Chapter 2

"Daenerys!" It was morning in Dragonstone, and Daenerys Targaryen was enjoying a hot bath in her bedchamber. "Dany! Ah… there you are." Viserys, her brother, walked into the room with a servant. The servant was carrying a folded piece of dark blue fabric. "This is silk from Qarth. Today, you must look like a princess. Alexander is coming this afternoon." Dany smiled. I am the Blood of the Dragon, she thought. "You must be at your best. You don't want to wake the dragon… do you?" Dany shook her head. "Good," said Viserys. "These two servants are a gift from Magister Illyrio." Two ladies stepped forward. "Doreah will teach you the arts of love. Missandei is a slave from the Naath who I bought from an Astapori master, Kraznys mo Nakloz, and she will teach you languages and diplomacy."

As Doreah styled Dany's hair into a visually appealing coiffure, Viserys paced back and forth. "When Alexander becomes king," he said confidently, "he shall abdicate. I know him. He's something of a Targaryen sympathizer… but he never justifies us in front of his father, the usurper. That is why you're marrying his son, so that when he abdicates, you and he can go to Essos and build me an army to take back Westeros!"

"What would such a man be doing in Pentos?" Dany asked.

"He was on business," Viserys explained, "and said that he'd found a slave who was better at his job than Missandei. So I bought her. You gained a slave, and the former master gained substantial coin. She's yours now, Dany. Use her well." Viserys and his sister headed to the throne room of the castle, and he sat on the throne with Daenerys by his side.

When Alexander walked into the throne room, an elaborate-sounding fanfare played. "His Highness, Prince Alexander of House Baratheon," a herald announced, "heir to the Iron Throne." He walked into the throne room accompanied by two men in half armor and morion helmets which sported a black and a yellow plume each. They wielded halberds, and short swords were at their hips. Under their armor, they wore black and yellow doublets, striped vertically, and the men marched in lockstep. Alexander himself was wearing a set of black plate with a rampant stag on the cuirass in gold-plated steel. Its antlers were plated in bronze, and its hooves were simply steel. A golden grown, outlined in steel, went around its neck. The sigil of House Baratheon, Daenerys realized. A large heater shield was strapped to his back.

"Prince Viserys and Princess Daenerys," said Alexander, his left hand draped over the hilt of his sword. "Truly an honor to meet the Targaryens in their own home." "Why do you bring your men into Dragonstone?" Viserys questioned. "Purely ceremonial," said Alexander, "perish the thought that I'd attack you. You're my host, it'd be dishonorable." "You bring your men," Viserys thundered, "into my house!" Alexander stood perfectly still. "You! The Usurper's son! Do you know who I am?! I am the Dragon!" "You, ser," said Alexander evenly, "are indeed the dragon. Dragons, however, are extinct creatures." He smiled. "I, therefore, do not fear you." Viserys rose, causing Alexander's guards to adopt a wide stance, lowering their halberds as one.

"Be at ease, my prince," said Ser Jorah Mormont, who'd just entered the room. "He's here to collect his betrothed, not your head."

"Very well," said Viserys, sitting back down.

At the same time, his guards shouldered their weapons. "Perhaps you'd like to visit the Red Keep, Prince Viserys," said Alexander, cooler heads prevailing once again.

Viserys nodded eagerly. "After all this time in exile, I am quite ready to go home."

"And so you shall. Why, I'll even give you your own wheelhouse, as befits your status." With that, Alexander and Daenerys left the throne room with Viserys and Ser Jorah in tow. The servants were behind them. Alexander's ship sat at anchor just offshore. They were taken to the ship by boat, and Viserys was given his own cabin. The ship set off, and Alexander began speaking with Daenerys. "Would you like your own cabin, princess?"

Dany shook her head. "We are engaged," she said. "It's only fitting, therefore, that we share."

Alexander nodded. "As you say."

When the ship reached King's Landing, cheering crowds greeted its passengers. Viserys, believing they were cheering for him, smiled at the crowd and waved while Alexander and Daenerys boarded a wheelhouse bound for the Red Keep. Viserys boarded his with Jorah Mormont. "Prince Alexander is heir to the throne," Jorah reminded Viserys, "and Robert is still king. You come not as Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, but as a guest of King Robert. You must be cautious."

"The Dragon is not prey in his own den," Viserys said indignantly. They arrived at the Red Keep to find it decorated with Baratheon banners, and Viserys' blood started to boil.

Alexander, with Daenerys at his side, entered the throne room of the Red Keep. Viserys and Jorah were behind him. "Your Highness is in charge until His Grace returns," Ser Loras Tyrell informed Alexander with a bow. "Thank you, Ser Loras." Alexander escorted Daenerys to the Iron Throne, and had a servant bring her a chair. Alexander sat down and leaned back, resting his arms on the throne's bladed armrests.

"Viserys Targaryen," Alexander announced, "shall have a bedchamber next to mine. And further… until the return of our king… all grievances may be presented to me. His Grace has placed me in charge until he returns and has appointed a new Hand. May the Gods bless the memory of the late Jon Arryn."

A small boy stepped forward. "Prince Alexander," he said, bowing, "I am Lord Robin of House Arryn."

"And how fares the Vale?" Alexander asked.

"Mourning my father's death, my prince," Robin said, "as do I."

"As do we all," Alexander replied.

"My only wish is to be as good a lord as he was."

"His will be a difficult life to emulate," said Alexander. "He was one of the finest men to fill the position of Hand of the King. Meanwhile…" Alexander squared his shoulders. "We must ascertain our financial standing. Send for Lord Petyr Baelish, the master of coin." Alexander smiled. This would, hopefully, be a productive few days.