Game of Thrones: StormBorn

It had seemed at first that there was no way the first of my galleons, the appropriately named Great Stagfor its tall and complicated rigging, would never be finished in time to carry us to my cousin's Tenth nameday. It was a massive ship, after all, intended to carry cargo across the Narrow Sea and beyond, indeed I planned to have a fleet of them circle the globe someday if I ever got the chance. Though perhaps by the time that was reasonable I would possess yet larger vessels. Who could say?

Either way, the bulk of it had been unfinished a month before the coming tournament, and my shipwrights had not thought it possible for them to be ready in time.

I had pushed the deadline anyhow, making sure they had firewood to work through the nights, and my men had come through. It was easily the largest ship in the harbor, not just from its visibly enormous masts, built from ancient Northern Oaks, but also for its tonnage and width, for while the length was comparable to a larger war-galleys like my father's Fury, the Great Stag and it's sister ships were half again as wide, and with a considerably deeper draft.

Fortunately, Dragonstone's bay had once been able to dock old Valyrian Dragonships, and even with my knowledge, I couldn't build a wooden ship the size of an aircraft carrier. Though the Valyrians had admittedly cheated and used magic to do so.

It was a little bittersweet, the first time I had ever left the island other than sailing about on short trips to drift mark or the like on my first few cutters. I waved to Shireen and little Edric, who were still too young to travel. Master Cressey would see after them while we were gone.

Still, despite the melancholy of leaving home, my ship was a spectacular sight and made me wish for a brass band to see us on our way. Its great Yellow Sails were unfurled for the first time, the crowned black stag of House Baratheon repeated on each one rampant and swollen with the wind that sent us soaring out of the port of Dragonstone like an eagle over the Dragonmont.

I turned to my mother and kept my surprise silent as I saw her dabbing a tear from her eye. No reason to embarrass her when Mother's displays of emotion were so rare already.

Instead, I just hugged her side, an embrace which she returned for just a moment before releasing me.

"Hah…" she sighed, standing to her full, impressive height. "Enough of that."

I backed up a bit and she smiled at me plainly. "I must admit Arthur, when you first began hiring strange alchemists and the like I worried you might be mad, some Targaryen sickness brought on by Dragonstone." she nodded back towards the rapidly retreating bleak island in the distance. "I cannot deny though, that all of this." she waved her hand up towards the great yellow sales, golden in the dawn's light "is impressive. You have done both your father and I proud, and you are not even a man grown yet."

"Thank You Mother, I'm glad you like it." I cheekily grinned, and she reached out, ruffling my hair, like father's.

"I do, so much. You've done great things for the house and for me as well, but I do want to warn you. King's Landing is not Dragonstone. I cannot protect you nearly as well there. Your father can do more with his position, but still, you will not be safe."

I nodded sharply, I knew well what she was talking about. The whole city was a nest of vipers.

"Under no circumstances should you ever move alone, or even leave your quarters in the castle."

I tightened my lips but nodded. And she smiled in turn.

"Don't pout dear, once you're a man the size of your father it will be different, but there are far too many ways to hurt a child, and reasons to hurt you in particular, indeed we stand on one right now."

"I would still like to visit my office at the port mother, just to let the employees know I am appreciated." 'and to make sure they aren't on anybody else's payrolls,' was left unsaid. "Aside from that, I won't leave your side if you do not wish it."

"Mine or your father's at least. That should be fine then. If he will not make the visit with you I will."

The idea of my mother talking to merchant folk was strangely amusing, but it looked like she had more to say.

"Just… Look, you know that I love you Arthur, and your father does too, I think, in his own way."

I smiled "Yep, I know both of those things."

She looked relieved then, before sighing. "It's just… you are nearing twelve now, and while the greyscale has put you below what a Lord paramount might want for their daughter, you are likely going to be quite desirable to every other noble lady in the kingdom. Especially since your father decreed he would begin considering betrothal contracts at twelve. If any of them make advances on you… or offer to perform ehm, favors, I would ask that you reject them."

'oh, Ohh, Oooohhhh' It took a moment to run what she was getting at through my brain, it was simply so outside of my concerns. Essentially, don't sleep around with the young noble ladies.

'Christ, I'm eleven, they don't start that young do they?' My memory of the books wasn't as clear as it had once been, but I couldn't remember much like that happening, at least, I didn't think it did.

"I certainly won't," I said, nodding seriously, and I meant it. The very idea of throwing my business into jeopardy for something so stupid.

Then again, I was Robert's nephew. Perhaps my mother was just being pragmatic.

"Good," She said. "Good. I think I will retreat below decks with Dyna, and finish selecting the Jewelry we will all wear."

I watched as my mother departed, she had taken a liking to the tailor far more than I ever thought possible for her, and I was glad for it, Mother didn't have enough friends as it was.

Still, as she disappeared below decks a very odd thought crossed my mind.

That being the very idea of my father wearing anything other than rings for jewelry.