Disclaimer: I do not own anything from A Song of Ice and Fire or Game of Thrones. Everything belongs to George R.R Martin.

Chapter VII - Across the Great Grass Sea

Daeron POV

I was riding my horse at the Dothraki Sea and accompanying Daenerys who wanted me to stay with her, which I agreed to. Daenerys told me about the consummation, which I tried not to listen to. Magister Illyrio Motapis offered us his manse, but I wanted to accompany my little sister and protect her, while Viserys just wanted to have the army and make sure Khal Drogo doesn't double cross him. The journey was humid and Daenerys quickly went exhausted.

"You need to eat and drink, Khaleesi." Jorah spoke coming here. He reached for a satchel and handed dry meat to Daenerys.

"Is there anything else?" Daenerys asked, trying not to complain.

"The Dothraki have things in abundance: grass and horses. People can't live on grass." Jorah Mormont spoke.

"Neither can they live just eating horses." I muttered. "How did you come to join the Dothrakis, Ser Jorah?" I asked politely and curiously. After all, not many from Westeros would come to Essos, especially with the Dothrakis. I knew Illyrio said that he sold poachers, but I wanted to hear it from Ser Jorah, after all, although I thanked Illyrio for his hospitality and Ser Jorah protecting us, he could be the usurper's spy.

Jorah looked at me and said "I sold poachers and was exiled, Your Grace."

"Why were you selling poachers?" I asked again, I knew selling people to slavery was illegal in Westeros, the Old Gods and the New condemn slavery as a sin.

"Because I have a wife who wants luxury, but things go differently in Bear Island." Jorah spoke. Expensive wife, I thought.

"Was your wife a Lannister?" I asked, maybe we should be wary of him. He could be a spy. House Lannister was responsible for the death of my mother, brother, sister and grandfather.

"No, Your Grace, she was from the Reach." Jorah answered.

"Tyrell?"

"Hightower, Your Grace." Jorah corrected in a tone that he wished to not speak of. I decided to respect his privacy. We arrived at my camping site and I tossed away my garments, trying to ignore Viserys telling Ser Jorah that under my rule, poaching would not be illegal. Like he could make decisions for me, I thought furiously. It was really humid and I decided to wear a sleeveless tunic with shorts, the same clothes which the Dothraki wore.

Over the next few days, I tried to learn the Dothraki culture, and also adapted to the cuisine. I went to Daenerys' tent and saw her smile. I haven't seen her smile for many years. Ever since we sold my mother's crown, none of us could smile for a long time.

"Is there a reason for that smile?" I asked.

"Yes, Drogo was nice to me." She said, I smiled at her response, perhaps she could find happiness in marriage, not everyone can, such as our parents. Considering how my father ran away with some Northern girl, it is likely that my mother and father didn't got along well. Yet, I could still remember the nights, how they watched over me.

.o0o.

The journey continues for Vaes Dothrak. The Khalasar travelled through a bamboo forest. Never have I seen many plants, I'm not the one who would often care about flowers, but they were really fascinating, and we were all curious about Dothraki.

"Do the Dothraki buy slaves?" Daenerys asked.

"The Dothraki don't believe in money." Jorah spoke. "Most of their slaves are gifts."

"From whom?" I asked. I know many people feared or scorned Dothrakis, so why would they give them slaves as gifts? Was it supposed to be some offering as appeasement?

"Your Grace, if you rule a city and you see a horde approaching, you have two choices: pay tribute or fight. An easy choice for most. Sometimes the Khal might feel insulted if some of the slaves were weak." Jorah spoke. We watched as one of the Bloodriders whipped a slave.

"Tell them to stop." Daenerys declared.

"The horde?" Jorah asked.

"Yes." Daenerys said.

"You're learning to talk like a Queen." I mused.

"Not a Queen, a Khalessi." She said, It amazes me how my sister has changed over the days, from a meek princess who feared Viserys to a strong woman who understands her position and power. It made me proud and also allowed me to relax, knowing that now she can defend herself. Daenerys jumped off her horse and went into the forest saying she needed a moment. I wasn't sure if she needed to relieve herself or a moment to think. I decided not to follow her, if she needed to relieve herself. The Khalasar waited, as Ser Jorah spoke in Dothraki to explain what was going on.

"Stop the horde." Jorah said. We continued to wait. Until I got a bad feeling crept up my spine. Asking Irri and Rakharo to follow. Ser Jorah joined as well, as we rode through the bamboo forest until seeing Viserys holding Daenerys in a chokehold while pointing his sword at her. Rakharo galloped forward using a whip, snapped it around Viserys neck and yanked him away. I grabbed the hilt of my sword and knocked Viserys away from Daenerys at the same time, causing a bruise to form at Viserys' forehead. Viserys fell to the ground grasping his throat, choking.

"Do you want him dead Khaleesi?" Rakharo asked.

"Rakharo asks if you want him dead, Khaleesi?" Irri translated.

"No!" Daenerys and I yelled. It was a great crime if Daenerys and I were responsible for Viserys' death. Kinslaying is the worst crime that anyone could ever commit in the Known World.

"Maybe the ear will listen if it is removed from the head." Rakharo recommended.

"Rakharo says you should take an ear, to teach respect." Irri translated agreeing. I also agreed, maybe removing Viserys' ear could perhaps humble him a bit, teach him respect and humiliation.

"Please, please, don't hurt him." Daenerys pleaded. She glances at Jorah and me, then says. "Tell him I don't want my uncle harmed."

"Khaleesi, does not want him harmed." Irri told Rakharo.

"Huh?" Rakharo replied, confused. Irri gave him a look followed by a shrug. The warrior sighed muttering "Shafki," then loosen his whip freeing Viserys who was being suffocated.

He gasped, panting rapidly to catch his breath. Around his neck was a red mark as bruising began to form. His lilac eyes narrowed at Daenerys, but neither Daenerys or I cared what he felt. After all, Daenerys would be spending the night with Khal Drogo who was gentle, while I could protect myself.

Viserys stood up, bellowing, "Mormont! Kill these Dothraki dogs!"

Ser Jorah glanced at Rakharo who stared cautiously. Ser Jorah Mormont earned his respect with the Dothraki. Traveling nearby and possibly fighting alongside them. If not, him being an exiled knight, a trained swordsman. Here was Ser Mormont's chance to prove where his loyalties lie. The men stare for a moment until facing Viserys.

"You are sworn to House Targaryen!" Viserys exclaimed.

"Shall we return to the Khalasar, Khaleesi?" Ser Jorah asked Daenerys. We all knew it was stupid for Ser Jorah to kill Dothrakis, especially if there is a horde. Daenerys nodded and we all left, Viserys stood up and went to his horse.

"Uh uh uh uh uh," Rakharo said. "You walk."

The Warrior started leaving with Viserys' horse. Viserys looked furious and my purple eyes narrowed at him, giving him a look that could've been avoided.

oOoOo

Several days have passed and it has become more interesting. For hours, Viserys has been whining for a long time, and Daenerys tried to persuade the Dothraki to allow him to travel by horse. They refused and allowed him a cart instead, Viserys was honored thinking it was a way for the Dothraki to apologize to him. Only later, I learnt that it was a way to mock him, and Daenerys pleaded with the Dothrakis not to tell him, orelse his pride would be wounded. I felt that maybe Viserys' pride should be wounded, after all that could teach him respect, like what Rhakaro said.

For many days, we crossed the rolling hills of Norvos, past terraced farms and small villages where the townsfolk watched anxiously from atop white stucco walls. I remembered my uncle Prince Doran married a woman of Norvos, Mellario. We forded three wide placid rivers and a fourth that was swift and narrow and treacherous, camped beside a high blue waterfall, skirted the tumbled ruins of a vast dead city where ghosts were said to moan among blackened marble columns. We raced down Valyrian roads a thousand years old and straight as a Dothraki arrow. For half a moon, we rode through the Forest of Qohor, where the leaves made a golden canopy high above them, and the trunks of the trees were as wide as city gates. There were great elk in that wood, and spotted tigers, and lemurs with silver fur and huge purple eyes called Little Valyrians, but all fled before the approach of the khalasar.

I was sitting next to Jorah Mormont and Rhakaro, we were both sharpening our weapons and also talking about our fathers. Rhakaro's father was a bloodrider to Khal Drogo's father, Jorah's father was the former Lord of Bear Islands until he joined the Night's Watch. I wondered about my father, Prince Rhaegar. Some called him a gallant knight, others called him a rapist. But I remembered a man who would play the harp for me when I slept, telling me stories.

Later Irri came into the place where we were.

"The Khaleesi want to eat something different tonight," Irri said. I wondered why did Irri think it was a surprise, Daenerys is not adapted to the Dothraki cuisine, something I've gotten used to already. "Kill some rabbit."

"There are no rabbits," Rakharo said.

"Find some ducks, she likes ducks," Irri ordered.

Rakharo scoffed, "Have you seen any ducks, woman? No rabbits, no ducks. Do you have eyes in your head? Do you?"

"Dog then." Irri snapped. "I have seen many dogs."

"I don't think she wants to eat dog," Ser Jorah inserted himself into the conversation. Making the khas chuckle.

"The Khaleesi have a baby inside her," Irri explained and I looked up, eyes widening, I would be an uncle. For many years, I thought Daenerys and I would be the last of Rhaegar and Elia's descendants, my brother and sister are dead, killed by the Lannisters and with the Usurper's knives following us... "It is true. She does not bleed for two moons. Her belly starts to swell."

"A blessing from the Great Stallion," Rakharo prayed.

"A blessing for herself." I thought out loud. "And the Lord of Light."

Yes, I support the religion of Rh'llor, the Seven Gods, Rhoynish Gods, Old and New Gods have abandoned me, I never prayed to them, but growing up in the Free Cities, many supported Rh'llor. The Lord of Light was just so inspiring and they really exist, or else how could you explain the Red Priest and Priestess' magic.

"She does not want to eat horse," Irri sneered.

"I'll have the boys butcher a goat for supper," Ser Jorah announced. Irri nodded in appreciation and left.

"I need to ride to Qohor," Ser Jorah announced standing up and sheathed his sword.

"Uh, we ride for Vaes Dothrak," Rakharo reminded.

"Don't worry, I'll catch you," Jorah promised. "The horse's easy to find."

Ser Jorah and I left the tent. I went to sleep, because the next day, we were going to continue riding for a very long time.