The Silent Knight

-15-

I watch as Marisia jumps up onto her dragon, Saphira. She sits there for a moment and looks at me with head tilted to the side.

"Well are you just going to stand there?" She asks as a smirk creeps onto her lips.

"I believe we made a pact that me that high in the sky is off the table, after last time of course." I say with a laugh of nervousness.

I think back to when I rode with her for the first time. Her dragon has always liked me, allowing me to pet her and what not. So we thought it was a good idea for me to try and ride her. Which was indeed not a good idea at all.

I found out that day that there are two things that scare me most in this world; losing Marisia and heights. I had passed out and Marisia had to tie me to herself in order for me to not fall to my death. Technically it was the only time she has ever protected me from something so dangerous.

"I wasn't asking, Maddox." She says rolling her eyes. "Just give it another try."

"I don't think your husband will enjoy us both vanishing out of his sight, your grace." I say looking up at her.

She lets out a sigh. "You forget that I am a Queen. Your Queen. Do you really think that because I have a husband he will dictate my every move. Besides you are my protector after all, practically glued to me. He knew what he was getting into."

Now it's my turn to let out a sigh, in defeat of course. I shake my head before climbing up the side of her dragon. I sit behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, grabbing onto her tightly.

"You're just mad I have to protect you up here." She says as my head lays on the top of her shoulder, and I close my eyes tightly.

As we soar off into the cloudy skies, Marisia moves her white hair to the side as I press my lips firmly on the left side of her neck. She laughs and leans her head back.

I bury my head in the crook of her neck and she leans her head on mine. It as if everything that has happened, hasn't. It is just us up here, without a care in the world. I know she wants to get away from here, as do I. So I don't question how long we ride for, I just let her take the lead as we move farther away from Kings Landing.

* * *

Once we make it somewhere I am unfamiliar with, I hop down and leave a hand for her to take. She slips her hand and mine and hops off of Saphira.

I take a look at our surroundings and notice nothing but yellow fields for miles on end. I look at Marisia questionably.

"Correct me if I'm wrong but you have no idea where we are right now do you, your grace?"

She nudges me with a laugh.

"I know exactly where we are Maddox, you have never been here with me before." She says before walking down the hill to a single tree.

I furrow my brow and walk after her down the hill as we reach the tree. I notice a rock underneath the tree. I stand next to Marisia as she moves some brush out of the way.

"After the Dragon Fire ceremony for my mother, my father and I flew here and scattered her ashes underneath this tree. My father told me this is where she would go to get away." She pats her dress and stands up next to me.

"She was beautiful." I say quietly, shifting my feet.

"She was." She says. I look over at her and see the light smile that played along her lips. She could be doing anything and look absolutely godly.

"Maddox I'm pregnant." She says, turning and looking at me.

I freeze and clench my jaw. Once again, she has left me speechless. I look down at the ground searching for something to say.

She moves in front of me and my eyes stayed glued to the ground, watching her feet. She takes a hand and places it under my chin, I meet her gaze.

"This child will be yours. Isn't this what we wanted?" She asks, looking into my eyes concerning. I blink a couple of times to regain focus on the girl in front of me.

"Yes." I cough clearing my throat, "You're pregnant." I say searching her eyes.

"I'm pregnant."

"Okay."

"Okay."

I lean down and kiss her forehead. I then back away needing a moment to breathe. I bring my index finger and thumb to my brows as I begin to become frustrated.

"Does he know?" I ask, shaking my head.

"No." She puts her hands to her sides, watching me intently.

"Maddox, what's the matter with you?" She walked towards me and puts a hand on my arm trying to pull me towards her. I move my arm away from her and back away again. My chest begins to tighten.

"You.. You're pregnant." I barely let the words out as I feel everything begin to darken around me.

"He's never going to leave your side. This is the first time I've been able to see you in the flesh for weeks, Marisia!" I say with my hand on my chest, beginning to pace back and forth.

"Maddox, look at me." She puts her hands on my face and tries to stop me from moving but I can't stop.

"Maddox. Look. At. Me." She says slowly and I stop staring into her violet eyes. The eyes I fell in love with when we were just children.

"This is your child. Not his. He is just here to fulfill a role that society sees fit. I love you. Just you and our child. I order you to train this child as if they are a Knight. Do you understand me?" She says patting away the tears the fall from my eyes.

I notice then that she is scared. Scared that I would back out of this, what we have. She thinks she will have to raise this child as his and not mine. My eyes widen a tiny bit and she takes notice.

I nod shakily, and she presses a gentle kiss on my lips. I feel the coldness of her nose against my cheek and I press harder into the kiss.

"I love you." I let out as we part slowly.

"You need to be strong for me because I cannot do this on my own, Maddox. You're allowed Rose's comfort but what do I have? I have no one while I lie with my unwanted husband." She lets out in a breath as I look into her eyes.

I move the white strands of hair out of her face and cup her cheek.

"You are never alone. I am here, right here." I place my hand on her heart. "My life is yours." I say as I take her hand and kiss it softly.

She lets out a tear and I sit down. She sits in between my legs as we watch the sun fall from the sky. I wrap my arms around her as she leans back into my embrace. We sit there in a comfortable silence and take in this time we have for as long as we possibly can.