Hello, hello!

Finally, the much awaited trip to Essos. I think there are a lot of things to be done with this continent, but since there is a sense of urgency in Westeros, I can't write dozens of chapters there, we will get a few though, so I hope you will like it. I was not happy with this chapter when I first wrote it so I modified it several times, I would love to have your opinion on it.
Alos, there is a little bit of M-rated stuff in the second half ;).

As always, thank you so much for your support!

Enjoy!

Chapter XLII: The other side of the world

Flying above the deserted shores of Essos was strange. The landscape changed every other day and he discovered things he had never seen before. It should not come as a surprise, after all, it was an entire continent he had never seen before and knew very little about. He had crossed from Westeros to Essos in the South of the Shivering Sea going from North of the Fingers to the South of Braavos, avoiding the populated areas. He had arrived in the misty hills and small mountains of the Braavosi Coast where the trees of small forests decorated the top of white cliffs. He had spent two days along that coast, seeing the forests becoming smaller and smaller, until he was almost around Pentos. Once again, he stayed clear of the city, though, now that he was on the other continent, he did not have to hide as he had in Westeros. He remembered Aemon's words.

"You cannot fly above the sea, Rhoynax will need to rest, but Essos is not Westeros. The population is less dense and, if the rumours of your aunt are true, which I believe they are, they are already used to dragons." The old blind maester had said when he had helped Daeron prepare his trip. "Stay close to the coast and clear from the cities and you should be fine." Then, he had given him the map Daeron was using now and they had tried to see where Arianne and her boat could be by now, about a moon after they left. Daeron hated to think he had been away from his family for so long, it was not what he had intended when he left. They should be circling South of the Valyrian bay and two weeks away from their destination. Daeron would need to be careful above the Smoking Sea, even with a dragon, the place was traitorous.

After Pentos, the terrain had changed, it had started resembling the desert of Dorne with sometimes mountains or canyons or even endless patches of grass that has lasted a day. A day flying above only grass, no other plant, no trace of any sort of animal. When he stopped that night, he was still in the grass, though, he was starting to see rocky mountains on the horizon. And to think this vast plain of grass was not even the Great Grass Sea he had seen on his map. He risked a small fire, not to warm himself really, it was warm enough, but he was comforted by the light and the shimmering flames of the fire. He thought of his uncle again.

"I hope you will still be here when I come back." He had told him right before he left Castle Black.

"So, do I, my boy. But I doubt it… The end is near. I will see you in your dreams next time, probably." The maester had smiled, his eyes carrying a happy expression despite being useless.

Daeron did not want to lose any more members of his family. Not after he had lost his uncle Benjen, his uncle Ned, Bran, Rickon, Arya… even his uncle Viserys whom he had never known. Some days, he wanted everything to stop, the burden on his shoulder, the death, the worry, the grief. He wanted to be back to Winterfell before he knew anything. Gods, this grass made him gloomy. The fire was not enough to cheer him up. So, he decided to sleep early in order to start flying again early. The next day, he planned on passing by Myr and crossing by land until Volantis, though, he doubted he would reach the city that soon.

"Viserys?" His dream started in the same place he had fallen asleep in. He had seen his uncle once, when he was recovering from is injuries in the Reach.

His uncle turned slowly to him. Daeron hesitated to walk closer, all he had heard of Viserys told him he should not be trusted, last time, they were not alone at least. "Come closer Nephew." The young Beggar King demanded. "Don't worry, death cured me of my madness…" Apparently, he was aware of his flaws himself. "You can stay there if you want now that I think of it. The only thing I want is for you to listen… Listen and learn how Essos works. I lived most of my life here, I should know."

Daeron felt the pain in his uncle voice and it compelled him to get closer and sit by Viserys. The young man smiled when he saw that. A genuine, nice smile, maybe he was right, and death had cured his madness. He did not look mad. "What is it you want to tell me Uncle?" He gave him an encouraging look.

"Essos is not Westeros… You probably know that already, but you surely have difficulty grasping how different they are." His uncle said and Daeron nodded humbly. "Westeros is ruled by one's blood. No matter how rich you are or how smart, if you are not of noble blood, you will achieve very little. Because duty and honour mean too much to the Westerosi. That is why some families, like the Starks, have been leaders for eight thousand years."

"I know that… I was a victim of this system when I was hidden as a bastard." He reminded him. His uncle squeezed his shoulder, most likely thinking he needed to be comforted.

"Indeed… Ned Stark did not do you a favour with that…" Viserys sighed. "I remember telling Dany of the 'Usurper's dog', it will probably not help you when you talk to her. Dany is too stubborn and reckless for her own good, I taught her that, I guess." His violet gaze was lost in the grass in front of him. "But I digress. Here, blood means very little except for the blood of the dragon. Those who have Valyrian dragonlord's blood are valued for some religious or magic dark rituals. We had to run from the fanatics who wanted our blood as well as the Usurper's assassins when we were children with Dany. And our blood did not give us power, it only had the potential to give power to our enemies. No, here, it is money that gives you power."

"It gives you power also in Westeros." Daeron observed.

"But not as much as it can give here. Believe me, I have lived in Braavos, in Pentos, in Volantis, in the Dothraki Sea… everywhere I went they were only interested in the wealth they could gain. The Dothraki follow the strongest of them because he is the one that can help them get the more riches. The men in the Free Cities use trade, ruse or their banks to get rich, as for Slaver's bay… well, I believe everything is in the title. They use slaves to get richer and powerful." He explained.

"But I heard your sister freed the slaves." Daeron pointed out. Surely, she had changed the dynamic there.

"My sweet sister… I neglected her education, she believes she freed them, but I could bet that the second she is not looking, it will start again. She has the same flaw the Usurper had." Viserys looked at Daeron and the young King thought he could guess what his uncle was about to say. "She thinks conquering and ruling are the same thing." Exactly. "I thought the same when I was mad."

"It is easy to think that. I think my cousin had the same kind of idea." Daeron revealed. "Then you're telling me I should be careful of the money? Or is there something else you would like me to understand?" Daeron had learned that his ancestor's words often hid deeper, less obvious meanings.

"You should… but I also tell you that so that you can understand how their minds work and manipulate them more easily." Daeron nodded at his uncle words, if it was money they were after, they should not be too hard to sway, but he had other questions for his father's brother.

"Uncle, may I ask you something else?" He turned his gaze back to the man.

"Of course, Nephew." Viserys smiled. "I don't pretend I know much, at least, not anymore, but if I know something that might help you, I will tell you."

"How is Daenerys? What's her character like?"

Viserys seemed to think for some time about it. "I am ashamed to say, I did not pay enough attention to her in my life. I would say that she is stubborn, willful and… highly unprepared to wander the world."

"How so?" Daeron looked at him curiously.

"I… This is my fault. After the knight who smuggled us out of Dragonstone died, when Dany was seven, I was the only one who 'educated her'. Or me and the magisters who housed us. But they were false men, they were only after what our name could bring them, so they told me what I wanted to hear and Dany heard them, I suppose." He paused. "They told us that the smallfolk were sewing Targaryen banners and drinking secret toasts to my health. So Dany must believe that when she comes to Westeros, everyone will be happy to see her." He looked at the ground. "As for my part, I told her that the Usurper used traitorous traps to kill our brother. I told her that he had a dog – Ned Stark – doing his bidding. I told her of the traitor Tywin and his killer son and how we would kill them. I told her that Lyanna Stark bewitched our brother. That if Elia had not been ugly and useless, Rhaegar would have never gone to Lyanna."

Daeron gulped. "But…"

"I know… but I was mad and I repeated what I heard my father say when I was three. I did not tell her that Rhaegar was sweet and nice and decent, I only told her that he was a great fighter and killer. I did not tell her of Father's madness and how he burnt people alive… I told her an embellished version of the truth, one she might still believe."

Daeron remained silent, he did not know what to answer. "Why did you change so much in these dreams compared to your life? The others don't, usually…"

"I don't know." Viserys admitted. "Maybe it's because I died not so long ago. Or because I was reunited with Mother… I don't know, all I know is that death cured me." Daeron nodded.

"Do you think I have any chance of swaying Daenerys to my cause?"

His uncle shrugged. "I don't know. But if anything, it will be hard."

...

Daeron considered his options. He could not fly above Old Valyria and the Smoking Sea, he had heard the stories, this would be suicide. So, he had two routes. Either he went South, above the sea and joined his family faster but with the risk of exhausting Rhoynax and himself. Or, he could fly above Essos, North of Valyria and wait for a Dornish boat at the entrance of Slaver's bay. In the end, he decided for the second option. No matter how much he ached to see Arianne and Aemon again, it was the safest choice. He would be no use to them half-dead.

The trip next to Valyria was an odd one. Not because of the landscape, no, it did not change much compared to Volantis, but he had a weird feeling. A feeling he knew Rhoynax was sharing. It felt like something pulled him South, like his blood called for him to go into the Shivering Sea and to Old Valyria. He had not imagined he could get such an attraction. It disturbed him, more than the existence of dragons, more than the existence of White Walkers, he was disturbed by the sort of magic he felt was there. Because he could not see it maybe.

...

He had spent so many moons preparing for a trip which he knew had now been modified thrice over, so he recognised the ship instantly. Mounting back on Rhoynax as fast as he could, his heart ached to be there already.

Weirion was flying toward them. The two dragons were chirping happily together, celebrating their reunion. The noise probably alerted the men on the boat. On board, Ellaria Sand was the first to spot him and soon, the silhouettes of Oberyn, Arianne, Ser Richard and Sansa emerged from the cabins. When Rhoynax landed on the upper deck, the boat dangerously shifted. She was getting too big for her own comfort. As soon as Daeron was safely out of his saddle and on the planks of the deck, she flew back into the sky to dance with her brother.

Arianne rushed to him with Aemon in her arms. He enveloped his wife and son in a warm embrace putting light kisses on their foreheads. Arianne seemed to be taking in his scent as she clutched to his shirt. Then, she sighed heavily. "What took you so long? It's been a moon and a half already!"

"I know, I'll tell you everything once we get inside. I'm sorry Arianne, if I could have, then I would have come here straight away, but fate decided otherwise." She looked at him interrogatively, but she walked to the side to let him greet the rest of them anyway.

The two Kingsguard bowed, so did Ellaria and Sansa fell into a perfect courtesy. He kissed her cheek softly smiling at his little cousin.

The crew prepared some food for them in one of the cabins and Daeron sat with the members of his household with his son in his arms. Arianne had handed him over when Daeron had been done greeting everyone.

"So, your Grace? What happened at the Wall? What news of Maester Aemon?" Oberyn engaged the conversation.

"Aemon is weakening… but he was alive when I left. Now for the Wall…" He marked a short pause, one Arianne eagerly used.

"I take it since you came back this late everything did not happen as planned." His wife commented and Daeron resisted the urge to roll his eyes. This was an understatement.

"Lord Commander Mormont died in a mutiny." He started to enumerate. "The Wildlings attacked the Wall. With Rhoynax we made them stop and allowed the passage into the Gift. Mance Rayder, their leader, gave me Darksister. Then Stannis Baratheon arrived with what is left of his army. He bent the knee. I left him in charge of the Gift. Ser Alliser Thorne was elected Lord Commander. We led a revenge party against the mutineers. We crushed the mutineers. And then we were attacked by White Walkers." The questions and protest started as soon as the last syllable left his lips. He tried to bring back the calm to no avail and decided to just wait for them to stop on their own.

They did, and Sansa used the opportunity to ask her polite question. "The stories Old Nan used to tell, are they true?"

"It appears so…" Daeron gave her an apologetic look. "I know how crazy this all sounds. But I saw the Walkers with my own eyes, killed one even." He let time pass so that they could grasp the news.

"I suppose this is why you let the Wildlings through the Wall." Arianne observed. Her husband nodded. "And then giving Stannis the command gives him power, but he is still watched by Thorne who is loyal, but also, it prevents the wildlings from doing something stupid." She continued guessing though she had a huge frown on her forehead.

"Exactly." Daeron replied. "I'm actually surprised everything turned out so well, but it had been almost a month when I left, and nobody had tried to kill the other yet."

"I don't know if I trust what you say, or if I want to slap you for inventing such a weird story." Arianne stared at him. She seemed… puzzled. "I might slap you for taking such gambles anyway. None of the people you left there are trust worthy. Not the Watch. Not the wildlings. And most of all, not Stannis." She declared.

"That is indeed hard to believe." Ellaria said. "But see the future, your Grace? Knowing what you know now, as crazy as it sounds."

Daeron sighed. "On this trip, I had the opportunity to talk to my great-great-uncle, a man loyal to my family and a man who tried to conquer the Iron Throne and failed… Believe me when I say this gave me much hindsight about the way I should proceed about a Conquest. Not to mention, I now know that there is a great threat North of the Wall." He looked at every one of them. "I have decided to start the conquest from the North, reinstalling Robb in Winterfell first so that he can prepare for the fight against the White Walker and then working my way South."

"But Daeron! Father's army is in the South, how will you be able to…" Arianne started to protest vehemently.

"I have said seventy-five thousand wildlings and Stannis bent the knee. I have two dragons and I'll have the North… I don't think I need Prince Doran's help that much." Daeron gave Arianne a hard look that seemed to startle her.

"My brother will not like that." Oberyn stated sipping his wine.

"It is not as if he ever liked anything I did." Daeron countered sarcastically. Oberyn conceded by inclining his head. "Dorne will be able to enter the Stormlands and the Reach without much resistance I believe… Well, I still have a few things to see regarding the Tyrells but considering their daughter's situation in the capital they might welcome the help. Then, we will be able to take King's Landing from both sides."

"What situation?" Sansa intervened, the King frowned, not understanding the question. "You spoke of Margeary, did you not? What is her situation?"

Daeron had a pained look. It pained him to remind Sansa of her time as a hostage in the capital. She looked so innocent, so… fragile. "Well, you know how Joffrey can be? I think by robbing him of Robb and you… we made him angry and…" He had trouble speaking about the bastard that sat the Iron Throne.

"He's taking his anger on Margeary?" Sansa completed for him. Her stare was hard. Daeron nodded pathetically. Sansa sighed. "It was to be expected. She will probably need rescuing." Again, her cousin nodded.

...

It felt good. Being in Arianne's arms. Feeling her skin against his. Hearing her moan and call out his name. Seeing her expression of pure pleasure. And his own pleasure. It had been too long. Too long since he last had her. He needed her, vitally, physically. He had barely kept his desire in check until the night. She had that kind of effect on him.

She bent over him claiming his lips with her as she kept rocking her hips and imposing the pace. Her tongue found its way into his mouth and caressed his tentatively. He growled her name feeling himself near his peak. She chuckled lightly against his mouth and the joyful sound rolled in the back of his throat. Gods he had missed his wife. Needing more than the sweet and slow torture she had chosen for him that night, he circled his arm against her back to flip her and positioned himself on top. He quickened his movement and soon they were panting each other's name uncontrollably.

"I needed that." She exhaled when he rolled of her. He did not answer but he felt the same. He had an expression of pure bliss on his face as he felt his wife cuddle against his side. "Daeron?" He hummed. "Do you truly think my father would go against you? That you have to be so wary of him?" She asked with the voice of a little girl.

"I do." He did not like telling her that, but he did not want to lie to her. "I believe he would replace me with Aemon as soon as he could. I have a deep feeling I should give Prince Doran as little power as I can."

She had a resigned sigh. "I thought so… It saddens me to think that my family could hurt you, or our son. When we arrive in Meereen, there is a chance Quentyn will be there."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing to you?" He looked at her beautiful eyes.

"I don't know… That's what frightens me. I don't know my brother. I have never been friendly to him I'm afraid and I never made any effort to get to know him." Her voice was filled with regret.

"You'll be fine." Daeron tried to comfort her. "I mean… we will both get to know members of our family we did not knew before."

She gave him a joyless chuckle. "I had something else to ask you. Why did you truly decide to change your plans? And how do you know anything of Margeary Tyrell?" Clever girl, he thought. She had seen right through him.

"I had dreams. Visions. With Shiera Seastar mostly. She was a red priestess of R'hllor after she left Westeros." He detailed.

"And you trust in the weird religion of the Lord of Fire?" She lifted a brow.

"The Lord of Light." He corrected with a smile. "I don't, but I trust in my dreams and my ancestors." She nodded. Though the answer did not seem to satisfy her.

"Did you have other interesting dreams?" She planted a kiss on his chest. He did not know if she was trying to distract him from the fact that she looked troubled, but it was working.

"You are quite curious tonight." He teased being amused by his wife. "I had… I had a dream of an ancestor before the Doom, in Valyria. And a dream with Viserys."

"The last one? Daenerys' brother?" Daeron confirmed. "What did he have to say? He was mad, wasn't he? Did he speak of his sister?"

Daeron thought long about his answer. "He was mad in life, but not in my dream. He said death cured him. And his sister… well, let's say she won't be easy to win to our cause. She grew up thinking she was entitled to the Iron Throne and that the Starks were the enemies, or the enemy's dogs at least."

"Sounds lovely." Arianne snorted. "I take it she's not very good at ruling." She guessed almost immediately.

"He did not know. But he thought she would make a bad job of it, he said that much. I think his words were that she mistakes conquering for ruling." He repeated what he had heard Viserys say.

"It shouldn't be surprising. Living on the run all her life… she must be frustrated and when you add some entitlement and stubbornness into that, along with the fact that she most likely grew up without a proper education." Arianne summarized.

"That's what he said." Daeron agreed. "Now, I could not live with myself if I did not at least try. I mean, she's still my aunt." He justified.

"It is highly noble of you husband. I just hope you will not be too disappointed. I know you longed for a family most of your life." She pressed her nose to his tenderly.

"I have a family. You and Aemon. The Starks also." She nodded, kissing him as soon as he finished talking. The kiss lingered between them, it was less intense then the last though. Slower, calmer.

...

He found Sansa alone on the deck at the break of dawn. The rising sun made her hair shine like fire and she wore a purple dress she had had made in Dorne. One that was more in the style of the capital according to Ellaria. He walked closer careful not to startle her. She was looking at the shore in the background. It was beautiful, a little like the coast of Dorne but more… otherworldly. He did not know how to describe it exactly.

"Sansa? Are you alright?" He asked softly.

"I am." She replied without looking at him. Her voice sounded full of sorrow denying her words' claim.

"You don't sound alright." He commented leaning his back against the rail of the boat.

"I was thinking of our family. I know Bran and Rickon are supposed to be dead but since I never saw their body, I cannot stop hoping." Daeron knew what she was talking about, he had felt the same many times. "Arya… I have not seen her since Father's arrestation. I don't know where she went and from what you and Robb told me, no one knows. And lastly, there is Mother…"

"I worry about her too…" He offered her.

"Queen Arianne" – it was strange hearing his wife referred as such – "told me of your letters. It is wonderful that you made your peace with her and tried to help her and Robb."

"It didn't matter in the end, did it?" He replied bitterly.

"Maybe it did not for Robb but… I cannot help but think that if Mother is alive somewhere, it's a little thanks to you." She paused and they remained in a comfortable silence for a minute. "Robb was stupid to push you away."

"You would never have said that when we were children at Winterfell." Daeron observed. "You would have said I was dishonourable for abandoning him."

"Father was honourable and he was killed for it." She stated matter-of-factly. She was right of course, but again, Daeron had never thought he would ever hear his cousin say that. "None of us are the same children we were when we left Winterfell." Again, she was right.

"Can I ask you something Sansa?" He looked at her once more.

"Go ahead, you're my King, you can ask me anything." From her grin, he guessed she was japing.

"How do you see your future? What would you like to happen to you?" He had wished to know ever since she was rescued from the Red Keep. She could not have the same dream of princes as she did as a girl. Not after Joffrey.

"Pretty much the same thing I wished before. Only simpler. I want a husband to love me and children growing around us." Her eyes had that dreamy look he had always known her to have. "I would like to go back North though. But I will do anything Robb or you require of me, of course."

"Always the proper lady, aren't you?" He smiled.

"It's easier for a woman to look the proper lady. The weaker you appear, the less wary they'll be of you and the easier it will be to survive." He was surprised to discover how fierce she had become in her years in King's Landing.

I tried to get a few things there. A sane Viserys was an idea I had for a long time, did you like it?
I was not sure how to describe the flight, tell me if you think I put too much or too little details.
Sansa is also becoming more mature, even though she did not have the experience with Littlefinger, I hope it is believable.

Next chapter: Daeron meets his aunt. Unfortunately for both, dragons are not known for their patience.

Guest reviews:

- (Hitman) You'll see more of Daeron's forgiving nature in Essos and back in the North after that. But he will slowly start to realize that he has to have priorities.

- I think it's the sword that makes the most sense for him considering that Rhaegar planned for him to be a little Visenya.
You should be nervous x). I don't think she would try to kill him without discussing first though.
I hope you'll like the next chapter.