284 A.C.
House with the Red Door/Braavos
"Sword of the Morning" Ser Arthur Dayne
Arthur felt like less than who he was without Dawn. For safety reasons he had to leave it back at Starfall, but it infuriated him to do so. Naela gave him a Valyrian steel sword to serve as a replacement but it didn't have the grip that the Sword of the Morning was accustomed to.
He'd train for hours on end, trying to get better. Sparring with Oswell, Willem, Rolly and even with Prince Maegor who had shown up from Pentos, his wife and children by his side.
He was quite amazed at how there current living situation could accommodate everyone so well. He had to give Naela credit for that much at least.
Arthur began to understand that he was in the wrong about Naela, the king was adamant that she would be there when they needed her and that her being away is for there sake.
Arthur felt guilt over how he demonized the king for being Aerys' son. Naela's motives made sense after all. Jon would be the rightful heir, but in the eyes of the Westerosi, Viserys would be the acknowledged heir.
The only real thing that had bothered Arthur still were the enigmatic Dragonguards. With crimson scale armour, scarlet cloaks that drag behind them, dragon crested helms with no visible visors, and each possessing up to three Valyrian steel blades on their person, Naela's Dragonguard were a formidable, yet queer buch.
Another day had come and gone, and the King and Prince had gone to sleep. Arthur himself stood guards this time as he had spent more time guarding the princes and princess in their nursery or with his sister who herself was with child.
Next to him stood Dracaena Lennaeros, Dame Dracaena Lennaeros, Knight Major of Naela's Dragonguard.
"So...umm...my lady-"
"Dame," she cut him off. "I'm no lady. I may have tits and a cunt, but do think for a second that you have to address me as such. Like you, I am knighted and sworn to holy oaths represented in my attire and my cloak."
She's fierce, he thought. "I didn't mean to give offense, my... I mean, Dame."
"Thank you. I would expect this kind of disrespect from any other knight of Westeros, but you, a knight of the Kingsguard, I expected you to be a kindred spirit, and acknowledge me a fellow cloaked and sworn knight, in service to a cause beyond ourselves, that only death would release us of. I see that I was wrong."
"Hold on a minute! I made a mistake-"
"A mistake that you've been consistent with ever since we first met...Ser..."
"Dame... I know that I've acting somewhat immature these last few turns of the moon. It's just that... When Naela came into the picture, she started to control everything. She disregarded Prince Jon and declared Prince Viserys as King. I felt as though she was doing it out of spite to Rhaegar or some need to be sloth. But as I thought about it, she was right. To proclaim Prince Jon would take more time and would be viewed with great suspicion. Even with my own testimony on the boy's legitimacy, but the fact that the boy's own uncle, Eddard Stark, wouldn't even raise the strength of the North in his nephew's name pealed the wool from my eyes." Arthur took a knee before the melanin woman in armour. "On bended knee, I humbly ask your forgiveness... No... I beg your forgiveness..."
Dracaena extended her hand and helped the Sword of the Morning to his feet.
"We need to learn how to cooperate with one another. Not just for our own sakes and the for the children."
Dracaena proved to be a very open person when asked about herself. Dracaena had been born the eldest of five to an Elyrian nobleman. When their father died, he had left them all in debt. Naela had all their debts paid of and Dracaena and her siblings were all raised in Naela's household. The true was, Naela's vows had few limits across the Narrow Sea, so she could do so much more here than she could in Westeros, which is why Naela stood up for Dracaena and her family. Dracaena wanted to be a member of the Dragonguard when she learned about them. She was quite silent on certain aspects as to what it takes.
But she did mention that the Dragonguard was a part of Naela's family customs and how she originally gave Queen Visenya the layout of the Kingsguard, basically saying that the Dragonguard gave birth to the Kingsguard, but had some changes. Where there was Seven Kingsguard, there were dozens if not hundreds of Dragonguard. But for Naela, she only had 14, to represent the 14 flames of Valyria. Their armour and weapons were far superior to anything one could have forged in Westeros.
Their armour and arms were forged by Qohorik smiths, and their cloaks came from the far East, Yi Ti to be exact.
As for changes between the two orders, for starters, they practiced Valyrian knighthood which was created by Andals who served Dragonlords of the Freehold. The Valyrians made their own version. Where Andal knighthood swore to defend the innocent and protect the weak, Valyrian knighthood swore no such oaths and Dracaena refused to go into detail.
Princess Maelyria, Prince Maegor's wife had also confessed to being knighted in the Valyrian's variation by her husband.
Rather than swear by the Seven, they swore by whatever Gods they worshipped. Most swore by the Gods of Valyria.
The morrow had brought something familiar to their hiding place in Braavos. Ser Gerold had come... With company, friends, old and new...
Amongst his company was another one of Naela's Dragonguard, Ser Tioman. Tall, youthful, with no beard or mustache of any kind on his face. Some part of Tioman reminded Arthur of himself.
His squire Elaemond was mute, sad smiling like Rhaegar. Very helpful and content with being alone.
Arthur and Oswell both were in shock to see the the last of Gerold company. For they believed him dead on the Trident. Old man Willem nearly pissed himself when he saw his brother.
"Jonothor Darry as I live and breathe." Oswell happily embraced their sworn brother.
"How are you still alive?" Arthur asked.
"I'm not sure. When I came to I was back in Darry. Apparently, a man in Tully armour personally carried me off the Trident."
"Either way, we have fewer positions to fill." fill.G said. The four White Knights reflect and remember their fallen brothers.