THE CHEESEMONGER AND THE SPIDER

STRONG BELWAS

Strong Belwas was once a champion pit fighter who won his freedom after many years and much blood. Afterwards he came to serve Ilyrio Mopatis. "The fool boy…He should stayed in Braavos…Belwas the time has come find me Prince Viserys and Princess Daenarys. Bring them to me without fail."

"I will not fail you M'Lord."

And with this words Belwas set out the next day with four and a lot of gold on his Lords orders. They traveled by ship to Braavos where his search began. After two weeks Belwas and his men leave Braavos to find the two Targaryens. By the time they reach Norvos the Targaryens are gone. He learns this after two weeks of asking questions.

It is the same story with each city he visits. Some Noble invites Prince Viserys and his sister in, then Viserys starts making demands and the Noble puts them out. By the time Belwas reaches Myr Viserys has earned the nickname the Beggar King. His gold and his Lord's name opens many doors and gets many questions answered.

When Belwas reaches Volantis he finds the two Targaryens speaking to someone. The man is skilled with a sword and Belwas thinks he can beat the man, problem is the man has a valyiran sword, with a Dragon pommel and crossguard. Belwas commands his men to return to Pentos while he gains passage on the ship. While aboard he learns who the man is and why he approached the Targaryens. When they reach High Garden Belwas sneaks off the ship and heads for King's Landing.

VISERYS

Varys the Master of Whispers, a former slave, a former actor with a troop, and a Eunuch, not by choice. Varys had led a life of ups and downs and faced death in the form a dagger or hunger and thirst. During the hard times he developed a hatred for the Noble and rich and came to love commoners and children, for they were the ones who often suffered at the hands of arrogant nobles. He was born on Free City of Lys in Essos. An island city off the southern coast of the disputed lands.

Varys never knew his parents, but he was raised and trained by a troop of actors. They taught him how to do voices, act, and disguise himself. And Varys was the best. At the age of eleven the troop was traveling through the city of Myr. They stayed for three weeks entertaining the people of Myr. Then as they were packing to leave a man came to Varys' master and offered him a lot of gold for Varys. His Master took the offer and Varys feared that the man was one of those men who took pleasure in having their way with boys.

It was not as he feared to his relief. The man was a practitioner of the dark arts. He gave Varys a potion that rendered him unable to move. Then he took a heated knife and cut off his balls and shaft. The man threw his parts into a brazier and he began chanting. A voice answered the man from the fire. When the ritual was done Varys was thrown into the streets to die.

A woman a whore by trade, she was beholden to no one took pity on Varys when she saw him in the street. She nursed him back to health and said to him; "You have two choices before you…You can either become bitter and blame the world and the gods for your current state or you can pick yourself up and make something of yourself. You have talent, you are an actor play a part…Lie cheat steal, but survive. My father was a bastard and after my mother died he told me and my sisters that it was our job to fulfill his needs…"

"What did you do?" Varys asked.

"After a few years me and my sisters had enough. We poisoned the bastard and ran away. I sold my body for money to eat, but I was the master of my own fate. My sister Lara became a healer and my other sister Jorda became a tavern cook and eventually owned her own business…"

The woman got Varys a client who liked Eunuchs for his pleasure. The first time Varys was sick, but he had gold to feed himself. After two more times he took account of his skills and started creating a character. He sold his body until he was sixteen and then used his acting skills to get a rich noble to invest a fake business. He ran off with the man's money to Volantis. He used his acting skills to get into the east side of the city of Volantis as visitors are not allowed in the walled section of the east side.

He became a good thief and after a few jobs he left for Elyria. It was in Elyria that he became a courier. Varys learned peoples' secrets and blackmailed them to keep those secrets. He was always able to change his voice and appearance to become a totally different person. It was in the city of Tolas that he met the man who would become his best friend and ally. A young man who like himself came from nothing. Ilyrio was a thief like Varys and together they amassed a fortune as they traveled across Essos. During their time together Varys taught Ilyrio how to disguise himself.

Eventually Ilyrio became, Ilyrio Mopatis, a merchant in cheese, spice, fish, and other goods. He amassed great wealth and became Magister of Pentos. He wanted Varys at his side, but Varys had other interests. And even though the two men went their separate ways, they remained the best of friends. Varys created the greatest spy network across Essos and Westeros and eventually became Master of Whispers to King Aerys Targaryen before he became the Mad King.

When Robert Baratheon came to power Varys served as Master of Whispers to him. But as time passed Robert became a bad King. If not for Jon Arryn and his numerous allies someone would have taken the Iron Throne from him years ago. Not that Varys cared as plans were in the making to return the Targaryens to power. The fact that the Queen was about to give Robert a true born son or daughter complicated things.

Varys was in his office when a message came via his little birds. Children Varys had taught to spy for him. Varus leaves the Red Keep disguised as a wealthy Noble named Armeano, when he appeared in the street two men who are members of the Gold Cloaks join him. They are dressed as his private bodyguards. He and the spy meet at Ameano's mansion in the city not far from the palace.

"Strong Belwas…What brings you here?"

"Strong Belwas is here because the Targaryens are here in Westeros."

"How?" Varys listens to Belwas' journey aboard the Sea Dragon a ship that belongs to House Velaryon. "Are you certain?" Varys asks when he tells him about Aegon.

"Belwas is certain. Belwas has also seen the Dragons."

Varys stands up, "I am such a fool! Of course the honorable Ned Stark did not break his vows. By the gods I have been so blind!" He sits down, "Return to Mopatis and ask him, how does he wish to proceed…Tell him that I think he should not pursue his plans anymore."

"Belwas shall deliver the message."

ILYRIO MOPATIS

Ilyrio was always an ambitious man. And he admired ambitious people who rose above their circumstances and made a better life for themselves. Soon his plans would come to fruition, Daenarys Targaryen would marry Khal Drogo in exchange for fighting on Viserys' behalf. Viserys would marry his daughter and she would be Queen. And after baring him a few children Viserys would have an unfortunate accident and Rhaenys would be Queen.

Doubt as to whether his plan would come to pass enters his mind, when Belwas returns without the Targaryens. "Shit!" He says after Belwas tells him about Aegon and his Dragons. "Prepare my ship!" He sails to Mopatis Island to speak with Jon Connington.

"What brings you here?"

"What do you know of Prince Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark?"

"I know he did not kidnap or rape her."

"Yes…And if that is the case they were lovers."

"What is going on?" Jon asks getting angry.

"Prince Rhaegar had a son with Lyanna Stark. His name is Aegon Targaryen…And he is going after the Iron Throne."

"You believe this?"

"My man Belwas does not speak of things unless he has seen with his own eyes and heard with his own ears."

"And what would you have of me?"
"That you accompany me West…You to head North to Winterfell and I to speak with my friend in King's Landing. Get into this Aegon's council and whisper into his ear of his Kin, his half-sister Rhaenys."

"And who will watch over her while I am away?"

"Leomara and the others can watch over her and I will send for Strong Belwas."

A few days later they set sail on two of Mopatis' private ships. King's Landing is across the Narrow Sea almost directly from Pentos. The trip takes a week at sea. Mopatis head to Armeano's mansion and gets settled, then he sends for his friend. "Ilyrio my friend."

"Varys."

"You came."

"How could I not?" They sit at a table with a huge spread of food and eat while they talk. "What know you of this Aegon?"

"Not as much as I would like…I have spies in the North but only in White Harbor…The North doesn't plot and plan as much as the other Houses. But from what I have heard…Jon Snow as his Uncle named him was very reserved. That is due to Lady Catelyn…His siblings accepted him, but not the eldest daughter…Sansa. Recent reports say that he is now an accepted member of the family…"

He sighs, "Given that this Aegon visited High Garden I would deduce that he has secured the loyalty of House Tyrell…"

"Dorne may rise for him for vengeance." Varys says, "Stark will support his nephew and that leaves House Tully. Most of the Crownland Houses will fight for him and so will the Step Stone Lords."

Mopatis takes a drink and nods, "That leaves the Stag with the Stormlords and the Lannisters…House Arryn could go either way. Lord Arryn has annulled his marriage to Lysa Tully and rejected her son."

"I heard the Queen is with child."

"Yes a true born son of Robert's."

"Perhaps we can use this to our advantage."

"How so?"

"We leak the true parentage of the other children to King Robert."

Varys shakes his head, "No my friend that is not wise. The children would die in Robert's wrath."

"You are right my friend apologies. Well my plans rest in the fact I sent Jon Connington North to pledge himself to Aegon and earn his trust. Perhaps you should make your services available to him."

"I'd rather wait and see what kind of King he will be. Will he burn castles or will he show mercy."

"You think he may become afflicted with Targaryen madness?"

"Possible. Aerys was a good King in the beginning and then he went mad."