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Gwyn Ashford, Potter Camp – Near Oldtown.

“So, Lord Fleamont and Lady Euphemia Potter were the parents of Lord James, who in turn was the Lord Father of Harrys,” said Gwyn with determination, pleased to see Lily nod softly, a gentle smile illuminating the redhead’s face.

Gwyn still could not believe what her eyes were seeing, it had been a week since they had arrived at Oldtown and each day she was even more surprised by the power and reach of the Potter family.

Her family, she reminded herself with pride.

During these five days, Gwyn woke up very early, had breakfast with Harrys and Lady Lily, before dedicating her day to studying her future responsibilities.

For four consecutive days she had been Lady Lily’s shadow, learning to manage and administer the Snitch workshops, studying finances, agriculture, mathematics…

It was simply overwhelming work, but… extremely satisfying.

Before being betrothed to Harrys, Gwyn’s education had been quite limited, to say the least, she knew how to read and write, as well as perform simple calculations.

And nothing more, that was the extent of her academic knowledge.

Oh, of course, the septas had made sure she became an expert in feminine arts, Gwyn was an excellent seamstress, a great dancer and a talented singer.

Many times, the Septa of Ashford praised her for her skill, however, those abilities were completely useless for a functional Lady Potter.

Well, not entirely, the young woman thought with a hint of mischief as she remembered how her betrothed Harrys enjoyed watching her dance every night, in the comfortable and fleeting intimate moments they shared before going to sleep.

It was a kind of ritual between them, how her beloved would walk in, sit on his comfortable sofa, freshly bathed and perfumed, exuding a scent that drove the young Ashford mad and made her feel a tingling sensation in her womanhood.

Gwyn enjoyed how Harrys always left his robe open, while she sang and danced for his delight.

At first, her beloved limited himself to simply watching, but yesterday, Gwyn had danced for him with more sensuality and passion than usual, smiling in triumph when Harrys took her by the hips, a possessive and dominant gesture that made her mischievous womanhood cry out in pleasure.

Gwyn knew it was only a matter of time before Harrys made her his, she was almost certain that neither her betrothed nor she would wait until the wedding before giving themselves to each other.

The young woman was more than sure that, if Harrys walked through that door and ordered her to undress for him, she would obey instantly.

Without hesitation.

But that was not important, at least not now, Harrys was in the Refuge, tending to the Potter magical beasts, so he would be occupied for several hours, while Gwyn continued studying the Potter legacy.

An extremely ancient and prestigious magical family, with an incredibly rich legacy.

A legacy that now rested on Gwyn’s shoulders and womb.

“That will be all for today regarding the history of the Potter family, its foundation, important moments and current state, you and Harrys are the future of the family,” said the redheaded Lady, making Gwyn nod with determination.

“Do not worry, Good Mother, I will make sure to give many children to Lord Harrys, we will repopulate the Potter family, one child per year should suffice,” the young woman stated with determination, making Lily look at her while shaking her head.

“No need to worry about that, dear, loving my son and being his support and companion is more than enough, children are something that will come in due time, you are still very young to be a mother,” said the redhead gently, making Gwyn frown and respond firmly.

“I have already had my moon blood, Good Mother, I am a woman and I am ready to honor my husband and give him all the descendants he desires,” Gwyn said with complete sincerity and determination, somewhat offended by the insinuation that she was not woman enough for Harrys.

Lily raised a hand in a calming gesture and replied.

“Do not take it as an offense, dear, but remember that your value as a woman goes beyond giving descendants to my son, you will be Lady Potter, it is important that you understand that you will be Harrys’ life partner, his confidant, his best friend and his greatest ally, you must be intelligent and capable to navigate the ruthless world together, even more so with the plans my son has,” said the redheaded Lady with determination.

Gwyn felt somewhat ashamed of her outburst, and with a bit of embarrassment she apologized, though Lily did not give it importance.

“Do not apologize, dear, you show me you have character, that is good, you will need it with my stubborn son,” she said with a smile, and Gwyn could not help but agree.

Harrys had many virtues, a brilliant mind, an incredible instinct for business and an impressive tactical genius, but he was also stubborn, headstrong and had the annoying tendency to keep his problems to himself, not sharing them even with his mother or with her.

Gwyn nodded and was about to speak, when Bella, her husband’s personal servant, entered, bowing before both of them.

“My Lady, Targaryen banners on the horizon, they will be here in less than an hour,” she said, making Lily nod calmly and stand up.

“Then I will prepare the appropriate wards to protect the camp, we do not want any curious eyes where they should not be,” after which her Good Mother looked at her, said her farewell and left the room.

“My Lady,” Bella said, bowing to her and preparing to leave, at least until Gwyn stopped her.

“Bella, wait,” said the young Ashford with some urgency, she had a few things she wanted to ask.

Bella stopped abruptly, before turning toward Gwyn calmly, waiting.

Gwyn could see a hint of wariness and caution in the woman’s eyes, so she spoke quickly to reassure her.

“Relax, you’re not in trouble, Bella, I just… want to ask you some questions,” Gwyn said calmly with a gentle smile, hoping to put the young woman at ease.

Bella nodded in silence, clearly waiting for the young Ashford’s words, so Gwyn hurried to continue.

“How did you enter my betrothed’s service? I have noticed that Harrys has a close relationship with everyone in his service, I think it appropriate that I do the same,” she asked with genuine curiosity and sincerity in her voice.

Bella was surprised by the question, as if she did not expect such consideration from a Lady, an assumption that, unfortunately, would be accurate with any other Lady.

But Gwyn was truly making an effort, she wanted to fit into this wonderful family, she wanted to please her future husband and live up to the title of Lady Potter, which, apparently, was far more important than the titles she was accustomed to.

“I… I fled from my islands, the Summer Islands, south of Dorne, from a marriage with a rival chieftain, my father had arranged the betrothal, but that disgusting man… before leaving our home he came close to me and whispered that he would enjoy breaking me and making me scream, on impulse, I took the first ship I found on the islands, a Dornish merchant heading to King’s Landing, I did not have a single coin, so I paid for my passage by cleaning dishes and cooking for the crew, a couple of sailors tried to force themselves on me, but the captain, a good man, always stopped them, when we arrived at King’s Landing he wished me luck in life, gave me some coins and we parted ways,” Bella said, clearly lost in her memories.

Gwyn gestured for Bella to sit, while she cleared the table, storing the parchments and family books she had been studying, an action that apparently surprised Bella greatly, who obeyed while looking at Gwyn cautiously.

“What happened next?” she asked, genuinely curious.

Bella swallowed while fidgeting with her hands, clearly nervous and uncomfortable with the subject.

“Dark times, miserable jobs that paid almost nothing, begging in the streets, to the point that… I considered selling myself just to eat, and at that exact moment, when I was heading to the nearest brothel…Lord Harrys appeared”

Gwyn watched as Bella’s face lit up at the mention of her betrothed, there was devotion, complete surrender and, surprisingly, love.

“Mounted on his imposing steed and escorted by a group of his soldiers, the people of King’s Landing parted for him as if he were a prince, most of them looked at him with devotion and incredible respect, and when his beautiful emerald eyes settled on me, I submitted completely, my knees fell to the ground and my forehead touched his boot, begging and pleading, perhaps… if he gave me a silver stag I would not have to sell my body, at least for one more moon,” she said calmly, while Gwyn remained completely silent.

“What… what happened next?” Gwyn asked, immersed in the story.

“He lifted me up, gave me my dignity back and placed me in his service, I became his personal servant, attending him and serving him with the devotion he deserves,” Bella said proudly, making Gwyn nod, though with a slight frown.

“I see,” the young woman said, hesitating before asking what she truly wanted to know, however, Bella interpreted it as insecurity.

“Is there something you wish to ask, my Lady? Something specific?” the islander asked gently.

Gwyn bit her lip, her face clearly betraying her, so with a sigh she answered.

“Have you and my betrothed… you know…” Gwyn asked, her face reddening with embarrassment, hoping Bella understood what she truly meant.

Bella’s eyes widened in surprise, which quickly turned into alarm, the islander went completely pale and began to stammer, clearly terrified.

Gwyn hurried to calm the young servant, she did not want to frighten her.

“Relax, relax, it’s not what you think,” she said anxiously, taking Bella’s hands firmly while speaking softly to calm her, although judging by her reaction, it was evident there had been intimacy between her betrothed and this woman.

Something that filled her with burning jealousy and insecurity, but also gave her an opportunity.

Gwyn was not stupid, she knew very well that Lords had mistresses and apparently Harrys was no exception, it was something normal in her mother’s words.

Bella swallowed and responded.

“It was… it was just once, just before the trial, Lord Harrys was stressed and well… it is my duty as his servant to attend to him and relax him, I do not regret it,” she said cautiously, surprising Gwyn.

Bella was beautiful and it was more than evident that she was completely submissive to her betrothed, Gwyn had truly expected that… Harrys had her warming his bed almost every night.

And apparently, Bella noticed her surprise.

“My body and my soul have belonged to Lord Harrys since King’s Landing, my Lady, however, my beloved Lord had all his attention on Princess Daella, at least until Princess Dyana died and King Daeron canceled the betrothal, insulting my Lord and Lady in the process,” the islander said sincerely.

And those words… did worry Gwyn.

“I still find it hard to believe that a knight and a great man like Harrys would have been betrothed to that… princess,” Gwyn spat, saying the word princess as if it were the most nauseating poison.

Bella smiled softly and sighed.

“It was not always like that, Princess Daella was sweet, well-mannered and full of hope for the future, she could be seen with Prince Valarr and Lord Harrys for days at Potter Manor, riding horses and laughing for hours, but the death of her mother was… a very hard blow, she took it harder than all her siblings, and what is worse, she found refuge and closeness with her” Bella said, filled with fury and hatred, surprising Gwyn.

“Her? Who are you talking about, Bella?” Gwyn asked, making the islander sigh heavily before answering.

“Shiera Seastar, the king’s bastard sister, as beautiful as she is poisonous, she has always had an unhealthy obsession with my Lord,” Bella said with determination, completely certain of her words.

Gwyn was struck by the hatred the normally calm and smling young Bella had for that woman, oh she knew perfectly well who Shiera Seastar was, and the rumors about that dangerous woman, the young Ashford trembled at the mere thought that such a… dangerous thing had her beloved Harrys in her sights.

Which brought her back to the reason for this conversation with the islander, Gwyn was not stupid, she was no longer in little Ashford, surrounded by fields and the simple and peaceful life she had been used to.

A noble family, but… not a very important one really, neither politically nor economically.

But now…

Gwyn had been given to Harrys Potter, and her future husband played in leagues completely different from those of her father, Harrys mingled with Lord Baratheon and if the rumors were true, also with the Starks, he handled in one week more gold than her father had seen in a year, not to mention his… tense relationship with House Targaryen.

All that without taking into account his status as the only Sorcerer Lord of Westeros, Gwyn felt honored to have been chosen by him, her family would benefit greatly and Gwyn truly wished to please him and serve him in every way.

Including in the arts and carnal pleasures, a subject she still did not dare to discuss with her betrothed.

Not for lack of desire or modesty, but because she truly did not know how to please him in bed.

She wanted… she wanted to seduce him, that a single one of her caresses would awaken the beast, that a whisper or a simple kiss would make him lose control, that at least in bed, he would not treat her like a simple doll.

But as a woman, one with desires and eager to be possessed by her man.

“I want your help, I want you to teach me to… to…” the embarrassment did not allow Gwyn to finish her sentence, forcing her to inhale deeply to steady herself again.

Bella looked at her with concern, which slowly turned into realization.

“You want me to… teach you how to please Lord Harrys in bed,” she stated, making Gwyn blush with embarrassment, but nod slowly.

“I… I am a virgin and pure, I know that when Harrys takes me and makes me his it will be extremely gentle and delicate, but I do not want that… I want… passion, unrestrained lust, to drive him so mad that he does not treat me like a small doll but like his woman,” she confessed with determination, making Bella nod calmly.

Gwyn inhaled deeply and continued.

“Teach me, train me to please him, to seduce him, to drive him mad with desire, and in exchange…” at this point, Gwyn swallowed, this being the most difficult part to discuss.

“In exchange, I will turn a blind eye when Harrys is with you,” said the young Ashford with great difficulty, speaking of this was truly complicated, just imagining Harrys with another woman was… devastating for her, but she was not stupid either, Bella would not be going anywhere, she was the most trusted confidant of her betrothed after Lady Lily, and she knew perfectly well the internal workings of House Potter.

Gwyn knew she had to have her on her side, with Bella as an ally, her transition to Lady Potter would be much easier, that was a fact.

At the young Lady’s words, Bella froze, clearly embarrassed and began to stammer incoherently, at least until Gwyn rolled her eyes and spoke firmly.

“Enough, I recognize the way you look at him, you love him, just like I do, do you not?” she asked directly.

Bella turned her face away, unable to hold Gwyn’s gaze, while nodding slowly.

“I want you to say it,” Gwyn said with a firmness she did not know she possessed.

“I love him,” Bella whispered, before breaking and letting everything out.

“I have loved him since that moment in King’s Landing, when instead of kicking me, he extended his hand, I have served him with loyalty and faithfulness for years and I will continue to do so until my last days, my body will always be available to him, and I will care for and raise his children with love and devotion,” the islander said with determination.

Gwyn intervened quickly, with firmness and finality.

“You will never give him children, I will allow you to warm his bed, but I will make sure you take moon tea every time, the right to bear Potter seed is mine alone, I will not allow something like the Blackfyre rebellion to happen again,” the young woman said with finality and determination on her face.

Gwyn expected fury or some other reaction from Bella, however, what she received was… sadness and resignation.

“You have nothing to worry about, my Lady, I know very well my place, and as a free piece of advice, if you do not want to anger Lord Harrys, you must never speak ill of Daemon Blackfyre,” Bella said, swallowing hard.

Those words surprised Gwyn greatly.

“Huh? Why would mentioning the bastard dragon be a problem for Harrys?” she asked with genuine curiosity.

Gwyn expected Bella to answer, however, a familiar male voice responded from the entrance of the study where they were.

“Because Daemon Blackfyre, the bastard dragon you mention, was my master, and the closest thing I have ever had to a father.”

Gwyn inhaled sharply and turned, finding Harrys, who looked at both of them with his arms crossed and an impassive expression.

Swallowing, Gwyn tried to explain herself.

“Oh… I… I am sorry, my Lord, I did not know, I—” however, Harrys simply raised his hand, silencing her and filling her with anguish.

“We will speak of this later, my Lady, but we must receive the princes, Bella, be a dear and prepare dinner tonight with you know who, Gwyn, come,” he ordered calmly and politely, but with total control of the situation, making both women stand and obediently begin to comply.

Gwyn took Harrys by the arm, and both began to walk toward the exit of the enchanted tent.

For several minutes, they walked in complete silence, which filled the young Ashford with anguish, until she could not bear it any longer.

“I… I am sorry, my Lord, I will submit to any punishment you deem appropriate for my intrusion,” she said with complete submission and devotion, hoping to please Harrys and amend her mistake.

Her betrothed’s response? To take her hand gently and tenderly, before sighing and replying.

“You made no mistake, Gwyn, unfortunately the image of my master was tainted by the rebellion, but it is important that you understand an important lesson, things are not always as history tells us, and the victor is the one who writes it”

At those words from her betrothed, so full of wisdom and experience, the young woman could only nod softly and respond.

“Yes, my Lord.”

Harrys smiled with satisfaction, before placing his hand on her lower back, near her rear, to the surprise of the young Ashford.

“That being said, tonight I will administer an appropriate correction, have Bella bathe you and perfume you for me, understood?” Harrys said, giving her a firm slap on the butt that made Gwyn jump slightly in surprise, which quickly turned into excitement and embarrassment.

“As… as you command, my Lord,” she said cautiously, but with clearly visible excitement.

Harrys smiled and, to her disappointment, removed his hand from her ass, guiding her again by the arm as was proper.

Gwyn followed him as was proper, one step behind her Lord, doing her best to hide the love juices that had begun to flow from her womanhood.

It would be… a very long day, thought the young Ashford, as she exited the tent and saw Prince Aegon running toward the beautiful and imposing hippogriffs.

The Targaryens had arrived, and tomorrow they would enter Oldtown together.

What was the worst that could happen?

Shiera Seastar, The Red Keep – King’s Landing.

“Are you completely certain of the veracity of this, Brynden?” asked her brother, King Daeron, who even in his old age still looked imposing and formidable.

Many believed that, being more passionate about books than swords, the king’s image would be that of a fragile scholar, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Daeron Targaryen was a good king, easily one of the best, who loved and cared for his family, however, he was also cruel, ruthless and implacable with his enemies.

The execution of Alysanne Blackfyre was proof enough, a message that all the Lords of the realm had received loud and clear.

“Yes, brother, Baelor was on the verge of death, and it was the intervention of Lady Lily and her son, Lord Harrys, that prevented it, sorcerers of great power, magic never before seen since the times of old Valyria,” said Brynden with complete frankness, making the king nod softly as he stroked his beard.

“It aligns with the letter Baelor sent me, sharing the news that, in his duties as Hand of the King, he negotiated with Lord Harrys the hand of Lady Lily”

Daeron’s words, as usual, were cold and calculated, analyzing every advantage and disadvantage of such a union.

“The terms my son offered were… generous for Potter, but it gives us an opportunity, there is history between Harrys and my granddaughter Daella, a marriage I canceled some years ago, if I recall correctly,” he said, looking at Brynden for confirmation.

“That is correct, brother, the offense… widened the gap between Harrys Potter and the crown,” Brynden said with a hint of reproach in his voice, after all, he had agreed with the marriage, a Lord as wealthy as Harrys united to the crown was good for the realm.

“I know, it was an erroneous decision based on incomplete information, but that is the past, send a raven to Maekar, by now they should be in Oldtown, that by royal decree, Princess Daella will wed Lord Harrys Potter, the crown will finance the construction of a fortress in Sharp Point, to be renamed the Principality of Dragon Point, and that the princes Valarr gives me will wed the daughters of Harrys and Daella, ensuring that the magical gift remains exclusively between the Potters and the Targaryens,” the king ordered with complete finality, analyzing the situation over and over in his mind.

Brynden hesitated, then spoke.

“That… will be complicated, Your Grace, a marriage between Gwyn Ashford and Harrys Potter has already been arranged,” Brynden said, making the king frown, drumming his fingers on his desk.

“I see, brother, the situation is complicated and tense,” the king said, standing and walking calmly through the office, lost in his thoughts as usual, plotting plans and forging alliances, analyzing reactions and countermeasures.

“Brother, send ravens to all the houses, a tournament will be held in King’s Landing in celebration of the marriage between Prince Baelor Targaryen and Lady Lily Potter, let all Westeros attend, from Winterfell to Dorne, make sure Lord Ashford is among the first to arrive, I will give him an offer he cannot refuse, but it is of vital importance that Harrys Potter wed my granddaughter,” the king said, now fixing his gaze on Shiera.

“You will travel to Dorne, sister, as my representative, with a personal gift for our sister Daenerys, once there, make sure Harrys Potter forgets this young Ashford completely, and by any means necessary, secure a marriage between him and Daella, I trust you,” the king ordered, taking his seat once more.

Shiera bowed completely, hiding her triumphant smile.

“As you command, Your Grace,” she said in that characteristic tone of seduction.

Daeron nodded and replied.

“Organize the tournament, Brynden, we have a wedding to celebrate, after all,” said the king.

House Potter had made its move…

And now the dragon king had moved his pieces to sink his claws into the raven’s chest.

What would the Raven Lord’s response be to this provocation?

Shiera could hardly wait to find out.