Chapter 6: A Wedding
Annalise was immensely uncomfortable.
Immensely uncomfortable did not even describe the feelings that Annalise was feeling, the feeling of fear, loneliness, terror.
Yet what was happening around her wasn't as scary to the Dothraki as it was to her. Yet Annalise knew she shouldn't have been complaining, because Princess Daenerys felt even worse than her, even more scared, even more alone, even more terrified.
She was sat next to Magister Illyrio, who was sitting down and smiling at all of the celebrations happening around him, the Dothraki dancing arond them, the Dothraki fighting and killing each other for next to no reason, and if there was a reason, then it was stupendously banal.
It was even worse when Illyrio said that a Dothraki wedding was considered boring if at least three people didn't die.
Gods, I wish William would save me, I just need to see him, just once, and then I will be fine, please, only once...
"Are you alright, my dear?" Illyrio said with a smile, as he took a bite out of one of the Dothraki blood pies.
"Yes, just not used to the celebrations, I am more used to the quiet and peaceful environment of my shrine."
Illyrio looked at her with a wry smile, one that she had never seen before from the cheese dealer. He took another bite out of one of the blood pies and finished it off, licking each finger clean.
"Listen, you will have to fly away from the nest one day, and your praying to whatever or whoever is listening will not get you anywhere. I know you are scared, but you must leave that fear behind at one point or another."
"And who are you to tell me about fear, cheese dealer? You, who has never begged for food or money, begged for anything in his life?"
Illyrio looked at her, dead-eyed, and let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, you speak such simple truth."
"And yet you laugh, cheese dealer. And yet you laugh at me, laugh at those who are worse off than you."
Again, Illyrio laughed, but didn't say anything else to the little priest. There was nothing else to say to her, he knew that he couldn't say anything else without causing a riot, and causing a riot in the middle of Khal Drogo's khalasar, and so close to Khal Drogo, was not a part of his plan.
"Illyrio, are you being awful to this young lady? When you are in a King's presence?"
Annalise turned around to see the long and flowing silver hair and the deep violet eyes behind Illyrio and herself. He had a beak-like nose, and he stood over Illyrio and Annalise like a giant.
"I apologise, King Viserys, please forgive my bad attitude, but she works for me."
"No longer, Illyrio, she now belongs to Daenerys, she is now the Khaleesi, whatever that is. The Horselord's Whore, most likely, but she now belongs to Daenerys none the less." Viserys stated, giving another wry smile to Annalise.
"Of course, my king." Illyrio muttered before walking off, allowing Viserys to sit next to Annalise.
She could sense Viserys Targaryen from miles away. He had this air about him which just couldn't be ignored, yet it wasn't a good presence. It was a presence that begged for attention, begged for anything, she had heard the whispers, that the Dothraki didn't respect Viserys, instead they called him the Beggar King.
I am not scared of him, I shall never be scared of this... worm...
"Don't worry about Illyrio, he's just a cheese dealer, he cannot do anything to you."
"I know, Your Grace, I could see that."
"Can you believe this, I am relying on these... savages, to take back my kingdoms that are righfully mine. I know the people in Westoros shout my name, and beg for me to be their king."
Gods, he is even worse in person, let alone just talking about him...
"Of course, Your Grace."
Somebody, anybody, please save me from the torture that is talking to Viserys Targaryen...
She couldn't help but look over and see the shy Daenerys sat next to the intimidating Khal Drogo. They were complete opposites of the other, but she could sense that Daenerys had a fire inside of her that Viserys lacked, as if she were going to be the one crowned at the end of it all.
Daenerys looked beautiful, her pale skin shone in the scorching sun, and her hair wasn't tied up, instead flying loose in the wind. She was to become the Khaleesi of the greatest khalasar known to man, but with the look on her face, she was worried about something about something else entirely.
Khal Drogo looked entirely focused on his men, his loyal Dothraki enjoying themselves, partaking in pleasures of the flesh. He gave a roar of approval when one Dothraki sliced open the gut of another when a fight broke out, and as a reward, two of the female Dothraki 'ambushed' him and took him somewhere else. He wore his riding pants and boots, with some fine wraps around his hands, and a golden belt wrapped around his waist, laden with various types of gems set in the belt, and when the wind blew his hair in a different direction, you could hear the bells in his hair begin to jingle.
Soon enough, a man who looked like he wasn't from Essos began to climb the steps to Khal Drogo and Daenerys, he knelt before Khal Drogo, and offered a collection of history books from Westoros. He wore some rough leather armour, with a small cloth cloak around his shoulders fluttering in the wind, with a roaring bear that cold be barely seen in the leather. As he stepped away from the Khal and his new wife, Annalise jumped up away from Viserys and went over to the man.
"Umm, excuse me, Ser?"
"Yes, my lady?" The man said as he looked out at the sea.
"Would you happen to be from Westoros?"
"Why, yes I am. Ser Jorah Mormont of Bear Island, at your service, and who am I talking to?"
"Lady Annalise... Annalise Redding."
"Well, Lady Annalise, I am from Westoros, I am from the North. What is it you would like to know?" Ser Jorah asked, a small smile on his face.
"Have you heard of anyone called Ser William Redding? Or anywhere he might be residing?" Annalise replied.
"Is he your brother, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Of sorts, have you heard anything?" Annalise asked.
"Only rumours from other Westorosi sellswords, but apparently there has been rumours of Lord Eddard Stark having hired a sellsword from somewhere I have never heard of before, a sworn shield for his eldest daughter, at least that is what I have heard."
"Oh, thank you, thank you so much!" Annalise had been so excited that she had began to hug Ser Jorah, and she could feel the roughness of his thick beard.
To Annalise, any news about William was good news. If he was alive, it would be even better because if they were together they could plan their next move.
"Do you miss him? You miss your brother?" Jorah asked her, a sincere look on his face.
"Yes, but it has been so long since I have seen him, I don't know if he will remember me..."
You just lied, to someone who just gave you possible the best news you have heard since you arrived in Essos...
"If it is any consolidation, I miss my family too. I miss my father, Jeor Mormont, my aunt Maege, my nieces Dacey and Lyanna, fierce little ones. But alas, I have shamed my family, and I can never see them again, but if you travel with me, I promise to try and help you find your brother."
"But... I am sworn to the Khaleesi..."
"Then I shall travel with the Khalasar, as long as Khal Drogo allows it, if not, we should meet back here in Pentos."
"Of course, Jorah, it was nice meeting you."
Annalise looked around her, trying to regain her bearings, she was overlooking the Narrow Sea, and she had only moved a few steps away from where the Khal and the Khaleesi were sat.
"Wh... Where is the Khaleesi?"
"Khal Drogo has taken her somewhere private, I suspect. It was time for the consummation just a bit ago."
May the gods protect the Khaleesi...
"Will she be alright?" Annalise asked.
"I hope so, but I am not sure if her brother cares, he keeps on saying he is a dragon, but I suspect that he is less than the shadow of a snake, and that the Khaleesi is the true dragon, and if she is, then she can handle the bedding. She will have to."
"It seems we will have to wait and see, Ser Jorah. We will have to wait and see."
