Note: Five more weeks. Then I'm done with graduate school forever. In the meantime, updates will still be shorter and spaced a little farther apart than usual. But they aren't stopping! I just hope my anxious mindset hasn't impacted my writing prowess.
Originally, I planned for this section to be Viserys' perspective (hence why I wished to include it in the previous chapter, with the other two Targaryens). After giving it some thought… I concluded that I would rather not write a section from HIS point of view. Not yet, in any case. I'm certain Viserys must have had an occasional rational thought, but not many. I may have a section from his perspective in the future, but if I do, it will be very short.
Anyway, I decided to have this chapter be from the point of view of another prominent character in Pentos. It will mostly be another buildup chapter, but it will have a significant breakthrough, too. As well as an unexpected twist.
By the way, I'm willing to bet several of you will have questions by the end of this chapter. If so, feel free to share your questions with me, and I assure you they will all be answered in time. I just ask of you one favor: do not make any premature assumptions.
The Red Woman was a curious individual. That much, Allard learned straightaway. She was curious in both senses of the word. She made it her business to know as much as possible, and she incited fascination out of nearly everyone she encountered. Additionally, there was something about her that captured one's interest.
An enigma is what she is.
Nevertheless, from the moment he met her, Allard became inexplicably anxious around Melisandre. He was not alone in that regard. Judging by how my colleagues react to her presence, I am far from the only person she unsettles.
When Melisandre first arrived at the manse, Allard had heavily considered turning her away. Since she claimed to be there for the Targaryens, he had decided to leave the choice up to Viserys and Daenerys. He did not speak a word of protest when they agreed to see the priestess.
Of course, even if Allard had not consulted them first, it was not his place to dictate who was or was not allowed entry to the manse. That prerogative was Magister Illyrio's, and the magister had opened the gates for the Red Woman with hardly any hesitation.
Still, Allard Seaworth did not trust the priestess. There were few people he did trust, but fewer that he innately distrusted. Melisandre was one such individual. In Allard's mind, it was doubtful that she had travelled all the way from Asshai simply to enter the services of a deposed prince and princess. No one would do that. Not unless they expect to receive something in return.
Allard was convinced Melisandre had an ulterior motive for seeking out the Targaryens. Whatever it was, he was determined to uncover it.
After the Red Woman was welcomed into the manse, Allard Seaworth decided to assign two of his comrades from the Seven Kingdoms to accompany her everywhere. More specifically, he would assign several pairs of them to follow her at different times of the day. Essentially, they would watch her in shifts, alternating every few hours. That arrangement would minimize the chance that Melisandre got too close to any one of his colleagues. At least one member of each of those pairs was a fellow Legionnaire.
Allard had told Melisandre that his comrades would be with her to ensure her safety. Melisandre politely declined the escort at first, but Allard insisted.
While Melisandre appeared grateful for the gesture, it was unlikely she truly was. In fact, Allard would not have been surprised if she saw straight through this mummer's farce of "chaperoning" her. Strangely, though, she never said a word against it.
A fortnight had elapsed since Melisandre came to the manse. Nothing of particular note had occurred during that interval. At the end of each day, Allard spoke with each of the Westerosi soldiers that had been with Melisandre anytime earlier.
Their reports were always quite concise, yet never very informative. The Red Woman ate three meals a day, went on walks around the courtyard, used the privy every once in a while, and read the occasional book in the library. Just like the rest of us.
There was, however, one thing Melisandre did that did not conform to everyman behavior. Four times a day or more, she perched herself in a chair before the fireplace in the manse's study and stared into the flames. Whenever she did this, she went into a type of trance for at least twenty minutes, but never longer than an hour. Once she went into that trance, it was very difficult to bring her out of it.
Allard Seaworth and the other Westerosi were aware that followers of R'hllor believed they could receive wisdom or knowledge of the future by gazing into flames. A few of Melisandre's escorts had asked her what she had seen, and her answers were always very vague and undescriptive.
Personally, Allard greatly questioned the plausibility of using fires as a buffer for information. He thought fires should only be used for keeping warm and lighting up dark rooms, and he thought information should be gathered through conventional means, such as research or spies. She must be getting something out of the flames that the rest of us are not.
Melisandre did not spend all of the past two weeks by herself. She had been with Viserys and Daenerys for a fair portion of that time frame. Despite the Red Woman's attempts to converse with them in private, Allard ensured that three or more Westerosi were always present whenever the three of them were together.
At first, the Targaryens' talks with the Red Woman were – for the most part – limited to a detailed recollection of the events of their lives. Melisandre spoke of how she had become a servant to the Lord of Light, and Viserys and Daenerys had spoken of their lifelong struggle for survival. Viserys had a tendency to be dramatic at times, but Daenerys never embellished anything.
According to what his colleagues told him, Viserys was evidently bored and somewhat disinterested in these talks. He seemed far more interested in getting to know the Red Woman through more "corporeal" means. I'd wager my spot on the secret council he is not the only one. Daenerys, however, was always eager to learn more of the world. She was as interested in getting to know the priestess as the other way around.
Sometimes Melisandre spoke with the Westerosi soldiers instead. Apparently, she was interested to learn of their background, too. At Allard's bidding, they indulged her. By the second week's end, she had interacted with all one hundred of them at least once. Including Allard himself. He did not have much to boast about; only that he was the second son of Lord Stannis Baratheon's right-hand man, and he was a top officer of the Legion without Banners. Nevertheless, that seemed to intrigue the Red Woman.
Other than being raised in Asshai and sold to the temple of the Lord of Light at a young age, there was nothing especially remarkable about Melisandre. But Allard knew better than to judge someone at a glance. If there is one thing I've learned from Father, it is that it's folly to evaluate another person by appearance only.
Allard Seaworth was under orders to keep the Seven Kingdoms up to date on the status of the Targaryens. He would send a missive to Lord Gregor Clegane whenever there was a major development concerning Viserys and Daenerys. He had yet to inform his commander about Melisandre's arrival. He had elected to wait until she instigated some form of breakthrough. In the first fourteen days of her stay in Pentos, nothing of the sort had come about.
On the morning of the fifteenth day, Allard was in his quarters. He was sitting at his desk, going over a list of the Westerosi soldiers' stores when someone knocked at the door.
"Enter!" Allard called out. As he gazed up from his papers, the door opened to reveal Ser Bonifer Hasty. Allard grinned and muttered "Hello, Ser Bonifer."
"Good morning, Allard," the middle-aged knight bade him. Allard noticed he seemed a little restless.
"Is anything wrong?" the younger man queried.
"At this moment, the Red Woman is with the Queen's children," Bonifer Hasty informed him. Hardly anything new.
Allard just nodded and inquired "Who watches them at this time?"
"Rupert Brax, Gerold Dayne, and Hugh Beesbury," Ser Bonifer disclosed.
Three guards; none of them Legionnaires. That was queer. Regardless of the time of day, one member of the Legion without Banners was always with Melisandre. "And from the Legion?"
"I was the Legionnaire on duty," the elder Stormlander admitted.
Allard Seaworth leaned back in his seat and remarked "I assume you have a good reason for not being with the priestess right now."
"I do," Ser Bonifer Hasty affirmed, "She asked to see you."
Allard was surprised. "Me? Why me?"
"She would not divulge that information," Bonifer confessed, "She just bade me to find you and bring you to her. By her tone, it was urgent."
"Very well," Allard Seaworth conceded. He rose from his chair, grabbed his sword off its rack, fastened it to his belt, and instructed the older man "Take me to the Red Woman."
Five minutes later, they reached Melisandre's bedchamber. The priestess was there, and so were Viserys Targaryen, Daenerys Targaryen, Rupert Brax, Gerold Dayne, and Hugh Beesbury.
As far as Allard was aware, this was the first time the Red Woman had invited anyone into her room. Allard had agreed to give her privacy and solitude in her own quarters. Her guards had always remained at the entrance; they had never been allowed through the threshold. At nighttime, just before she turned in, she locked the door tightly. Allard wondered why she was so wary. No one there would dare harm her; she was a guest of the manse, and to harm a guest was to violate all the laws of gods and men. Could it be possible she is harboring a secret? If so… perhaps that is why she summoned me.
Predictably, Melisandre was standing in front of a brazier, staring longingly into its flames. Rupert, Gerold, and Hugh were leaning against parts of the wall. Viserys and Daenerys were seated at a table off to the side of the room.
When the second son of Ser Davos Seaworth stepped inside, Melisandre looked towards the entrance of the room. She gave a friendly grin and said "Good morrow to you, Master Allard."
"My lady," Allard Seaworth rejoined, dipping his head respectfully. Bonifer Hasty entered the room alongside him. Allard flashed a glimpse at his colleague, and then he turned back to the priestess of R'hllor. "Ser Bonifer claims you wished to see me."
"Yes," Melisandre confirmed, taking a step closer to the Legionnaire officer. After a pause, she declared "The time has come that I explain my purpose for coming."
Initially, Allard was taken aback by the forwardness of that statement. Up until this point, every single thing the Red Woman said or did had been ambiguous in nature. Be that as it may, when the meaning of that statement sank in, Allard was not displeased. It is past time we addressed this issue.
"As you say, my lady," Allard mumbled, giving a light nod.
He expected the priestess to begin her explanation straightaway. But when Allard gestured for her to speak, she did not open her mouth. Instead, she folded her hands together and shook her head slightly.
"You misunderstand," Melisandre proclaimed. She gestured to the two people seated at the table and added "I only wish to explain my purpose to them."
Now Allard was perplexed. By their facial expressions, so were Bonifer, Hugh, Gerold, and Rupert.
Seeing their confusion, Melisandre provided some clarity: "What I mean is I would prefer to confer with Prince Viserys and Princess Daenerys alone. Alas, it has been made clear that you will not permit us to speak in private. So, to appease all of us, I would ask that as few parties as possible be present during my account."
"How few, my lady?" Allard enquired.
"Myself, the Targaryens, and one other," Melisandre pronounced. She looked Allard in the eye and told him "I would like that one to be you."
Allard was more fascinated than he was bewildered by that claim. "May I ask why?"
"Because of all the Westerosi in this manse, you carry the most authority and influence," the priestess contended, "You may come from a small, recently-founded house, which was created by a former criminal. In spite of that, you have made a name for yourself in the Legion without Banners. Although only twenty Legionnaires are among the hundred Westerosi soldiers who reside in this manse, it is not difficult to see that even the eighty non-Legionnaires respect you and your position."
She is remarkably perceptive.
Allard could not deny anything the Red Woman just said. He was not happy she had called his father as a criminal, but at least she used the term "former criminal." Apart from that, Ser Davos Seaworth took pride in his experience as a smuggler.
Melisandre was also correct in how the other Westerosi viewed Allard Seaworth. Although he was only meant to be the leader of the Legionnaire members of the hundred, the others had chosen to appoint him as their unofficial leader a few months ago.
That spoke volumes of how much faith they had in him. Some of the other Westerosi had already been hardened veterans even before Robert's Rebellion. In those days, Allard's greatest accomplishments had amounted to assisting his father with moving contraband around the Seven Kingdoms. All the same, he had done very much to repair the Seven Kingdoms in the aftermath of the Rebellion.
Allard had accepted the role as the tentative commander of the hundred Westerosi in Pentos, and he had performed this responsibility superbly thus far. Still, it was not a duty that he coveted. He had never vied for power. Principally because as he grew up, he never expected to have very much of it, even after his father was made a landed knight. That viewpoint was commonly known as "the outlook of the second son." Dale's the one who'll be leading House Seaworth after Father passes on. He's much better suited to the task than I.
He never voiced these qualms, as it would not do for a leader to openly question his own competence in front of his subordinates. These men have faith in me. For their sake, I should, too.
Despite being named leader, Allard was always considerate of the other ninety-nine soldiers' feelings. He looked around the room and asked "Does anyone have any objections to Lady Melisandre's request?"
Gerold Dayne, Hugh Beesbury, Rupert Brax, and Bonifer Hasty collectively shook their heads. One or two of them quietly murmured "No."
Allard nodded again, folded his arms, and instructed his colleagues "Wait out in the corridor. Make certain no one interrupts or disturbs us."
The other four men swiftly filed out of the bedchamber. On the way out, Hugh bowed a bit, Rupert nodded his head, Gerold gave a salute, and Ser Bonifer murmured "Take care, my lord."
I'm no lord. I'm no knight, either. I'm just the man the Red Woman requested.
That distinction by itself would turn out to be much more meaningful than Allard Seaworth gave it credit for.
Once the other soldiers were out of the room, Allard shut the door and bolted it at Melisandre's behest. She also had him place a length of cloth at the base of the door so that even the slightest sound could not pass through the crack. I would never have guessed she was this secretive. Allard did not think it a coincidence that there were no windows in this bedchamber. She must've seen to that, as well.
When the bedchamber was deemed secure, Melisandre led Allard over to the table and beckoned him "Sit, if you please."
Allard sat down beside Daenerys. He gave her a benign grin, which she returned. Viserys was on the other side of Dany, and Allard avoided making eye contact with him. Without even looking, he could imagine the ever-present scowl on the older Targaryen's face.
Melisandre took the remaining chair between him and Viserys. After giving her a minute to get comfortable, Allard folded his arms again and stated "You may begin at your leisure, my lady."
Melisandre opened with a question. A question directed at the Targaryens: "Are you aware, my prince and princess, that your family were followers of R'hllor in the days of Valyria?"
"Of course we are," Viserys bluntly replied. Right. And 'of course' you are a proper gentleman to your sister.
"I do remember learning that somewhere, my lady," Daenerys claimed. At least she sounds believable.
"Then you would know that your family thrived in the days when they worshipped the Lord of Light," Melisandre proclaimed.
"Yet the red priests were unable to save Valyria from the Doom," Viserys rigidly pointed out.
"The Doom was a natural disaster," Allard Seaworth countered, "There was nothing anyone could have done to prevent it."
"Not so, Master Seaworth," Melisandre proclaimed, "My brothers and sisters of the faith saw the Doom before it occurred. They warned the people of Valyria that it was coming. A certain prudent few chose to listen and fled. All other occupants of Valyria foolishly dismissed the Lord of Light's warning. Their deaths were the result of their own ignorance."
"How can you be certain of this, my lady?" Allard inquired.
"Because the people of Valyria who trusted in R'hllor lived," the Red Woman claimed, "On the eve of the Doom, all the red priests in Valyria disappeared overnight. They, along with those who heard them out, were the only ones who lived to see a whole civilization crumble."
"That is rather unfortunate," Daenerys uttered softly, "But why are you telling us this?"
"Because it is paramount that you heed my counsel," Melisandre declared, "You must not ignore it or idly cast it aside. It could mean the end of everything if you do."
That successfully captured my attention. Evidently, it had also gotten Daenerys', and even Viserys seemed genuinely interested now.
"Go on," Viserys goaded her.
Melisandre folded her hands beneath the long sleeves of her robes, and she stated "You have been told that when the Long Night comes, the Targaryens will have a unique advantage over the White Walkers."
"That's correct," Allard Seaworth affirmed.
"I suppose you believe you are the advantage?" Viserys wryly presumed. Let us hope not. All most red priests are good for is predicting events, and we already have a forecaster in Lord Gregor. What we need now is strength or power.
Melisandre firmly responded with "I am not the advantage, but I will guide you on the right path towards claiming that advantage."
"Guide us how?" Daenerys inquired.
"The Lord of Light knows and sees all," the priestess pronounced, "It is through him that I will do so."
I assumed as much. Allard sat up in his seat and murmured "Tell me, my lady. Was it the Lord of Light who directed you to Pentos in the first place?"
"Yes," Melisandre revealed, "In ordinary times, R'hllor only reveals the events of the immediate future. But soon after word of the Long Night's forthcoming arrival reached Essos, he began to show us glimpses of events that would not occur for several years, as well."
"Then you must know plenty about the Long Night already," Daenerys supposed.
"That would depend upon what you view as 'plentiful,'" Melisandre perceived.
"Well, to begin… can you tell us when the Others will appear?" Allard Seaworth conjectured.
Melisandre slowly turned her head towards the Stormlander and said quietly "They already have."
Allard could physically feel his eyes widening. He also heard Daenerys gasp and Viserys quaver in his chair. The Legionnaire lieutenant gradually leaned closer to the Red Woman and muttered in shock "What?"
"Mere days before I came to Pentos, R'hllor gave me another vision," Melisandre revealed, "In it, I saw seven figures surrounded by a growing crowd. Everywhere the crowd went, it spread a wave of terror and devastation. Six of those seven figures were consumed in the wake of destruction, and the seventh one only lived long enough to perish peaceably."
"Is this supposed to meant something?" Viserys muttered irately.
Allard already managed to determine the meaning of that vision. He observed "The Night's Watch sent a group of rangers north of the Wall, and a single black brother returned. Not long after, he deserted his post and was subsequently executed, but not before he alerted the people of the Seven Kingdoms on what he ran from. In any case, his fate was much more merciful than the one which claimed his companions."
The Red Woman seemed mildly impressed. "You make a fine interpreter, Master Seaworth."
"Thank you, I suppose," Allard stated candidly, "To be honest, I was actually hoping I was wrong."
"Soon enough, you will have proof that you were not," Melisandre claimed.
"How so?" Allard inquired, intrigued.
"It has been over a fortnight since the Others ambushed that unfortunate party," the priestess illuminated, "By now, word of their arrival has surely been passed throughout all of Westeros. It will not be long before you and your comrades receive this grim news."
Allard could not dispute that. If the Others truly had returned to the world, he knew Lord Gregor would notify him as soon as humanly possible. If it's been two and a-half weeks since this episode… I should expect a missive any day now.
Allard Seaworth was not looking forward to that missive. It would mark the last legitimately tranquil moment of his life until the Long Night ended. He sighed deeply, rubbed his temples with his hands, and muttered "Gods help us."
"There is only one true god, Allard," Melisandre said in a voice that brokered no argument.
Nevertheless, Allard furrowed his brow and muttered crossly "For you, perhaps. For myself, there are seven."
"I would caution you to turn away from those pagan gods," Melisandre suggested. And if I were a less tactful man, I would caution you to consider the consequences of calling them pagans.
"As I recall, you are here to advise them," Allard Seaworth muttered bitterly, looking over at Viserys and Daenerys, "Not me. I respect that you follow the Lord of Light. Please respect that I follow the Seven."
"I could not do so in good conscience," the priestess declared intransigently.
Allard resisted the desire to scowl. "That mindset will not gain you many friends or allies, my lady."
"I am not concerned with making friends or allies," Melisandre stoically claimed, "I am more concerned with curing the ignorant of their misguided beliefs."
"Such extremist behavior is frowned upon where I live," Allard professed, "In the Seven Kingdoms, we do not force others to follow any religion against their will."
"Yet you do force them to follow whoever sits the Iron Throne," Melisandre pointed out.
"That is a different matter entirely," Allard debated.
"Is it?" Melisandre disputed, "Men are loyal to the one known as their king not because they chose to be, but because the alternative is death or exile. I see no reason why religion cannot be imposed upon them in a similar fashion."
Allard frowned and murmured in an impatient tone "My lady, this talk of religion is getting us nowhere. I would like to remain focused on our original topic of discussion."
"I assure you, this is very much related to that topic," Melisandre remarked.
Allard scoffed and queried "How?"
"In another life, you would have been a fellow servant of R'hllor," Melisandre straightforwardly expounded.
Allard stared at her blankly for a few seconds. Then he spat heatedly "What in the Seven Hells are you talking about?"
"The Lord of Light does not just tell us the possible future," Melisandre claimed, "He also reveals what could have been. During my stay, I grew curious about you, and I beseeched my Lord to tell me more of you. I was intrigued to discover that under different circumstances, you and your brothers would have exchanged your Seven for R'hllor."
"And I suppose you would have been the one to persuade us to convert?" Allard asked rhetorically.
"Indeed," the Red Woman alleged, "You would have been reluctant to do so at first, but you would have given in soon enough. Your father, however, would only have claimed to embrace the Lord of Light. He would never have changed his faith willingly."
That does not surprise me. Father grew up in a city where it was commonplace to worship the Seven. I remember he used to pray to them whenever he went smuggling.
Allard folded his arms again and mumbled "I find it unlikely that the Lord of Light would consider me and my family important enough to give you an entire vision about us."
"As I said afore, R'hllor sees and knows all," Melisandre repeated.
"My lady, with all due respect, you could claim you saw anything in one of your fires," Allard contended, "Unless you are able to provide some evidence to support yourself, there is no concrete reason why we should put so much stock in your words."
"It is evidence you desire?" the Red Woman drily uttered. When Allard nodded his head, she proclaimed "Then evidence I shall give you."
At that, Allard allowed himself a satisfied smirk.But his smirk vanished when the priestess told him "This brings me to why I summoned you to this chamber. You are not at this table simply because you required one of your hundred to stand witness for my meeting with the Targaryens. There is another reason – a more important and more exceptional reason – why I asked you here, Master Allard."
"What reason is that?" Allard Seaworth inquired.
"Unlike your ninety-nine compatriots, you are in contact with the most dangerous man alive," Melisandre disclosed, "You serve directly under him, as well."
Allard raised an eyebrow and assumed "You mean Lord Gregor Clegane?"
"Yes," the Red Woman affirmed, "That man is perhaps the greatest threat to the modern world."
In response, Allard bristled and tightened his fists. He snapped angrily "How dare you."
Melisandre stated serenely "I would advise you not to lose your temper, Master Allard."
"Then I would advise you to be mindful of the way you speak of the Mountain," Allard mumbled through gritted teeth. "Lord Gregor Clegane has unified a country that had always been broken since the days of the First Men. What have you ever done that could possibly compare?"
"A person's greatness is not determined solely by their deeds," Melisandre plainly observed, "Gregor Clegane has established stability throughout the Seven Kingdoms; I do not deny that. But this stability will not last. He who made it will also be the cause of its undoing."
Normally, Allard could remain levelheaded and composed in nearly every situation. But he would not tolerate anyone slandering the Mountain's name as the Red Woman just had. His right hand closed around the hilt of his sword, and he muttered curiously "Explain what you mean. If you value your tongue, I'd suggest you chose your words very carefully."
Melisandre did not seem intimidated in the slightest. Not on the surface, at any rate. Regardless, she held a hand up and declared "Stay your hand and I will tell you."
Allard removed his hand from his sword and placed it back on the surface of the table. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Daenerys exhale slowly and tensely. She must have been holding her breath for the last twenty seconds. I may have frightened her. If so, I should apologize to her later.
"Continue," Allard stated in a more relaxed tone.
Melisandre proclaimed "It is not my intent to condemn the Mountain. In another life, he may have been a terrible man. But not in this one. In this world, he is a good man. I know, because only a good man could have accomplished the things he has."
Allard grinned and nodded his head at that. As it happens, I helped him accomplish some of those deeds.
"But…" Melisandre hastily resumed, "There are times when goodness can produce disaster. There is such a thing as a man who is too good."
"That is true," Allard concurred, "King Baelor Targaryen was one such man. He fasted daily so that his people could have more to eat. He ended up starving himself to death."
"It was more his blind devotion to the Seven that killed him," Melisandre contended. How did I know she would say that? The Red Woman then remarked "In the case of Gregor Clegane, his weakness is his desire to protect the innocent."
Allard was more perplexed than astounded by that. He inquired "How is it a flaw to want to defend the innocent?"
"Usually, it is not," Melisandre pronounced, "But when one labors under the misapprehension that he can save all the innocent, he risks placing the world in jeopardy."
"When has Lord Gregor ever done that?" Allard muttered demandingly.
Melisandre answered him with "Sixteen years ago, when he ensured the survival of Rhaegar Targaryen's children."
Silence passed over the chamber. It was a chilling, unnerving, elongated period of silence. Allard had been rendered almost completely speechless. So had Viserys and Daenerys, by their countenances. All three were staring with their mouths hanging open in shock. Melisandre just sat in her chair with her hands folded, looking as stoic and collected as ever.
After a minute of total inactivity, Allard abruptly jumped to his feet. He drew his sword out of its scabbard and whispered menacingly "You lying witch…"
"I may be a witch," Melisandre contended, "But I did not lie."
"You did," Allard refuted, pointing his sword at the Red Woman, "Prince Rhaegar's children perished at the end of Robert's Rebellion. Lord Gregor was there when they died."
"Yes, that was what he told the world," Melisandre admitted, "But you must not believe everything you are told."
"A lesson anyone who ever listened to you should live by," Allard sharply retorted, stepping forward two paces. Let us see how insolent she is when less a tongue.
"Wait!" Viserys interjected, rising to his feet hastily. Allard turned to the elder Targaryen, who sternly declared "I would hear what she has to say."
"I'd like to know more, too," Daenerys thought aloud, "Maybe she speaks true, Allard. If she does, removing her tongue will not alter history."
"Indeed not, my lady," Allard Seaworth coincided. But for the sake of everyone here, she better not be deceiving us. He gradually sheathed his sword, returned to his seat, and gazed at Melisandre. Secretly, he was beginning to wonder if perhaps she was not feeding them falsehoods after all.
Once Viserys was seated again, the conversation continued. He asked the priestess in a commanding voice "How do you know our brother's children are alive?"
"R'hllor gave me a vision of them," Melisandre revealed, "As it happens, this vision was the very same one which led me to you and your sister."
"Please, tell us what you saw, my lady," Daenerys bade the priestess. She asked a lot more politely than I would have. Certainly, more than her brother would have.
Melisandre elaborated with "The vision came to me over a year ago. It began with six dragons flying together in an open field. After a time, they were attacked by all the other animals in the world, and during the attack, they were separated from one another. Two of the dragons flew across a vast expanse of water, another of them went to the top of the world, and the last three sought shelter in the lands adjacent to the field. After the other animals disbanded, a wave of darkness passed over the land. It consumed everything in its path. Before it could devour all, the dragons reunited, and – working together – they overcame the darkness and expelled it from the world."
Allard whistled in amazement. Viserys and Daenerys appeared partly flabbergasted and partly enthralled. Now, if only this 'advantage' would come to light.
Viserys scoffed and observed "Obviously, Dany and I are the two that traversed the ocean."
"Evidently," Allard drily coincided. So, he's not completely witless.
"It is for that reason that I came to you," Melisandre proclaimed, "You were the closest of the dragons, and according to my vision, you will somehow grow the most in strength."
"Astonishing," Daenerys commented, giving a wide grin. In a strange way, seeing her so happy made Allard feel a little merry. After a momentary pause, the younger Targaryen looked to the Red Woman and inquired "What of the other four dragons?"
"I believe I may know who the one at the top of the world is," Allard thought aloud.
"Who?" Daenerys queried eagerly.
"Your great granduncle, Aemon Targaryen," Allard replied, "The elder brother to your ancestor Aegon the Unlikely."
Viserys seemed equal parts astonished and skeptical. "How do you know that?"
"Lord Gregor mentioned him once," Allard Seaworth disclosed, "He informed me and the others on the secret council that the maester of Castle Black used to be a Targaryen prince before he joined the Night's Watch. He asked us not to tell anyone else of that, but I believe present company can be excepted."
"In any case, you are correct," Melisandre claimed, "Maester Aemon, formerly of House Targaryen, is the last of his generation. He has been on the Wall longer than most men have been alive. But he is still a dragon in his heart."
Daenerys nodded her head, agreeing with the sentiment. Allard found he agreed with it, too. Dany then inquired in interest "What of the last three dragons? Did they ever get to shelter?"
"They did," Melisandre apprised her and the two men, "After soaring through the skies for a long while, they ultimately found refuge on a mountain. A very tall mountain."
I don't need to be a master interpreter to know the meaning of that symbol.
"Who are these last three meant to be?" Viserys enquired.
"Rhaegar's children, of course," Melisandre proclaimed. Three? Did she miscount?
"Pardon me, my lady," Daenerys stated, clearly having a similar thought, "Rhaegar only had two children. Rhaenys and Aegon."
"Not so," Melisandre firmly asserted, "There was a third."
"How could that be?" Allard Seaworth wondered, "Elia Martell was incapable of having another babe after Aegon."
"Yes, but her husband's seed was still fertile," Melisandre professed. Before anyone could pose another question, the Red Woman explicated "When the three dragons reached the mountain, two of them landed near a viper. The third, who happened to be the youngest, landed near a wolf."
Allard placed his hand over his mouth and murmured quietly "Lyanna Stark…"
Melisandre nodded approvingly and said "Right again."
Viserys snorted. "So the Stark whore lived long enough to give our brother a bastard."
"Have you no respect for the dead?" Allard stated in disgust.
"Lyanna Stark may not be dead," Melisandre frankly countered, "And her child may not be a bastard, either."
What the honest fuck? Allard was beginning to feel overwhelmed by confusion. "My lady, this explanation is starting to raise more questions than it answers."
"I'm afraid your new questions must remain unanswered a while longer, Master Seaworth" Melisandre told him, "The Lord of Light has not yet seen fit to tell me more of Rhaegar's third child. But there is one who may be able to enlighten you."
"Just 'may?'" Allard noted.
"The Mountain That Rides helped Rhaenys and Aegon disappear," Melisandre pointed out, "It would not be unreasonable to assume he did the same for their half-sibling. I cannot say for a certainty that he did anything of the sort. You have the means to determine whether or not he did."
Allard frowned and inquired "Are you asking me to confront my commander on this issue?"
"Not necessarily confront him," Melisandre expounded, "Whenever you next correspond with Lord Gregor, bring up this topic. He may be quite reluctant to address it, but you just may convince him to be straightforward and truthful."
"That is a huge gamble, my lady," Allard Seaworth commented, "Even so… I will try. I can make no promises as to my success, but I will strive to succeed all the same."
"Very good," Melisandre avowed. She seemed rather pleased by that assurance.
There was a lengthy period of quietness in the room. Then Allard looked to the Red Woman and told her "Earlier, you spoke at length of how the Mountain would be responsible for the collapse of his own achievements, namely the stability of Westeros. Just what did you mean by that?"
"Sooner or later, the remaining dragons may attempt to reclaim what was taken from them," Melisandre conjectured, "Doubtless, the possibility of that has occurred to Gregor Clegane. Nonetheless, he refused to let any harm befall Rhaegar's children when they were babes. Now they are grown. If they decide they want the Iron Throne, Lord Gregor's mercy could ultimately turn out to be a grave error."
"I can comprehend your reasoning," Allard Seaworth declared, "But your worries are not entirely justified, my lady. Westeros may have been in a sorry state when the Targaryens were overthrown sixteen years ago, but I doubt there are enough people in the Seven Kingdoms who would actually support the Targaryens if they attempted to return to power."
"You're likely right," Daenerys glumly conceded, "After all, why would they need or want us if Robert Baratheon has done so much more for them than our father ever did?"
"They wouldn't," Viserys proclaimed, folding his arms. Then he smirked, leaned back in his chair, and stated "However, suppose that when we returned to Westeros, we did not go back alone."
"You won't go back alone," Allard contended, "In all likelihood, my colleagues and I will be the ones to take you back."
"Yes, but perhaps you will bring back more than my sister and myself," Viserys supposed.
Allard was intrigued by that remark. Where is he going with this? "Who do you envision would sail back with us?"
"An army of my own making," Viserys smugly declared.
Allard had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. He allowed himself a small grin, and he cheekily murmured "And just where do you imagine this army would come from?"
"Magister Illyrio and I are the process of finding one," Viserys claimed, "I will not say anything beyond that. It is no concern of yours."
"It is, depending on the true purpose of this 'army,'" Allard argued, eyeing Viserys suspiciously.
Viserys chuckled at the accusing glance the Stormlander gave him. He leaned further back in his chair and said scathingly "You probably think I plan to amass an invasion force. Do not be so naïve. When the Long Night comes, the Usurper will need all the help he can get. If I am able to provide some units of my own, he should be grateful."
I do not think for one moment that you're raising an army for a selfless motive. Viserys Targaryen was far too ambitious to give up what would have been his. If given the chance, he would seize the Iron Throne and exterminate House Baratheon at the same time. Allard would not allow him the opportunity to do either.
Be that as it may, he was not entirely opposed to the Targaryens marshaling some forces of their own. Under the right supervision and leadership, the Targaryen's foreign forces could be made to cooperate with the forces of the Seven Kingdoms.
I wonder who he has in mind. Perhaps a sellsword company or two. Or three. But then again, where would he find the gold? At this moment, he did not particularly care. Whoever Viserys won over, they would not be going to Westeros without the Legion's consent or the crown's.
Allard folded his arms again and announced "Very well, I will not ask who you intend to recruit to your cause. For now. But make no mistake; you shall not keep me in the dark indefinitely. Until I know who you'll be in league with, I will sanction passage across the Narrow Sea for no one other than the people in this building."
Viserys seemed quite displeased, but he nodded his head and grudgingly muttered "Fine. So be it."
Allard smiled, as he was glad that he could forgo another pointless argument. That's probably the most reasonable he's ever been. There were times when Allard found it difficult to believe that Viserys and Daenerys were actually related. He was easily aggravated, extremely impatient, and very unforgiving. She, on the other hand, was intelligent, cautious, clever, and sweet almost to a fault. For a certainty, they landed on opposite sides of the gods' famous Targaryen coin.
The bedchamber was immersed in silence once more. After twenty seconds of this silence, Allard Seaworth turned to Melisandre and asked her "Have you anything more to tell us, my lady?"
"At present, I do not," the priestess proclaimed, "But R'hllor will continue giving me visions of the future. I would ask that the three of you make yourselves available at all times of the day."
"As you say," Allard tentatively coincided. Viserys and Daenerys both nodded their heads in agreement.
Melisandre concluded the meeting with this sentence: "Above all, you must remember; the night is dark and full of terrors."
If you believe that now, wait until the Long Night comes.
It was not even noon when Allard Seaworth and the Targaryens left the Red Woman's bechamber. Nevertheless, he was unable to get much of anything completed by the time night fell. For the rest of that day, all he could think about was what had been said during their conversation. That had to be the biggest awakening of my life.
It was hard for him to decide what the most shocking and unsettling moment of that meeting had been. There were so many to pick from.
Finding out that he and his brothers would have forsaken the Seven under different circumstances. Discovering that Rhaegar Targaryen's children were still alive, and that he had three of them. Learning that Lord Gregor Clegane may have had a hand in ensuring their survival. Being told that Lord Gregor's actions could eventually bring ruin to the Seven Kingdoms. Being informed that the Mountain was keeping dark secrets from even his closest allies.
Ultimately, it was the knowledge that the Red Woman knew so much about the world that bothered Allard the most. Not only was she aware of hidden truths of the past, where the present would lead, and what the future would hold, but she also knew of what the world would have been like in another life.
As far as Allard Seaworth knew, red priests were not accustomed to seeing into other worlds. In fact, there was only one person in the Known World who possessed that ability. That was the very same man that Allard had loyally followed for over thirteen years. The man whose premonition of the Long Night had enabled the people of Westeros to prepare for it.
When he made this connection, Allard developed a very unnerving theory.
What if the Red Woman knew even more than she let on? What if the Lord of Light gave her more than just glimpses of the future? What if she was actually receiving elaborate warnings of the upcoming hardships of the world?
Could it have been possible that the gods had given Lady Melisandre the very same gift they had given to Lord Gregor Clegane?