Hi there. Episode 8 of HotD was epic, no dragons this time around which was a bummer but overall a great episode and I can't wait for the next one. I'm just happy the final season of GoT hasnt ruined this wonderful world and Snow is starting to interest me greatly.
Chapter 9: The Pact of Justice
Jaehaerys
The waves brushed against the Belarion as it sailed East, getting close to its destination.
Viserys advised against using their own ship and instead travel via merchant's vessel, Jaehaerys decided against it on the fact that he had different sails made for the ship a blank white.
They also have Varys who has the King convinced that they are shut in on Dragonstone like they have been for the last decade and a half, the Acting Lord of Dragonstone grimaced as the Free City of Pentos was in sight.
The place was always an ally of sorts to House Targaryen, before the Dance, Daemon Targaryen and his family once housed themselves within the city's territory.
It was here he decided to gather their friends from Dorne to make a pact, ensuring their support when the time comes to fight Robert and his people.
Rhaenys was confident that the Martells will aid them but he wants to be sure, and to make sure there aren't any terms that he and Viserys expect there to be when they meet with whoever Doran sent over to treat with them.
Leaning on the rails, he coughed into a handkerchief and threw it into the waves.
He hasn't been well in the last three weeks, the coughs come and go and are worse at night unless he sleeps sideways. The Maester says that it seems like a common illness and had given him some tea to make it better.
Rhaenys has also been a help, being by his side throughout this ordeal.
Truthfully, he doesn't know if he will have made it to this point without her. The depression he felt when he returned from the war on the Iron Islands and then seeing Aegon being taken away and what was said between him and the heir to the Iron Throne had hurt his heart and cut him deeply despite things being forgiven later on.
Jaehaerys gave up the fight watching his nephew leave, a prisoner with the nicety of being called a ward, he also neglected Viserys and his sister and niece in those years that it grated his soul beyond repair...
"Brother, here." Viserys brought him his cloak, a black one to cover their heads.
"Thank you, Viserys." His brother grunted and Jaehaerys sighed, "Brother?" The youngest son of Rhaella Targaryen turned his head to him, "What choice did I have back then? We had no army, no fleets, and no allies... I had no option but to obey."
Viserys hardened face softened, "Gods, I know, Jae. I'm just bitter that we all but gave up."
He grinned, "But not anymore, we begin our first victory here, forging a pact with House Martell and Dorne."
Viserys nodded in agreement and before long, both brothers disembarked and began walking towards the Cheesemonger's Manse, they slipped in through a passageway and were guided by an Unsullied soldier and Viserys jested about cockless warriors.
Inside, the eunuch soldier took them inside the small estates building and went up a set of stairs leading to a banquet room, it was here that he and Viserys lowered their hoods and showed themselves and their valyrian features to the large man eating at the end of the table.
"My Princes! Welcome to my humble abode, sorry, I hadn't expected you for another day or so."
"The winds were kind, we got here early."
"Early indeed, our envoy from House Martell has yet to arrive." He and his brother were then met by a woman, "Bread and salt, as per your country's custom?" Both brothers looked at one another before sighing and taking the gesture, "Please, dine with me and rest, even. I shall have a bath arranged and rooms for you both that befits your royal blood."
Jaehaerys listened to Illyrio Mopatis boast them with pleasantries and compliments, something Viserys ate up all of it.
Later on, he slipped into the bath and sighed with pleasure as the heat felt extremely good. He was scrubbing his shoulder when he heard a knock and looked behind him, "Who is it?" He demanded to know.
The door opened and a young woman entered.
She was no older than Rhaenys, beautiful, and had long silver-blond hair going down her back. She looked at him with the bluest eyes he'd seen, she blushed and approached with a bundle of clothes in her hand.
Bowing, the girl cracked a smile, "Master Illyrio bid me to bring you some clean clothes, I know being at sea isn't ideal on one's cloth."
"Thank you... Are you Lysene?" He asked after sending his gratitude.
She beamed, "How did you... That's quite the guess, my Lord." My Lord? Jaehaerys sighed and turned from her but she didn't leave and instead came closer. "You look lonely, might I stay for a moment and help you?"
Jaehaerys didn't exactly know how to answer, sputtering a yes as a response. He eyed her as she rung out a rag and began running it across his shoulder and then chest. "I don't know your name, do you even have one?" He asked, starting a conversation than simmering in the tension.
"I do... Mine is Doreah, from Lys as you aptly picked up on." She said as her hand went a little lower, Jaehaerys started to feel aroused.
Jaehaerys smiled, "A feast for thesenses, a balm for the soul." He said in Valyrian, High Valyrian but Valyrian nonetheless and Doreah looked surprised that he knew the island nation's famed words to compliment beauty and pleasure.
"The sunsets in Lys are very beautiful, you have been there?" She talked in a musical, liquid tongue. He shook his head to her question.
"I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure, in either way." He responded and reached for his cup that was on a stand but it was empty, Doreah grabbed the jug and poured him some more while keeping his gaze.
"Would you like to?" Now it dawned on him, Illyrio would send just any girl from Lys to his chambers as a servant.
Truthfully, he isn't like Viserys and is very chaste in his experiences with women in the bedchamber. Doreah waited for him to answer and he reached out and cupped her cheek, she blushed red on her pale skin.
"How many years have you been in the pillow house?" He asked and she had to think about it.
"Since I was sixteen, the Magister found me last year and was fond of me," Doreah said as she continued, "You are Prince, right? A dragonlord." He chuckled and shook his head no.
"There are no more dragons, the last of them died decades before my time." He said with a melancholic tone, she picked up on this.
"That is sad... I always wanted to see one. Ride one, even." She said with a wistful voice, he could see in her eyes that she was sincere about the sadness of it.
"There are skulls, though. I half-expected the Usurper to crush them into dust but he instead put them in the lower dungeons within the Red Keep." He took her hand, standing up from the bath, the water running down his body and even though he was nude, she didn't shy away. "You wanted to ride a dragon? I can't say I can breathe fire or flap wings but, I can do my best."
Doreah led him to the bed and he lay down, she soon straddled him after removing her dress and let his member slip inside.
It was a sensational feeling, being with a woman for once and he really just laid there but as Doreah continued riding him he held her thighs and touched her breasts, he even kissed her at one point.
After they were finished and Doreah cleaned herself, he took her hand and bid her to stay which she obliged and crawled into bed with him. They spooned with him holding her closer can feel the warmth radiating off her back.
He dreamt then, and it was a strange dream.
He was back on Dragonstone, close between the caverns on the slopes of Dragonmount.
Barefooted, Jaehaerys wandered inside, following the faint light as he neared one of the many dragon lairs of old and stopped, it was so cold even though he was close to the still-active volcano that resides on the Island before his people came here.
Very suddenly, he heard the ringing of steel and the running waters of a stream before a low growl called to his attention and he gasped as what came before him was a dragon, its scales green and eyes bronze and then it opened its mouth breathing him with yellow flame.
Jaehaerys awoke moments later and he was alone, Viserys opened the chamber doors and he quickly covered himself with the silken sheets. His brother had the widest smirk on his face. "What?" he asked the younger Targaryen son.
"I'm just happy for you, Jae. How was Illyrio's gift last night?" Groaning, he reached for a pillow and threw it at his brother who deflected it.
Recomposing himself, he scratched his head and coughed again, "She was good at what she was made to do, where is she?" He would thank her, and pay her too.
"Back to whatever a servant is to do, she was supposed to come to me next as the Magister said but you were keen on holding her prisoner all night." Viserys ate a grape and brought him some clothes, the same that Doreah brought last night. "The envoys are due to arrive soon, brother, time to look like the Princes we are."
Indeed, he smiled and got dressed, and left the chamber with Viserys.
Illyrio's manse was situated near a place where a rowboat could approach, the scenery of the open sea was a nice touch as he spotted the spear striking the Martell sun's sails come close.
A rowboat lowered and came towards them, he counted seven men and couldn't really see the woman sitting in the back, her face covered by a veil.
The man leading them wore the sigil of his house proudly, wielding a spear on his back with ornaments of a snake coiling to the blade. Magister Illyrio stepped up, greeting his new guests.
Oberyn Nymeros Martell. The Red Viper of Dorne. His hair is lustrous and black, with only a few silver streaks, and recedes from his brow in a widow's peak, and has a lined and saturnine face with thin eyebrows, his eyes black as vipers with a sharp nose.
"Welcome, Prince Oberyn Nymeros Martell... And my dear, Princess Arianne Nymeros Martell." with that, the unknown woman removed her veil and both Jaehaerys and Viserys were surprised by how beautiful she was.
The Princess is buxom and beautiful, with olive skin, albeit darker than Rhaenys and large dark eyes, and long, thick black hair that falls in ringlets to the middle of her back. She has full lips, she eyed both him and Viserys flirtatiously.
"I am pleased to see you both in good health, Prince Oberyn, Princess." He said and Oberyn scoffed and pushed past him and Viserys grew angry and confronted the Red Viper on his rudeness.
"You will kneel to your betters- " Oberyn then pointed his spear, barely touching Viserys throat who stood in shock while attempting to reach for his sword.
Arianne sighed irritatedly, "Put down the weapon, uncle," She commanded and Oberyn rolled his eyes and relented, Jaehaerys did the same for Viserys who reluctantly sheathed his blade. "Apologies, my Princes, we expected to meet my cousins, Aegon and Rhaenys."
"I am sorry, Aegon was taken into custody by the Starks after the Greyjoys were defeated, it was that or risk all of our lives at Dragonstone... And Rhaenys? She is acting Princess of Dragonstone as I wished to do this myself, and Viserys too."
Oberyn scoffed, "We should have met sooner, then better plans could have been made."
He understands somewhat of Oberyn's behavior, he blames his House, and his father for not saving Princess Elia when he had done so for her children. It is misplaced blame, he and Viserys were just children and their mother had tried to do so.
"The plans haven't changed, I called this summit to reaffirm Dorne's assistance in putting our nephew on the Iron Throne." He said harshly to match the viper's insolent tone, a sigh escaped Arianne who shook her head.
"Robert Baratheon has been King for almost twenty years, fifteen if you want to be correct. Some might say the Targaryen cause is over, my Prince Jaehaerys... But Tywin did murder my aunt, and like that saying of theirs, there is a debt to be paid." She approached and put out her hand, "We will discuss terms, we are Aegon's first supporters after all."
Jaehaerys looked at her hand for a few seconds then took it, Illyrio clapped his hands giddily. "Happy news indeed, the Targaryen Restoration is at hand already,"
Jaehaerys and Viserys sat on one side of the table, Arianne and Oberyn on the other and Illyrio stood at the end to mediate the negotiation which should be short as it involves the only thing they could give the Martells.
"My Father requires his son Trystane to Squire for you, Prince Jaehaerys." Arianne began and then continued, "And when we've defeated the Baratheons, the Master of Laws, and Lord Commander of the City Watch will be filled by Lord Yronwood and Oberyn Martell."
Viserys scoffed, "I'm to be the Lord Commander of the City Watch, only a Targaryen should command the city's soldiers."
Jaehaerys agreed, "If Lord Yronwood is to be Master of Laws then so be it, but the Commandership is to be my brothers. Perhaps Prince Oberyn would be fine acquiring position as the Red Keeps Master-at-Arms or perhaps one of my nephews Seven Knights?"
Oberyn laughed, "Me? A Kingsguard? No, I much prefer my freedoms than the chastity of becoming a White Knight."
"Let's continue on, come back to it at another time?" Viserys looked at him and he shrugged, "What else... "
"One last term... Marriage." Arianne said and he saw it coming, "Aegon will be seventeen this year, no? I am twenty-two and the tying in marriage will make the Dornish spears fight harder for his Grace."
Jaehaerys face darkened, "It was decided by my brother, the Last Dragon that his son would wed his sister when they came of age as is the tradition of my House. I don't intend to backtrack on that." the tension could be cut with the valyrian dagger at his hip.
Arianne, "I seem to remember a rumor that Valyrian incest was used to keep the bloodline pure, for your dragons... But the dragons are gone and so is the need to continue such a tradition."
"There are others you may choose from, I put myself forward as a match for you and Viserys as well or even Daenerys for your brother Quentyn Martell but I stand on what I said, Aegon will marry Rhaenys when we've defeated Robert." Arianne and Oberyn went to argue it but he slammed his hand on the table and rose from his seat.
The emotion and the locked feelings he's held inside for the last several years started to pour out, along with his rage.
"The Usurper and his mad dogs have taken everything from us, from your House as well as mine. I remember Elia, he kind smile and sound advice whenever Rhaegar needed guidance, I also remember Ser Lewyn, who was strong as an ox and could make you laugh even on the saddest days... I, Jaehaerys of the House Targaryen put myself forth as your betrothed and future Prince-Consort of Dorne."
Both parties agreed to the terms, and Jaehaerys and Arianne signed the agreed-upon contract to marry when they have won the throne back from the Usurper and his allies. Signed in blood, swearing the oath to keep it.
As they were packing their things to leave, Illyrio and a pair of servants came into his chamber and he spotted Doreah standing beside the Cheesemonger.
"You did splendidly, my Prince, I was worried for a moment but you've shown a bit of that ancestor of yours in the negotiations."
"Is this the last we'll be hearing from you, Magister?" He asked and Illyrio nodded.
"Unlike Varys I'd rather not put myself at risk going hands-on in that hornet nest, I prefer to watch it happen from afar." He scoffed and sheathed his dagger, strapping Red Rain to his hip and turning to face Illyrio, "Before you leave, I do have a gift to offer you," The man snapped his fingers and a chest was put in front of him.
He gave Illyrio a queer look before sighing and opening the chest, he gasped and was shocked at what he saw.
It was three dragon eggs, three the colors of black, pale cream, and deep green. He turned to Illyrio, "How did you manage this? Where... " There were so many questions and too much running through his head.
"Does it matter how they were acquired? All that matters is that they are yours for your family." He closed the chest, and didn't know what to think or say, his purple eyes found Doreah's and he sighed.
"This is a mighty gift, thank you... But may I beg something more of you?" Illyrio cocked his head curiously, "I want to have your servant as my paramour, I wish to take her to Dragonstone." Illyrio seemed a little hesitant, and who would blame him but he can always bring another girl from Lys.
In the end, he and his brother set sail for home. Viserys kept looking at the egg of his choice, the pale one where he held up the green one, Doreah wrapped an arm around his and leaned her head on his shoulder.
His dream came to him, maybe one day when they've defeated the Usurper, dragons can fly the skies of Westeros once more.
AN: So ends the new longest chapter for this story, I hope everyone enjoyed it.
Ok, some explanation, no, there won't be dragons hatching in the prelude nor in the middle of the new war between Baratheon and Targaryen but they will appear. Also, no one panic about Doreah, she is a temporary romance at most a troublesome mistress as we continue on through the story.
The next update will be a little different compared to other chapters as we are jumping into the mainline timeline we will require multiple PoVs mostly two maybe three but the majority will revolve around Jaehaerys, Aegon, Viserys, Rhaenys, Daenerys, Jon plus Aemon who is at the Wall, the last Targaryens are the center of this story after all.
Other PoVs none Targaryen will be Arianne, Robb, Robert, Eddard, Jaime, and Tywin. Jorah Mormont and Jon Connington will be entered into the story once the war kicks off.
Until next time, I bid you all a good night or morrow wherever you may be.