The Songs of Winter | Robb Stark

Chapter 36

Aida Stark

Missandei stands behind me as I sit on a chair on the balcony, her fingers weaving through my hair with gentle precision. The late afternoon sun casts warm light over the city of Meereen below, as we sit in silence. I break the silence, unable to keep a question from bubbling up.

"Has the Queen been found yet?"

Missandei's hands pause briefly, then continue. She shakes her head, a hint of worry slipping into her tone. "No, my lady. There's been no news, no updates."

I frown, watching the sky as if I might spot the silhouette of a dragon in the distance. "I don't understand, Missandei. How can her dragon carry her away and not return her?"

She shrugs slightly. "Dragons are...peculiar creatures. They're ancient, unpredictable. They don't obey the way trained animals do. Sometimes, they only follow their instincts, their whims." She replies, her voice soft.

I hum in thought, digesting this. "So, in the meantime, I assume you've been managing the chaos of Meereen?"

Missandei lets out a small sigh, nodding. "Yes. It would be greatly appreciated if you joined us at the council meetings, my lady. But instead, you seem to be slipping away from the city more frequently." Her gaze sharpens slightly as she tilts her head. "If you don't mind me asking, what have you been doing?"

My heartbeat quickens at her question, though I keep my face impassive. For the past month, I've been meeting with Xhao outside the city, training in the art of songbearer magic. She's been teaching me spells and incantations, songs with ancient power. Each time, I feel the dizzying effects less and less, and my strength grows. But I offer Missandei a partial truth.

"I have family here in Meereen," I say, careful with my words. "A cousin. She found me, and we've been spending time together. Soon, I'll be leaving, so it's important to me." I give her a small smile. "Do you have any family, Missandei?"

Her hands still in my hair for a fraction of a second, then resume. "No," she replies quietly. "My brothers and I were sold into slavery when we were young. They began training as Unsullied, but I was spared because of my gift for languages." Her voice falters. "They...they didn't survive the training."

I nod, feeling a pang in my chest. "I'm sorry."

Missandei hesitates, her expression softening. "You know, I usually hate it when people say that. They say 'I'm sorry,' but they don't truly understand. Not really. But you do, don't you? You, Daenerys, and I. We've all lost our families."

I meet her gaze, sharing the unspoken grief that binds us. "Yes, but we've survived it, haven't we?"

A small smile breaks through her solemnity. "Yes, we did." She gives my hair a gentle tug, a hint of warmth in her voice. "I'm glad you found family here. It's a beautiful thing."

Just as I'm about to respond, a sharp, sudden kick to my belly makes me jolt. I gasp, then laugh softly, pressing a hand to my stomach. "Oh, gods, the baby's kicking."

Missandei's eyes light up, a smile breaking across her face. "Really?" She reaches out, her hand hovering as she glances at me for permission.

I nod, and she places her hand over the swell of my stomach. A delighted giggle escapes her as she feels the tiny movements beneath her fingers. "The baby's a fighter," she murmurs.

"I'd hope so," I say softly, thinking of the world they'll be born into. A fighter is exactly what they'll need to be.

Missandei pulls her hand away, her face growing distant as she returns to braiding my hair. "I try not to think about babies too much," she says quietly.