Who Shall Devour The Lost. We have seen the Dragon and the Stallion Who Shall Mount the World at play and we have seen them at war; omens and blessings in equal measure. The Mother of Mountains warns us of their fates and we pass this warning to you, for only one shall guide the herd. It is known."

"It is known." The other crones echoed.

"It is known," Elsa's bloodriders and Kristoff said.

The blonde turned her head, their gazes meeting. "It is known."

Anna pressed her lips into a thin line. Now she truly understood why her wife had such strong opinions about the dosh khaleen. 'Blind old bats with nothing better to do than conjure stories' was putting things a bit lightly. Still... her destiny, and that of her child, wasn't truly in their hands. Hans had tried to take control of her in much the same way, and that didn't work out so well for him. Already, she felt pity for any fool keen on trying to make the council's predictions come true. Fire was no way to kill a dragon, after all. "It is known."

"Go and bathe in the sacred waters of the Womb of the World." The woman pointed towards the nearby lake. "Your trial is over, Fire King."

Now permitted to do so, Anna stood, turning towards the water's edge without so much as sparing the old hags a glance. Although there was little she could do, being forced to allow the veiled threat against her unborn child go by without even arguing was burning a hole in the pit of her gut. Or perhaps that was the stallion heart. Either way, she grimaced, not bothering to conceal her displeasure when Elsa fell into step beside her. There were a hundred things she wanted to say but half were fueled by anger while the other half were born of a keen dislike for the dosh khaleen. While she doubted her wife would take offense to either, she wasn't about to voice them so close to the bloody crones.

When she reached the edge of the water, the redhead ran a hand roughly across her chest and the other her hips, focusing past her frustrations to will away the clothing as the blonde had taught her. The first pass wasn't enough, her control of her newfound power too lacking for something as simple as disrobing herself, and she snorted through her nose like an incensed bull.

Either sensing that words would do little to calm her or because they were not needed, Elsa slipped a hand into one of hers and gently led her into the lake, the water lapping at their legs in the light breeze. Once it was up to their waists, she flicked her wrist, dispelling her own garments with an ease that Anna might've found inspiring were it not for her sour mood. Unable to affect the shifting top and breeches of tempered flame, her wife instead set about cupping water into her hands and washing whatever sun kissed skin was exposed to the heart's blood, her touches as light as ever. Even against her will, the redhead found herself relaxing under the familiar touch, eyes drifting down to take in pale skin marred by dried gore. Forgoing any request for permission, Anna gathered some water into her own hands and started cleaning her wife's torso, scrubbing away evidence of the ritual. Although a somewhat mindless task, she felt her anger dwindling as clever fingers dipped beneath the boundaries offered by her vest. A spike of heat in her groin swiftly followed and she whimsically considered it would be quite the affront to the dosh khaleen for Elsa to take her in the sacred waters.

The blonde's lips quirked up into an amused grin. "Ah, there we go." Anna glanced down, unable to muster the ability to be the least bit ashamed that her clothing was finally dissipating. "Do you feel better?"

"No," she replied, shaking her head even as she washed more blood from her wife's paler skin.

"You're a terrible liar." She was teasing, but only lightly, one hand sliding up to gently cup the back of her head and direct the redhead into a soft kiss. Anna tried deepening it but belatedly remembered that her face was still smeared with blood; that her wife kissed her at all in her current state was a testament to her devotion. She couldn't even fault the woman for her brief grimace. "Don't let their words wound you, my beloved Dragon. They enjoy hearing themselves talk; what they have to say will not sway us."

"I wish I could believe that, but they wouldn't hold as much respect as they do without their warnings bearing some fruit." The switch to Valyrian was a bit jarring but, honestly, the more distance she put between herself and the ritual, the better, even if it was only a trick of the mind. "What if they try to make themselves right?"

"Then we make them regret it." Elsa placed both hands on her shoulders, pressing down steadily until she was dunked beneath the water's surface. When she came up, the blonde was smiling, rubbing away the blood caked onto her lower face with soothing touches. "If we must fight until the ends of the land and across the sea to places unmapped to protect our own, then we shall simply have to do it."

"You make endless war sound so romantic." She chuckled, helping remove the last vestiges of the ritual from herself as well as her wife. As a final touch, she cupped water into her hands and drank from it, trying to wash out the taste of blood as best she could.

Elsa laughed, fingers lightly gripping the redhead's hips as she brushed her thumbs along her belly. When she leaned in for another kiss, Anna happily met her, wrapping her arms around the blonde's shoulders. This time, her wife was more than willing to continue, tongue darting out to beg entry, which she was in no position to deny. Not with the fire steadily building between her thighs, drawing her closer to the blonde's body. With some care, she was walked backwards towards the shore, until the water was shallow enough for her to lay on her back without the threat of drowning. It seemed the fearsome Khaleesi had no qualms about desecrating the sacred lake- or perhaps this was seen in a more positive light. Honestly, Anna hadn't thought to ask what might happen after the trial was complete, but she couldn't find it in herself to object as her wife loomed over her, eyes darkened by desire.

The water lapped at her skin, cooling her even as her heart began thumping in her chest, anticipation of their coming union chasing away her anger, her fear, her doubts. In Elsa's arms, nothing could harm her and nothing would dare. When an insistent hand slid between her legs, she parted her thighs readily, eager to be touched. Her wife didn't disappoint, the water doing very little to dull the sensation as fingers slipped through her folds.

However, the blonde was also full of surprises, and she couldn't hold in the squeak of surprise as a terribly frightening chill worked its way inside her. "Wha-"

"You asked me last night how else you could affect my magic." Excitement and arousal combined as Elsa leaned down to press a chaste kiss to her cheek. "I'll admit, I'm curious myself."

Despite the strange and somewhat unpleasant sensation, Anna moaned and shivered, trusting her wife's judgement. Ever patient and considerate, she had no doubts Elsa had weighed her actions carefully rather than embarked on a whim as she so often did. After acclimating to the strange cold where she burned hottest, she relaxed and let the woman above her work her magic, daring to glance down only when she felt the shaft forming. Like she'd seen dozens of times jutting from between her wife's hips, an ice phallus connected to her own, the tip of the head barely breaking the water's surface. The portion inside of her felt strange but, once she was able to move past the jarring temperature difference, not altogether unpleasant. A shift of her hips moved it inside of her and she couldn't help but gasp, earning a chuckle from her lover.

"It takes some getting used to," she said and the redhead made a mental note to be annoyed by her wife's amusement later. As it was, her attention was snatched away by Elsa taking one of her hands and guiding it to the frigid shaft, curling her fingers around it. "Now focus, my King."

Her brows pinched as she glanced down, spying her hand holding the phallus through the clear water. She wasn't even sure if she could do it willingly; what power she'd displayed the night before was a product of her anger, nothing more than a fluke. When her gaze raised, however, and she caught sight of the anticipation shining in those beautiful blue eyes she'd come to adore, well, she could at least try. Not that she had much of a clue on how to try but she put some solid effort into imagining the hunk of ice in her hand as having the same mix of yellow, orange, and red as her new clothing. Nothing happened and she frowned, looking up in hopes of some manner of guidance.

She wasn't surprised to see Elsa's desire tempered by patience, even if she was still too damn amused for her own good, in the redhead's opinion. "Try this."

Using her grip on Anna's wrist, the blonde began moving her hand to slide up and down the phallus' length, stroking it. It looked a bit goofy, if she was being completely honest, but that was more a product of associating the action with something she did to her wife, not herself. Her attention was pulled away, however, by the Khaleesi's lips seeking out her own, a burning kiss that reminded her rather forcefully that she wanted to physically connect with the woman in any way possible. Just as she'd fallen in love with Elsa's patience and kindness, she'd come to crave the intimacy they shared whenever their bodies met in this sweet dance, regardless if it was a moment of need or of tender care. The very thought she could coax her beloved to the same heights she was often treated to sent a wave of excitement racing down her spine.

And then suddenly- so suddenly, in fact, that she couldn't even pinpoint when or how it happened- a new jolt rocked her body as she felt something for the very first time: the sensation of her own palm against what felt like a thousand nerve endings all at once. She pulled away from her lover, looking down and gaping at the phallus that now sported warmer colors and a heat that chased the chill from before away.

Lips brushed against her forehead. "I knew you could do it."

"That makes one of us." She muttered, blinking rapidly as she tested the limits of her new appendage. Although it was just as unyielding as whenever Elsa took her, Anna could feel even the barest touches against the flame colored ice, her body reacting as if she'd always had it. Whatever misgivings she might've had were quickly swept aside the moment her wife shifted, setting one knee to either side of her hips. She looked up, meeting the woman's gaze and seeing just as much love as always, barely hidden behind desire. "Are you sure?"

Elsa nodded without hesitation. She didn't speak- no words could possibly convey the level of trust this required, how much affection was on display. To any casual observer, it probably wouldn't look like either, but Anna keenly remembered that acknowledging her womanhood was a double-edged sword for her wife. The blonde had first conjured the ice phallus to prevent herself from being given to a Khal, to be taken like a bitch in heat. While this certainly wasn't the same circumstance, there was enough meaning behind the gesture that Anna couldn't help but curl up, taking the blonde's lips in a fierce kiss. Not for the first time, she wondered how- out of all the Dothraki, our of all the warlords, out of all the power hungry fools with an army at their command spread out across the eastern continent her brother could've chosen to sell her to, he'd managed to pick the one woman whom she could give every fiber of her being to without question, without fear of losing herself in the process. Tears stung at her eyes as they parted just enough to set the words on her wife's lips.

"I love you, Elsa."

"And I love you, my glorious dragon." With that, the blonde reached between them, sending a shock through Anna's body as her hand was replaced with a much cooler one, her lover's touch as delicious as if it was truly her flesh as the blonde guided the head of the phallus between her own folds. Idly, the redhead made a mental note to revisit this particular deviation from their usual intimate encounters at a later time, when the water surrounding her wasn't present to muddle the exquisite sensation, but she relished it all the same as Elsa pressed her hips down, taking half the length inside of her with ease. The Khaleesi gasped, obviously surprising herself, and moaned as her inner muscles clenched down on the sudden intrusion. Being on the receiving end for once, Anna couldn't help but groan aloud heself, hands moving to squeeze her wife's hips as she was nearly overcome with sensations.

Was this what the blonde felt whenever their roles were reversed? Thinking back to their wedding night, she couldn't imagine having nearly the same amount of patience, her heels already threatening to dig into the soft soil beneath her for leverage, already desperate to be buried further into the welcoming warmth of her lover. Which, quite frankly, was a bit surprising, if only because she was well aware that Elsa was normally as cool as the magic coursing through her veins.

"Oh, Anna." Her wife moaned, back arching as she closed her eyes, sinking down even further.

There was a moment when progress halted, a brief frown claiming the blonde's lips, but it passed so quickly she might've missed it entirely had she not being so entranced by the expressions playing across her lover's pale features. "Elsa?"

"I'm fine." She quickly assured, so fast the redhead might've doubted her were the words not accompanied by a pleasure filled moan. "Shepard's Ghost. I didn't think it would feel this good."

Somehow, Anna mustered the presence of mind to sound at least a little offended. "Did you think I was exaggerating before?"

"Maybe a little." The blonde admitted before using her thighs to raise herself up until the phallus was almost out of her before dropping back down, taking more of the length inside of her with each descent.

While she was no stranger to the act itself, the redhead had never experienced it like this, finding herself being driven steadily closer to her orgasm as Elsa's walls pressed all around her. Just being able to reach so deep into her lover was thrilling on its own but, as her wife began to lose herself to her pleasure, the gasps and moans that spilled from her lips brought an entirely new level of carnal satisfaction. It didn't matter what position they were in, which roles they assumed, or even their own anatomy- they would find a way forward together, one filled with love and pleasure in equal measure. Unable to stop herself, she gripped the blonde's hips, using what leverage she could manage to thrust up into Elsa while pulling her down harder, reveling in how amazing it felt.

As their passions rose, so did their voices, neither woman particularly concerned about their audience. Anna was dimly aware that their bloodriders were nearby, though seemingly unconcerned with the proceedings down by the water's edge. If any dosh khaleen had taken notice of their actions, they were at least wise enough to be gone by the time both women were spent, lying together in the shallow water to catch their breath. In the relative silence, a question rose to the forefront of her mind and she couldn't help but let it slip from her lips.

"Elsa? Why did you want to try that now?" She hastened to clarify, lest the blonde got the wrong idea. "I'm not objecting! I just... was now really the time?"

Her wife was silent a moment before a soft chuckle rumbled through her chest. "I told you that I don't have a very good history dealing with the dosh khaleen, yes?" She nodded. "I suppose some part of me wanted to wash away all those moments when I feared them with the memory of tonight." Lips brushed against her hair, seeking out her temple for a chaste kiss, while a hand slipped to lightly brush against her belly. "Tonight, they learned to be wary of my beloved Zhavorsa. I'd like to think the next time we come to this place, they will fear the children we bear enough to hold their tongues."

Anna pushed herself up, surprise and excitement building within her. "Wait, what? You think-"

"I think it will take more than once to be sure... but that was what I hoped for," the woman replied as she gently cupped her cheek. "Provided you have no objections."

"Objections?" She pretended to mull it over a moment longer before her smile became uncontrollably wide, too many emotions bursting to the surface for her to truly account for them all. The strongest, though, were the giddiness and joy evident in her voice. "No! Never!" She laughed, rolling on top of her beloved and glancing down, putting a hand on her wife's belly and imagining it swollen with a child born with their blood coursing through its veins, a near perfect twin for the child she was carrying. "Are you sure?"

Elsa easily matched her enthusiasm. "Certain."

There was a niggling doubt in the back of her mind, how both of them being pregnant at the same time could leave them vulnerable. It was quickly banished as she remembered what Kristoff had said earlier. So long as her conviction never faltered, she had nothing to fear; the blood of ancient dragons was now awakened within her. She'd triumphed the dosh khaleen's trial, she'd killed her brother to protect her child and wife, and she was ready for the challenges ahead. No mortal posed a threat to her, her wife, or their children. "We shouldn't waste time, then." The redhead moved, slotting herself between her wife's legs once more. "I'd rather return to the Dothraki Sea sooner than later."

"I'm glad we agree." The Khaleesi's eyes sparkled with mirth, though it was quickly giving way to the darkened shade of her desire, wrapping a hand around the back of her neck to coax her in for a deep kiss.

As they fell back into the familiar- yet, somewhat new- rhythm of their lovemaking, Anna took particularly perverse pleasure in looking forward to what the ridiculous old women would have to say when next they stood in the Mother of Mountains' shadow. She almost couldn't wait.

Author's Note: And so... it continues. Honestly, I haven't read the first book in, like, seven years and I can't find my copy, so this is based more on what I can remember from the books than anything, with some liberties taken because I'm an asshole. With my new work schedule, I can't really promise when the next update will be, but know it's already been started and I have a pretty clear idea on what I want to happen. Again, sorry for the unexpected delays. Also, as shown here, I will likely be scaling back sex scenes going forward. I'm just not very comfortable writing them and it's much easier to allude to their physical relationship. I'm afraid this is one section I prefer to tell, not show. That doesn't mean there won't be any but, if you're here for that, I figured the heads up might be warranted.