The Targaryen Princess

XII

Natari's POV:

Dinner was long done now, but here we all are in the parlor. Everyone is doing their own thing, but I rest on the floor with me eyes closed, focusing on the comfort of the fire in front of me. Sansa dramatically throws down her knitting as she tries to get attention. "Are you gonna tell us?" she clearly asks me. I open my eyes quickly. I am surprised and it takes me a moment to process the question. Everyone is looking at me, and I swallow the lump in my throat.

"She doesn't have to say anything, Sansa," Ned steps in, seeing my discomfort. "Battle is hard, especially when it is one's first." I sigh and consider it. The children are already in bed, so that is not a factor. If she wants to know, then I can tell her.

"It's fine, Ned. She wants to know," I tell him. I look back into the fire before going on. "We got word of an attack, and, knowing that I was the one more likely to do the most damage to the enemy, I went out beyond the Wall and met them in the field. I won."

"Really, Nat? That's all? Gimme the details," Sansa begs. I look up sharply at her with a fierce look in my eye.

"I used my gift to set up a arena of fire. I trapped them and then burned them alive. I slashed and cut down anyone who dared get close to me. I killed them, Sansa. Is that what you wanted to hear? That I'm a killer? Well, guess what? I am, and I'm pretty good at it too," I unload onto her with frightening speed. Maybe it was the whiny, gossip tone to her voice or the unwanted questions, but I felt the need to teach her a lesson. That killing isn't glamorous and doing what I did should never have to be done. Everyone looks at me with quiet horror; everyone but Ned; he understands.

"Natari," Catelyn admonishes me. "She is a child."

"She asked," I retort.

"Still," Catelyn holds.

"No, Lady Stark," I fire at her. "She wanted to know what it was like so I told her. You cannot blame me for a child's foolish curiosity."

"Alright," Ned intervened. I sigh and look at Robb. He gazes back with sympathy, but I can't stand it. I love him, but I don't want sympathy for doing what had to be done.

"Nat?" Jon finally says. I snap my head in that direction at the sound of his quiet voice. My gaze instantly softens when I see his face, curious and caring as it is.

"Yes?" I question back with a much more gentle voice.

"Could you, perhaps, show us your gift?" asks Jon.

"I would be delighted," I answer with a warm smile. He returns it, and I look back into the fire. I decide to go back to the basics and demonstrate something that would require little effort. First, I start with the fire's temperature. I change the color to blue as a result. Thus, the light in the room is dimmed. I stretch out my hand and tell a part of it to come to me. It obeys and a ball of blue fire shoots out. I catch it in my hand. The whole family gasps in surprise, and I smile in satisfaction. I play with it a little, tossing it from hand to hand. It is then that Maester Luwin opens the door. He is startled for a moment but recovers quickly.

"Lady Natari, a letter has arrived for you," he informs us. I sigh, throw the ball back, and return the fire to its original color. I am getting tired of crisis, but I get up anyway.

"May I ask where it is from?" I say as I walk over to him.

"Essos, my lady," he says grimly. Everyone in the room understands his meaning. I've received word from my siblings and in a very public way.

"Yes, thank you," I tell the maester.

"Nat," Ned warns me. I turn to the family.

"If you'll excuse me," I say. I nod and walk out the door. I practically run to my room, because I have little doubt that Ned isn't on his way. When I arrive, I rip open the seal and read.

Dear Natari Targaryen, a princess of Westeros,

Your sister is getting married to Khal Drogo in two weeks time. On behalf of Prince Viserys Targaryen, I, Illyrio Mopatis, Magister of Pentos, do cordially invite you to their wedding. Send word of your decision.

Your servant,

Magister Illyrio

My mind starts working at insane speeds as I consider my next move. After no more than a minute, I pull out a bag and start packing. I fold everything up neatly as fast as I can. I am shoving my emergency bags of money in when Ned storms in. He eyes the letter on my bed and goes for it. I let him read it; he couldn't stop me if he tried.

"So you're leaving? Just like that?" he asks.

"Just like that," I tell him as I tie my bag closed.

"Natari, you just got back. Do you really want to leave again?" he pries.

"I have to," I say.

"You might not even get there in time. This message is already a few days old," he says.

"Yes, but with a good ship it shouldn't be a problem," I assure him as I strap on my sword.

"But if Robert ever finds out, he'll kill you," he argues.

"I don't care, Ned! Don't you see that I don't care!?" I blurt out at him. "My family needs me and asked me to be there. Family is more important than anything. Plus, there's a good chance that I can stop my brother from doing something stupid. The only reason he'd sell off Daenerys to Khal Drogo was if the Khal promised him an army. I have to go control the situation and maybe stop another war for Westeros." I brush past him as I head toward the door.

"How do I know you'll come back?" Ned questions me. I pause with my hand around the door knob.

"Keep Robb here," I instruct. "As long as the love of my life is here, I'll come back." I march through the door without looking back at him and make my way to the stable. I saddle a horse and mount it. I ride through the gate and head toward the coast in search of a boat.