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

Chapter XXXVII - Dreams and Leadership

Daeron POV

After freeing the slaves of Astapor, I finally relaxed to take a long bath, one that I needed for days. I told everyone that they could rest now, the Unsullied shall patrol and restore order to Astapor. Daenerys was also resting along with Ser Jorah who hasn't taken a good bath seeing Qarth and Ser Barristan who admitted that he hasn't taken a bath since leaving King's Landing. There was also Rakharo and Irri and the rest of the Dothraki.

I was closing my eyes, enjoying the scalding water on my muscles. The heat never bothered me before, it has something to do with me being a Targaryen. I didn't realize I dozed off. I woke up and saw myself not in Astapor, but in Dragonstone and I wasn't naked. I was wearing silk tunics with Targaryen sigils on them. I looked across and saw a man on a dragon. He was a silver haired man with purple eyes, sitting on a dragon, Balerion, I noticed along with the sword Blackfyre tied to him, he was also wearing an armour along with the Valyrian Steel crown.

"You're Aegon the Conqueror." I said in awe looking at my ancestor, not caring if I was dreaming or not.

"I am, dear descendant." Aegon smiled as he came down from his dragon. I noticed the voice, it sounded familiar, he was the one who spoke in my head. Aegon released the reins of Balerion and I later realized that Drogon, Elianna and Rhaegal also needed a saddle once they become larger to ride.

As a child, I've always looked up to Aegon the Conqueror, who was one of the most famous people in the Seven Kingdoms. He united the Seven Kingdoms under his rule, and had two wives. Visenya and Rhaenys. Aegon was known for his charisma and was also a solitary person. He fought and rode his dragons.

"I've been watching you since your sister awoke the dragons, I must say it was really impressive, surviving the Red Waste, then Qarth, then freeing the slaves." Aegon said. I smirked in pride at that, it was really nice to hear that from my personal idol. "But you are not ready for Westeros."

"Huh?" I asked bewildered.

"You need to learn how to rule." Aegon said. "How to lead? What you did was good, better than anyone I've seen, but it's not perfect. You have to be perfect, when you play the Game of Thrones, you win, you die, there is no middle ground."

"How do you learn how to rule? Reading some books?" I asked sarcastically.

"No. Continue your journey in Slaver Bay." Aegon said. "Once you reach Westeros, you would be prepared to sit on the Iron Throne with supporters behind you. You are not Aegon the Conqueror, you are Daeron Targaryen, you have to fight like yourself, not like me."

I pondered about it and suddenly I woke up in Astapor, where I gasped, I was still taking a bath, I took my towel and started to wipe myself off, wondering what the hell had just happened? Was I dreaming? If I was, then whatever Aegon said meant nothing, but there was also Daenys the Dreamer, who foretold the Doom of Valyria, is the same thing happening towards me?

.o0o.

After meeting Aegon, I felt much more powerful than I was before. I noticed I was a bit different, I seemed more kingly, taller and my shoulder was broader and my muscles and features were more defined and I seemed much bigger. A lot of people noticed the difference, but I said it was from the Warlocks of Qarth and they seemed to believe it. I was practicing my sword skills with Ser Barristan.

"You're good." Ser Barristan praised. "Better than your father Rhaegar."

"Thank you Ser Barristan." I let out a small smile after all, I had to train all my life, in real events. I ordered Ser Jorah to bring in the Unsullied Officers. I saw about twenty of them with Ser Jorah, Rakharo and Daenerys coming here.

"These are the ones?" I asked.

"Yes, your grace. The Officers," Missandei answered.

"You didn't choose this life," I said. "But you are free men now. And Freemen make their own choices. Have you selected your own leader from amongst your ranks?"

They did a half-face, creating a pathway where one Unsullied stood. He shoved his spear to the sand.

"Remove your helmet," I ordered. The Unsullied soldier obeyed, using one hand to untie the straps and removed his helmet. He appeared to be around my age, having no facial hair, though the hair atop his head is short and black. It was surprising that he had no facial hair, I have a clean shaven beard around my chin. He is stocky, of medium height and square. He expressed a serious face, on the edge of solemnness, he only looked a few years older than me.

He walked over stopping before me, "This one has the honor."

"What is your name?" I asked

"Grey Worm," he answered.

"Grey Worm," I repeated, confused, for it sounded more like an insult than a name. I looked at Missandei to explain the reason behind this.

"All Unsullied boys are given new names when they are cut – Grey Worm, Red Flea, Black Rat," Missandei explained. "Names that remind them what they are – vermin."

Well, I will change that, I thought. "From this day forward, you will choose your own name. You will tell your fellow soldiers to do the same. Throw away your slave name. Choose the name your parents gave you or anyone that gives you pride. Names that give you your identity." I said.

"Grey Worm' gives me pride." He said. "It is a lucky name. The name this one was born with was cursed. That was the name he had when he was taken as a slave. But Grey Worm is the name this one had the day Daeron Targaryen set him free."

I was surprised and honored that freeing them gave them a choice. I walked over, placing myself on his shoulder, "And it is an honor to have you as the leader of the Unsullied, Commander Grey Worm."

The young man tried not to smile, yet his brown eyes showed pride. I will make sure he received some tutelage from Ser Jorah and Ser Barristan on leadership. And a lesson in Common Tongue with Missandei to ensure he is bilingual when the time comes, we set for Westeros. The same goes for the rest of the officers. I've heard how some Unsullied chose to keep their birth names, those who could remember it of course, others chose their current names, believing it will bring them luck. Some named themselves after heroes and plants which sounded weird to say, one of them named himself Red Rose, and I tried not to laugh.

oOoOo

Ser Jorah Mormont and Ser Barristan Selmy

Ser Jorah and Ser Barristan have been traveling by the Dragon Siblings side since leaving Astapor a few days ago. They were surprised by the drastic change in their king's behavior as Daeron appeared to be much stronger, like Rhaegar, but much more stubborn. Ser Barristan thought the young man was like his father sometimes. He looked like Prince Rhaegar. But when making a deal with Kraznys, the old knight thought he was making a mistake.

On the day of the exchange, for the first time in many years, he saw someone else in King Daeron. No, not Prince Rhaegar or himself, but King Aerys. King Aerys didn't started out as mad, he had many potentials and the realm was very peaceful under his rule for the first twenty years. Before King Aerys was King, when the man was just a young Prince, he was very clever and charismatic, he led armies to war against the Blackfyre, and had grand plans of building ports, fleets, a bank in Westeros so they don't have to rely on the Iron Brank of Braavos, all good potentials a future King must have. However, as the years grow, with stillborn children, other people taunting him or questioning him, and along with the Defiance, he became mad.

Ser Jorah, on the other hand, was apprehensive with Ser Barristan around. He was wondering why the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard truly left Westeros. One of his concerns is that Varys sent him to expose his secret. Back in Qarth, he tried to tell Daeron and Daenerys the truth, but…he couldn't. Ser Jorah was afraid of how they would react in telling them that he sent information about the Targaryen's whereabouts and Daenerys' pregnancy. Returning to his thoughts, Jorah needs to be sure what Ser Barristan's intentions lie. So, like most knights in taverns goes, they talked of their adventures as Ser Jorah went over his experience in the Greyjoy Rebellion. The war that earned him his knighthood.

"You were first through the breach at Pyke?" Barristan asked.

"The second. Thoros of Myr went in alone, waving that flaming sword of his." Jorah corrected.

Barristan chuckled, "Thoros of Myr. Bloody madman. Robert knighted you after the battle."

"Proudest moment of my life," Jorah agreed. "One knee in the dust, the king's sword on my shoulder, listening to the words. 'In the name of the Warrior, I charge you to be brave.' All I could think of was how badly I had to piss."

Ser Barristan let out a laugh knowing the feeling. They spotted Daeron, Daenerys, Rakharo, Irri and Missandei joining the officers. Ser Barristan was reminded of a flash of memory of Daeron commanding the soldiers. Daenerys looked like the young Queen Rhaella, though shorter. She was reckless and temperamental, but not mad. Ser Barristan knew Daenerys is just a teenager, 15 years old perhaps and her features have started developing. Deciding to give them privacy, they went ahead of the stream still in sight of the Dragon Siblings. They got off their horses and hurried to pass through the Unsullied line leading their steeds to the water.

"In full plate metal for sixteen hours. Never occurred to me till the fighting was over. I was nearly the first man knighted to piss on the king's boots," Jorah continued, making Barristan laugh again. "Robert would have laughed."

"He was a good man, a great warrior. And a terrible king." Barristan replied. "I burned away my years fighting for terrible kings."

"You swore an oath," Jorah reminded.

"Yes," Barristan sighed. "And a man of honor keeps his vows, even if he's serving a drunk or a lunatic. Just once in my life before it's over, I want to know what it's like to serve with pride, to fight for someone I believe in. Do you believe in him?"

Jorah looked over his shoulder seeing Daeron standing before the officers, "Of course."

"And Daenerys? Is she a good heir?" Barristan asked.

"She is young and still learning, but like all adolescents can be impulsive, she lost a husband and a child" Jorah answered. "Don't be surprised if the King asks you to tutor Daenerys about Westeros."

"The King believes in knowledge over strength." Barristan asked.

"Sometimes he does," Jorah answered. "Other times he thinks strength is better."

"Sometimes he is like Rhaegar," Barristan sighed. Jorah did not know how to respond to that. He remembered seeing Rhaegar at the tournament in Lannisport in honor of Viserys's birth. How he played his harp that reduces women to tears, at the same time besting a dozen knights in the jousting tournament, among them being Barristan Selmy and Arthur Dayne.

Then there was the Tourney at Harrenhal, watching Rhaegar defeating Ser Arthur Dayne. Taking the winter rose crown for the Queen of Love and Beauty, trotting passed his wife and children, and setting it on Lyanna Stark's lap. The moment when all the smiles died. That was the last he saw Rhaegar officially, the next time was on the Battle of the Trident, but Rhaegar was wearing his armour. Jorah went back to his goal of knowing Ser Barristan's mindset. Once the horses were hydrated, they started walking again.

"King Robert wanted them dead."

"Of course, he wanted them dead. They are Targaryens. The last Targaryen," Barristan replied.

"I suppose no one on the Small Council could speak sense to him," Jorah guessed.

"I didn't sit on the Small Council," Barristan confessed.

"No?" Jorah asked, surprised. "Doesn't the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard traditionally- "

"Traditionally, yes, but I killed a dozen of Robert's friends during his rebellion." Barristan interrupted then got on his horse. "He didn't want advice on how to govern from a man who had fought for the Mad King. Can't say I minded much. Always hated politics."

Jorah got on his horse as the two continued. "Yeah, I imagine I would, too." Jorah agreed. "Hours spent jabbering about backstabbing and betrayals the world over."

"Mm-hmm," Barristan replied. The older knight had his eyes forward. Jorah feels nervous, recovering himself, so Barristan doesn't see. A part of him wants to know what Barristan knows of him.

"Still, he'll have to wade through that muck if he wants to rule the Seven Kingdoms." Jorah continued.

"He'll have good men around him to advise him, men with experience," Barristan assured.

"Which men do you have in mind?" Jorah asked.

"Forgive me, Ser Jorah, for what I'm about to say, but your reputation in Westeros has suffered over the years," Barristan replied.

"It suffered for a reason. I sold men into slavery." Jorah explained.

"I don't know if your presence by his side will help our cause when we go home."

Jorah felt a bit insulted, yet kept his composure, "Our cause? Forgive me, Ser Barristan, but I was busy defending the Dragon Siblings against King Robert's assassins while you were still bowing to the man."

"We both want Daeron to rule, we will do whatever needs to be done, no matter the cost, no matter our pride."

"You're not Lord Commander here." Jorah reminded. "You're just another exile. And I take my orders from the King."

Ser Jorah rode off while Ser Barristan watched him. The older knight knows he has a long way to go to earn Daeron and Daenerys trust. What the Bear Knight had was time with both, gaining their trust. Barristan won't deny the fact Ser Jorah did save them a handful of times.