I'm sorry I took so long! I spent the weekend with my girlfriend and as she's finally getting into Thrones, we thought we'd have a chilled few days watching the show. I'm back now though and I enjoyed writing this one.
I know I didn't explain Dark Sister properly, that was intentional so that it left something for suspense. The main reasoning for that and for my RLJ theories are in the reviews section.
Bold speech is Valyrian again.
As always I still don't own anything Game of Thrones related other than Torrhen.
Barristan Selmy was overseeing the removal of the Masters from their crucifixes when a young boy shouted his name, and ran over to him and showed the knight a letter.
"Yes? Who sent you?" Barristan asked. The boy turned the rolled up letter around and Barristan saw the seal of the Hand of the King of Westeros. He took the letter and the boy ran off. Breaking the seal, he was horrified to read its words, and he left to find Ser Jorah immediately.
He found the Mormont knight looking over a map of the known world, and approached, getting his attention.
"Ser Barristan."
"Ser Jorah."
"Have I forgotten a council meeting?"
"No." Barristan told him, placing the letter on the table in front of Jorah.
"What's this?" Jorah asked.
"A royal pardon signed by Robert Baratheon." Barristan told him, and Jorah looked up guiltily. He read the letter. "You spied on her." Barristan added.
"Who gave you this?" Jorah asked.
"Does it matter?" Barristan asked back, reaching for the pardon, and Jorah handed it back nervously.
"Have you told her?"
"I wanted to tell you first, man-to-man, rather than go behind your back." Barristan told him.
"Let me speak with her in private." Jorah begged.
"You'll never be alone with her again." Barristan told him unsympathetically, turning away to go to the Great Pyramid, leaving Jorah to contemplate the predicament he found himself in.
Jorah had been summoned by his Queen in to the throne room of Meereen, and as he walked up the steps towards her he was disheartened to be stopped by Barristan and Grey Worm before he reached the top. Dany was looking at him regally, not showing any emotion. "Why did the usurper pardon you?" She asked him.
"If we could speak alone." Jorah pleaded.
"No, speak to me here. Explain it to me."
"Who do you think sent this to Meereen? Who profits?" Jorah asked her. "This is the work of Tywin Lannister. He wants to divide us. If we're fighting each other, we're not fighting him."
"The pardon was signed the year we met. Why were you pardoned? Unless you're saying this document was forged." Dany challenged him.
"It is not forged." Jorah admitted.
"Why, then?"
"I sent letters to Varys, the spymaster of King's Landing." Jorah told her sadly.
"What was the content of these letters?"
"Information."
"What information?" Dany asked quickly.
"When you and Viserys arrived in Pentos. His plan to marry you to Khal Drogo. When you were married. When your brother died." Jorah listed.
"You told him I was carrying Drogo's child?"
"I…"
"Yes or no?"
Khaleesi.
"Don't call me that." Dany snapped. "Did you tell him I was carrying Drogo's child?"
Jorah couldn't talk for a moment, before sadly admitting. "Yes."
"That wine merchant tried to poison me because of your information." Dany accused, standing up and walking down towards him.
"I stopped you from drinking his wine." He reminded her.
"Because you knew it was poisoned." Dany accused again.
"I suspected." Jorah
"You betrayed me from the first." She told him angrily.
Jorah bowed his head and went to his knees before her. "Forgive me. I never meant… please, Khaleesi, forgive me." He begged her.
"You sold my secrets to the man who killed my father - and stole my brother's throne and you want me to forgive you?" She argued incredulously unable to look at him, while Jorah himself argued his case.
"I have protected you. Fought for you. Killed for you." He was saying at the same time, before a lapse of silence where he finally admitted to her his secret. "I have loved you."
"Love? Love? How can you say that to me?" Dany asked venomously. "Any other man, and I would have you executed, but you, I do not want you in my city dead or alive. Go back to your masters in King's Landing, collect your pardon if you can." Dany mocked.
"Daenerys, please." Jorah begged.
"Don't ever presume to touch me again or speak my name." Dany spat. "You have until dusk to collect your things and leave this city. If you're found in Meereen past break of day, I'll have your head thrown into Slaver's Bay. Go. Now." She ordered.
Jorah knew he was beaten, and heartbroken he left the pyramid, grabbed his things and a horse and rode out of the city. Daenerys was stood at the top of the pyramid watching him turn into a dot in the horizon, when Missandei came up behind her.
"Your Grace. May I bring you something? To help you sleep." She asked. Dany stayed silent, and Missandei went to leave. "Forgive me for disturbing you." She said sorrowfully.
"Stay with me." Dany ordered, and Missandei joined her at the balcony, looking out on to the city. "Never betray me."
"Never." Missandei whispered.
They stayed silent for a moment, when a blast of a horn filled the city, and Barristan strode onto the balcony. "Forgive me Your Grace, but a fleet of ships has been spotted off the coast of Meereen." He bowed.
"A fleet? Who?" Dany asked.
"Around 50 ships, Your Grace. All carrying the Direwolf sigil of House Stark." Barristan told her nervously. Dany's faced turned back into anger.
"Stark? The Usurpers dogs." She spat. "Send the unsullied to the docks, I will meet this traitor with my full force."
Sailing in to Meereen Torrhen only had eyes for the Great Pyramids that dominated the skyline. It was so different to anything that was in Westeros and he was almost in awe. The weather had grown hot, and Torrhen was struggling with it, even in just his armour. His mother had joined him at the front of the ship.
"It's magnificent." Torrhen remarked.
"It's dangerous." Catelyn said quickly. Torrhen looked at her amused.
"We have the gift, she won't kill us on sight, that will be a start." Torrhen chuckled, Cat wasn't convinced however.
"I wish to stay on the ship, I have no intention to meet with this Targaryen now, not so soon after Arya…" She trailed. Torrhen felt guilty, he had tried to push his younger sister out of his mind on the voyage here, and the trip to Valyria had helped, as he had shut himself away afterwards, detailing the trip in writing. He refused to speak of the place but that didn't mean he couldn't write about it. His mother had locked herself away too, but had no other outlet.
"I understand; I will call for you once we make headway with the Targaryen." Torrhen told her.
"Wear your crown, make her know that you are a King." Cat said, taking his face into her hands. "And stay alive."
"I will not be dying this day." Torrhen smirked. Looking towards the city again, he noticed a single ship from the Meereenese harbour had come to welcome them.
"Here we go then." Torrhen sighed.
"Halt! By the orders of Queen Daenerys of the House Targaryen I order you to state your business!" A herald shouted from the ship. Most of the Northerners looked around in confusion, so Torrhen shouted back.
"I am Torrhen of the House Stark, King of Winter. I ask that your Queen receives us so we can speak!"
"A small boat with 10 men will make your way to this ship, no more!" The herald shouted, and turned away.
Torrhen turned to a soldier. "Get word to Lady Maege's ship, I want her and a couple of Mormont soldiers, and 7 volunteers from here."
"Yes, Your Grace." The man bowed, and went to flag Maege's ship. Torrhen made his way in to his cabin and unlocked his chest, strapping the slim Valyrian Steel sword Dark Sister to his side and hiding the letter in his armour before he reached for his crown and placed it on top of his head, he made his way back out.
10 minutes later Torrhen, Balerion, Maege and 8 Northmen holding Stark and Mormont banners were rowing towards the Meereenese ship, ready to meet Daenerys Targaryen.
Dany made her way with Missandei and Ser Barristan to the front of the parade of Unsullied. 5,000 of them were free and formed a large procession at the docks and the pathway to them. The citizens of Meereen also stood nearby, wanting to see what was happening. Daenerys looked out at sea to see the 50 ships bearing sails with the Direwolf her brother had told her about and noticed a hint of fear inside her, which was shaken as soon as she heard the screeching of her Dragons, flying above the Great Pyramid.
Her ship was sailing back into the harbour, and Dany noticed two sigils. The Grey Direwolf on a white field, and the black bear on a green field. Her anger grew as she saw the sigil of the man she had just exiled.
"Your Grace they cannot know that he was here." Ser Barristan reassured her.
"They have some nerve." She said, clenching her teeth. The ship docked, and walking towards her was a man a couple of years younger than she was, with dark hair and a bronze crown adorning his head. With him was a large, fierce looking woman and a few men. What worried her though, was the Direwolf at the crowned man's side, a great black beast that almost reached the man's underarms.
"My Queen, this is Torrhen Stark, King of Winter." A Meereenese sailor told her.
"Torrhen will do for now, Daenerys Targaryen, let us not argue over titles." The Stark said.
"You speak Valyrian?" Dany asked, raising an eyebrow.
"All highborn are taught Valyrian as children, I learned more quickly than others." Torrhen said.
"Can we skip the Valyrian so everyone can understand Your Grace." The woman asked.
"If that is alright with our host Lady Maege. May I introduce Maege Mormont." Torrhen said.
"I'm familiar with the Mormonts, I recently exiled Ser Jorah Mormont for treachery, a trait that seems regular with Northerners when it comes to my family." Dany said coolly.
"My nephew is a traitor wherever he goes." Maege spat.
"On that we can agree." Torrhen said.
"What are you doing here Stark?" Dany asked.
"I'm here to talk to you, Daenerys Targaryen."
"And why shouldn't I kill you now? Your family betrayed mine and joined the Usurper."
"Just as your family betrayed mine when your father decided to burn my grandfather alive as my Uncle strangled himself trying to save him." Torrhen bit back sharply.
"What lies are these?" Dany asked angrily.
"No lies, I don't know what you learnt growing up, but my family had good reason for going to war." Torrhen told her fiercely.
"It's true Your Grace, your father did those things." Ser Barristan whispered sadly.
"I'm not here to debate the past, Daenerys Targaryen, I am here to talk about the future." Torrhen told her. "My family have been betrayed, mutilated and slaughtered because of the Lannisters, a family we both have reason to hate. I ask for your support in taking back my home and bringing justice to those who have wronged the both of us, in return for my support when you come back to claim that gods forsaken iron chair."
"That is no small request." Ser Barristan stated.
"Ser Barristan is right, why should I not just kill you now." Dany asked.
"Because there is much you don't understand, there is much not even Ser Barristan understands about the circumstances of your exile, I know things that connect us that I never dreamed of knowing before." Torrhen said.
"Connect us? We have no connection dog." Dany spat, causing the direwolf to start growling.
"Hush Balerion." Torrhen whispered, stroking his fur briefly before stepping forward, his hand on a sword. The unsullied all sprang into action, lowering their spears threateningly at the Stark.
"No further." Barristan warned.
"I am not foolish enough to try and kill you in your own city." Torrhen laughed. "I come with a gift." He unsheathed the blade, and laid it at her feet, before returning to his place beside his wolf.
"What is this." Dany asked.
"Your gift, your family's ancestral sword Dark Sister."
"Dark Sister was lost with the Bloodraven." Barristan said. Dany bent down and picked up the slender sword, lost in the beauty of the Valyrian Steel.
"Where did you get this?" She demanded.
"From Howland Reed, friend of my father." He admitted. He had kept it safe, for proof."
"Proof of what?"
"Your Nephew."
"Aegon Targaryen was butchered by the Mountain." Barristan said angrily, ready to draw his sword.
"I'm not talking about Aegon Targaryen Ser." Torrhen smiled sadly. "I'm talking about Rhaegar's second son."
"What lies are these." Daenerys demanded.
"Please, let us speak in private, this is sensitive information." Torrhen urged.
"You will speak now or lose your tongue." Barristan growled.
"Rhaegar didn't kidnap my aunt." Torrhen sighed. "She went willingly, foolishly but willingly."
"I know that, Robert was a fool to think that she was kidnapped." Barristan told him.
"Aye, he was." Torrhen agreed. "She went willingly and died birthing a child."
Dany was stunned into silence, but Barristan was still unsure. "Then where was this child? No child of Lyanna Stark was ever spoken of."
"He wasn't raised as Lyanna Stark's child; Robert would have killed him. He was raised as my Father's bastard." Torrhen told them.
"All I have is your words; the words of a traitor mean nothing to me." Dany told him.
"I have this, from my Father written at the Tower of Joy." Torrhen said, pulling out a note and handing it to Daenerys. She read it, ignoring who it was written by and gasped.
"Ser Barristan, see that a room is prepared for this Stark boy, we will talk more tomorrow." She ordered.
And they've met! I thought that Daenerys wouldn't just invite Torrhen into the pyramid but show him that she is strong in her own right.
The hint this time is that they'll talk properly in the next episode, there is clearly so much explaining for Torrhen to do in order for her to truly believe him!
Reviews:
Guest (garbage): I'm sorry you feel like that, but I'd like to know which direction I'm 'forcing it' considering I've not actually got beyond Season 4 planned out fully. I would also raise the point that all stories force things to go in a certain direction, because that's the point. Thanks for reading though!
Brandon of House Stark: He already said that Blackfyre was for Jon. Dark Sister is the gift for Dany and Brightroar will be discussed properly in Series 5! Ice has been melted down yes, Brienne has Oathkeeper and Widow's Wail is waiting for Tommen to be able to use it.
Lilo23: Valyrian Steel swords belonging to Dany's house. She has no heirlooms so this means the world to her. As for an actor there is nobody I imagine. He looks like Brandon Stark and there is no actor that has been named for him yet.
Silver crow: Torrhen will at least offer Jon Blackfyre once his true identity has been revealed, Brightroar will be discussed in more detail later on. I like your idea for a new Northern sword name though.
Lightningscar: Jeor Mormont never took the sword to the wall, it was sent after him when Jorah was exiled and left the sword behind. I took it as a Valyrian Steel sword was too valuable to send to the wall, so King Aegon kept it behind, but nobody was able to wield it due to the frame of body needed.
RLJ is confirmed though, Lyanna has been shown as Jon's mother and in official HBO sources Rhaegar is listed as his father. Rhaegar wanted another daughter to marry Aegon as well as Rhaenys, and for that to happen he would have had to marry Lyanna so she was trueborn. Obviously he had a son so that plan would have failed anyway. I agree with you about the claims though, but Dany doesn't see it like that. I believe we will see something in Season 7, if the leaks are to be believed, in terms of witnesses and legitimacy for Jon's birth, but in this fic they married and Jon is a legitimate Targaryen.
vaquero: He's a damned good archer, he just can't show that as much as a King. He may be ordinary, but he's 16 years old and was raised to be a soldier. Ned was 'ordinary' in my opinion, Robb was 'ordinary' too. I called the fic Black Wolf Rising because it sounded awesome, not because I was going to have Torrhen be some omnipotent being.
Spero.P: Dark Sister was in the possession of Howland Reed after the Tower of Joy, and he gave it to Torrhen. Balerion is hanging about on the ship! I always forget to mention him so I try to every now and again, but sometimes there is no call for it.
jean d'arc: Baelish realises that Cat is lost to him, Sansa however is not. Cat's reaction will be a big part of the next episode I think; I need something to fill it as the show was purely the battle at the wall! Torrhen is a student of Valyria, he loves everything about it and the opportunity to visit was too much for a powerful 16-year-old to turn down. He realises now it was a fool's errand.
zooman: No he won't, if it was a Harry Potter crossover that'd be a brilliant idea, but it isn't.