Hers Is The Fury

Dragon Soulbinder & Shocking Reveals

[Winterfell - Robb & Morgana's Chambers]

In the heart of Winterfell, Princess Morgana Baratheon paced her chambers, her thoughts awhirl with the weight of the world. As the wife of Robb Stark, mother to his two sons, Eddard and Robert, and daughter of the late King Robert Baratheon, she knew all too well the dangers that lurked beyond the Northern borders. But on this eve, it was not the threat of the White Walkers that troubled her sleep.

It had been only days since word had reached them of her mother's potential alliance with Euron Greyjoy, a man as infamous for his cruelty as his ambition. The thought of the Iron Islands, long a thorn in the side of House Stark, throwing their lot in with the Greyjoys was a chilling prospect.

Her father's family seat, Storm's End, had rallied behind her, their support a testament to their loyalty to her father and House Baratheon.

Even still, Morgana could not help but feel the weight of the responsibility that came with their trust. The knowledge that she might have to face her own kin in battle, if it came to that, was a heavy burden indeed.

The wind howled outside her chamber window, the sound seeming to echo the cries of the ghosts that haunted Winterfell, a constant reminder of the legacy of those who had come before them. She paused before a tapestry depicting her father's famous victory at the Battle of the Trident, the one that had brought an end to the Targaryen dynasty and crowned him king.

Morgana's gaze drifted to the map that hung beside it, marking the distances between Winterfell and Storm's End, King's Landing, and the Free Cities of Essos. The threat of the White Walkers was ever-present, but she knew that they were not the only ones who sought to claim dominion over the Seven Kingdoms.

As she contemplated the delicate balance of power, a servant girl entered the chamber, a look of concern etched on her face. "Your grace," she whispered, "a messenger has arrived from the South. He insists on speaking with you immediately."

Morgana's heart skipped a beat. The messenger could not have arrived at a more inopportune time. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever news he bore. "Show him in," she said, forcing a steady tone.

The servant girl bowed and withdrew from the chamber. Morgana busied herself with straightening a few stray threads on her nightgown, trying to calm her racing thoughts. A moment later, the messenger was ushered in. He was a grizzled man, his face lined with the weariness of many travels. He bowed deeply before her, his eyes cast respectfully to the floor.

"Your grace, my message comes from your mother, Queen Cersei Lannister," he began. "She bids me warn you of the grave danger you are in. The alliance between House Stark and House Baratheon has drawn the ire of the Lannisters and the Greyjoys alike. Queen Cersei urges you to abandon your current allegiances and rally behind her and Euron Greyjoy. She promises protection and power in return."

Morgana's heart sank as the words sank in. Her mother's warning was a cruel blow, a twist of the knife in an already vulnerable wound. She fought to maintain her composure, her face betraying none of the turmoil within. "And what of my husband and sons?" she asked quietly. "What of the loyalty I have sworn to them?"

The messenger's eyes flickered with uncertainty, as if he were not prepared for such a question. "Queen Cersei assures you that they will not come to harm. Your family's loyalty to House Stark will be rewarded. You have only to accept her offer and pledge your allegiance to her and Euron Greyjoy."

Morgana's brow furrowed in thought. She knew her mother well enough to understand that such promises were not to be taken at face value. The Lannisters were known for their cunning and their ruthlessness. To trust them now would be foolhardy, perhaps even fatal.