Chapter 23: The Moutain Clan

In the South...

Arianne POV

Arianne was on her way to a secret camp, a few miles from Sunspear, to meet with the Sand Sneak. It was time to take control of Dorne as a legitimate heir.

As she approached, Arianne saw the tents of the Sand Sneak, and when she reached her destination, Ellaria greeted her, "Welcome to Arianne."

"Do you know why I'm here?" she asked as she got off the horse.

"Yes. In part. Did you hear about the tragedy at the border?" Ellaria asked, offering a glass of wine.

"Yes. A massacre. Ten thousand dead, including uncle Olyvar and many wounded."

"Exactly because of your father's hunger for power," shouted Ellaria, throwing away the goblet of wine from which she was drinking, in the sand.

"Those lives will be on my conscience, Ellaria. It's my fault why so many men have died," Arianne replied, feeling really horrible. She told herself she was giving up her pleasure for Dorne's sake when she gave up on Willas, but in those two months when he was here, didn't she think about Dorne's good?

"What do you mean?" asked, Tyene, Ellaria and Oberyn's daughter.

"Willas Tyrell. He's the reason why the Tyrell armies were stationed at the border. They thought he was dead, but he wasn't. I found him on the beach, I healed him, and he was in Dorne for two months," Arianne responded, omitting the part that they had fucked for the previous two months.

"And why didn't you open your fucking mouth, cousin?" Obara asked, but she didn't answer, and she felt the slap that came to her, shortly afterward, from Obara herself. "You wanted to have a good time, that's why. While Dorne was on the foot of WAR." Screaming the final part. And Arianne lowered her head, knowing that what she had just said was all true and that she deserved to be slapped.

"Obara. Enough," said Ellaria raising her voice. "What's done is done. But what we have to do now is free Oberyn, so he can lead us in war, and depose your father. "

"And that's why I'm here. We have to get Oberyn out of prison and arrest my father and brother, otherwise, we'd soon have the Wrath of the North against us."

"So we better hurry. I don't want to suffer the Wrath of tha Wolf. I still remember the horrors of Astapor," said Ellaria, while her daughters took their weapons. "Remember, Areo Hotha must die too, for the plan to succeed."

Once back in Sunspear, Arianne entered the city through the main gate, while the others went through the secret passages.

Upon entering the city, Arianne saw Quentyn and some guards coming towards her, "Arianne Nymeros Martell you are under arrest for high treason. Take her to the great hall to my father."

Escorted to the Great Hall, Arianne saw inside that there were about 20 Martell guards, plus Areo Hotha. After some silence, while her father was watching her, Arianne asked, crossing her arms, " Treason?"

But her father didn't answer until after some more silence, he said, "Willas Tyrell. 10,000 dead, 3,000 wounded. And this is the ruler Dorne deserves? One that instead of preventing war brings it, just because she wants to have fun with a man found in the sea?"

"Husband," Arianne corrected him, "If I'm not mistaken, it was you who told me that he and I were married by proxy, and as I can understand, you found out that the marriage was consumed." And she started laughing, but her father remained serious, "And about the ruler that Dorne deserves, you must be the last one to speak, considering that you had the intention to choose as future Prince of Dorne, Quentin Martell. Who happened to be obsessed with Daenerys Targaryen, and who may have provoked the Wrath of the North."

"The King of the North is not at our door, King Tywin Lannister is. The King of the North is not a man of 60 years still in full strength, who has crushed every rebellion, who fought border wars in his youth, or who has a huge army, with war veterans. The King of the North is not a clever, cruel, ruthless and emotionless man. No, he is an 18-year-old brat who thinks he can command a kingdom or defend it. A brat with just 50,000 men who aren't even war veterans or warriors. No, they're rubbish, cavemen who think a little brat can lead them. Ashara Dayne made a mistake in marring that rubbish Northern."

"Keep telling yourself that, Father. Maybe what you think will soon come true. Or maybe soon you'll have an angry brat on your doorstep," Arianne replied with a smirk and then added. "It seems common these days that the so-called wise and old kings underestimate the minds of young people. For you, dear old Kings, stand in the past, and the young in the future. And about the King of the North, you forget two important things: The Unsullied, the perfect war machine, and Arthur Dayne. You still remember him, don't you? And your dear little son will have his head on a Northern spike if he continues to want Daenerys Targaryen."

"Silence!" shouted her father. "You have challenged me for the last time. Tomorrow you will leave for Esso, where you will marry Khal Drogo. He will provide us with military support against Tywin Lannister and the Tyrells in this war you unleashed. Our ships have already departed to bring the Khalassar here. Until tomorrow, you'll be in a cell and then you'll leave."

"Would you sell me to a Khal who will rape me every day? Are you so cruel to do that, father?"

"For Dorne's sake, yes. Dorne will rule over Westeros in one way or another," her father said, and at that moment the soldiers began to fall. Oberyn was free and was killing them with his spear. While her cousin with bows and arrows or their weapons."

"What are you doing?" asked her father with a surprised face.

When the soldiers had died Oberyn stepped forward but was immediately attacked by Areo Hotha, "I don't want to kill you prince, but I won't let you kill your brother."

Arianne so moved backed away, while Oberyn and Hotha were fighting in the room. Both were good, but Oberyn managed to hurt him. Despite that, Hotha continued to fight, but Arianne saw that he was getting very tired, and that meant only one thing. Oberyn used the poison.

After a few shots, Oberyn managed to take him down, and turning towards Doran he said, " I don't want to depose you, brother, but if you stay in power, it will be the end for Dorne. Arianne will take her place as Princess of Dorne."

"That's treason," said his father.

"I know. And I'm sorry. But it's the only way," Oberyn replied.

"The army will return and restore order, and put me back on the throne."

"The army is destroyed, brother. Of the fifteen thousand men you sent, there a, only five thousand survived, of which three thousand are wounded. We are very exposed to the Lannisters now."

"If the Dothraki arrives, we'd have enough men to fight the Lannisters."

"At what price, brother. I am against rape, and I certainly won't stand by and watch while that Khal does it to Arianne. But know that you're not going to be in the cell. You will have your own rooms".

When her father was taken away, Arianne, saw Obara coming, "Quentyn has escaped. I couldn't get him."

" It doesn't matter. He can't do anything anyway. Now we have to prepare Dorne for war. Train new recruits, and find the Traitors. The Lannisters will first destroy the Kingdom of The Reach and then come for us. So we have plenty of time to get ready."

And when she said that, Arianne felt like a thick hit in her. Willas will die, so she ran away to her room, despite Oberyn's shouts.

She felt sick at the thought that he would actually die this time, and she needed some time alone.

Ollena Tyrell POV

Ollena was sitting in the garden with her ladies and her thoughts turned to the borders. That stubborn of her grandson, Garlan with his troops, has defied the orders to retreat, and all because of that buffoon of her son who does not inspire loyalty, and above all that does not give a great example of genius. And now Ollena feared the worst. Of course, her spies always inform her about the changes on the borders, but before the news arrives it takes a few days, and she is still waiting for the news of the potential traitors of her kingdom after all a lot of their Bannerman believe that they have no right to the title.

Ollena saw a servant coming, "Your Grace, our envoy from Stormlands has returned."

"Good. Let him come to the garden."

After some time she saw him coming. "What news? Did he accept?"

"Yes, your grace. Joffrey Baratheon awaits the arrival of your granddaughter."

"No. They will see each other at the border. I've already lost one grandchild, I'm not going to lose another. Go."

After some time, while Ollena was thinking about what to do, she saw Mace coming, very quickly.

"Mother, bad news from the border," but she took the letter from his hands and read it.

"Good genius, now we've lost two heirs of the House."

Ollena kept on reading, and she couldn't believe it. All the remaining men were slaughtered on the way back, "who is the traitor who slaughtered our soldiers, Mace?"

"I don't know, Mother," he responded.

"You don't know. And whenever do you know something." Ollena replied. "You know what that means? 20,000 men less, and King Tywin Lannister will surely be ready to invade us, with his damn son who is already at our borders with 50,000 men."

"Then it is better to call up all the banners, and gather the men in Highgarden," said Mace.

" Leave, Mace. I need to think."

And when Mace left, Ollena sighed. What happened at the border certainly was a blow to their kingdom, but not all is lost. There is still hope to configure Tywin Lannister. Just be smarter than him. Now that Garlan is dead too, it's time to consider his chances of creating a marriage alliance for Loras, who will be the future King, despite being a royal guard.

Ollena got up to go back to her room and plan her next move.

Upon entering her room, Ollena saw that Margery was there waiting for her. "I suppose you know the bad news."

"No, but from your face, from my mother's tears and from my father's frightened face, I suspect something.

Sitting down Ollena said, "First Willas, now Garlan and his men. He's always been a stubborn boy, trying to show himself as he fought against three opponents, but this. Something's not right here. Apart from the traitors, there's something I'm missing that I can't understand."

"Maybe there's nothing to understand, Grandma. It just happened."

"It just happened, but most of those men were from Highgarden, and I don't know on whom we can count for now. I have my suspicions on who can betray us, but not entirely."

"Has Joffrey Baratheon accepted?"

"Yes, he did. And soon you'll be meeting at the border."

"Good. Then I'll leave you," and Ollena nodded.

Dorne will surely believe herself protected now that the two armies at the border have been destroyed. But it's time to leave that part of the border alone and look to the north. Towards Jaime Lannister and his army.

Daenerys POV

A week had passed since Melisandre told her that she was pregnant and Daenerys didn't have the courage to ask Master Luwin for confirmation.

But now he was examining her and there was also her mother and Ashara.

Her mother arrived a few days ago, and she told her everything and also her improved relationship with Jon and how much she missed him.

She was brought back by her daydreams when the Master said, "Yes, your grace, you are pregnant."

And hearing that, Daenerys' heart filled with joy and sadness. Sadness because Jon wasn't here, and she couldn't share this great joy with him. But now it was also time for her to get up because today will arrive the leaders of the mountain clans, and she will have to deal with them.

"Your Grace?"

"Thank you, Master Luwin. But I would like this news not to leave this room."

" Of course, your grace," replied Luwin, bowing and exiting the room. When he left, his mother approached her and hugged her.

Daenerys smiled, "Thank you, Mother."

Then Ashara approached her too and hugged her too. "We would finally become grandmothers," she said.

"Yes, but not everything is safe until the baby is born."

"Yes, that' true," said Rhaella.

"Now I better get ready, I have to meet with the Clan Leaders,"

"And the sellsword leaders."

"Yes. But I want only Grey Worm and the Unsullied to be present, and you too can, but not other members of the court," said Daenerys. She didn't want her to listen to what she has to say to the sellswords in case there are Traitors.

As she made her way to the throne room, Daenerys met Lady Melisandre in the hallway.

"My queen," she greeted her, bowing her head. " Can I join you?"

It wasn't something Daenerys agreed to have her there, but it doesn't hurt. After all, maybe the God of Fire has already shown her everything.

As they walked in the hallway, Daenerys heard, "Be strong in the months and years to come, my queen."

"Why? What did you see?" asked Daenerys, stopping and turning towards her.

"Not much if I'm, to be honest, but I'll tell you this. You are the last woman of pure Valyrian blood in the world. You are young, attractive, fertile. And this draws many men."

"I don't care about others, just one. And now he's gone beyond the Wall to save this kingdom and the whole world."

"Yes, but he is alone, as you know. How long do you think he will be able to resist to the enemies around him. That's all I'm telling you. After death, the Kraken will come, then the Sun and in the end the Horse."

"It's a beautiful fairy tale, but I'd really like to see them fight during the winter winds. Because don't make a mistake. Winter is coming and with it the Wrath of the Wolf."

"You're a dragon," said Melisandre.

"Yes, I am. An ice dragon that will soon open its wings." Daenerys replied smirking and continuing to walk.

When she arrived at the throne room, Daenerys saw that the leaders were already there, waiting, and as she sat down, she said, "Welcome Leaders of the Mountain Clans. Thank you for accepting the invitation to the court."

"We thank you, but where is the Jon?" said one of the leaders, with a strong hard voice, more than that of the GreatJohn and Robert Glover.

"He went on a mission beyond the Wall," replied Daenerys, with her hands intertwined in her lap. "But that's not the reason you were summoned."

"Yes, we know why you summoned us. You want the wealth of the mountains for trade in the North."

"That's right. I see that..."

"We do not accept," replied the leader, cutting her off.

"What?" asked Daenerys confused

"We do not accept. With our wealth, the South will get rich, and we don't want it.

"The South? This is not about the South, but about the future of the North. As you well know..."

"The Catelyn Stark has Southern ambition. She doesn't care about the good of the North."

"It is not Catelyn Stark who rules, but King Jon, and until he returns, me."

"And the future of the house? If the Jon dies, The Brandon will be Leader. And with him the Catelyn."

"I wouldn't worry about that. The north will never be under Lady Catelyn's rule," she replied, putting her hand on her belly. "And you are also part of the North and as a result, you are subject to its law, and do your part in its progression towards the future."

"Maybe. But..."

"Death is marching on the Wall, and King Jon does everything possible to defend the North and to do that we must bond together, or we will die."

Daenerys saw that the Clan Leaders were whispering between them saying something she couldn't hear, but she was sure she had caught its rights with her words.

After a while, the leader who spoke up to right said, "You're right, and we're ready to discuss the terms of our agreement." And Daenerys nodded.

After spending a few hours drafting the deal, and Ashara, her mother, her father, Master Luwin, and the Unsullied were present, Daenerys was exhausted, but the arrival of the Hundred Spears was announced, and she was to meet them. The others left, and only Grey Worm and ten Unsullied remained.

Daenerys saw Ser Wylis Manderly enter and three more people.

A very beautiful woman, with red-brown hair, and who wore an armor and had a sword on her hips.

Then a very handsome young man with dark gray eyes, and light brown hair, and who wore a red tunic, and on his side had the sword and the knife.

Ultimately, there was an old man with long grey hair and a forked beard, also grey. But he had black eyes and the air of a great warrior.

Ser Wylis Manderly came forward and said, "Your Grace, I present to you the commander of the Hundred Lances, Laena Waters." Pointing at the red-brown woman.

"And these are her captains, Leontes," said Wylis pointing to the handsome man, "and Bors," the old warrior.

" The poets and the merchants don't lie about your beauty, or about the Valyrian beauty in general," said Laena Waters smirking, and in a flirting way, and then adding looking at her from top to bottom, with what seems a lusty eyes, "Now I understand why everyone in this world wants you or wants a piece of you."

"What do you mean?" asked Daenerys confused.

"We have heard that Khal Drogo wants to make you his Khaleesi. A certain witch told him that you will give birth to his son, The Stallion who will mount the world," replied Laena.

And when she heard that Daenerys remembered what Melisandre said, but when she was about to answer, the old warrior, Bors, said, "Bullshit, your Grace. The Dothraki hate the sea. And I'm sure if they land in the North, Jon will throw them back into the sea."

And Daenerys smiled, "I thank you for coming, and I welcome you. I'm sure Jon told you everything in the letter he sent, and I assure you they will be fulfilled."

"Yes, even though they are stories hard to believe," Bors said, taking a sip of wine from the chalice she offered them.

"We will find out if the stories are true or not when the King returns. If you want, rooms have been prepared for you," said Daenerys, weaving to a servant.

"I will return to men," replied the man, who was called Leontes. "But Laena and Bors can stay here.

"I hope that you and your men know that It will take a lot of time for the King to return. He went beyond the wall two weeks ago, and since then we hadn't had any news."

" How do you know that Jon is still alive?" asked Bors, without using Jon's king title.

"I know in my heart," responded Daenerys putting the hand over her hart

"I think it's time for us to retire, we're tired from the trip and I still have to check out our men," responded Leontes.

When almost all of the Unsullied left and the two sellswords, Laena approached her and whispered, "I know you're alone, and I'm sure sometimes you're very horny. Know that my door is always open for you my queen if you want some fun," and then patted her on the ass before she left the room. Daenerys blushed at what the woman did because she really wasn't expecting that, then she also left the room. She had to go to the Godswood since she really needed a quiet, and relaxing place.

Val POV

They had been traveling for about two weeks, and they still had as many, until they got to the capital. She never lost sight of her nephew, and she was always with Dacey Mormont. Now they were in a village, to eat and spend the night.

After eating, and while they were sitting in front of the fire to warm up, Val asked something that intrigued her a lot, "You are the only woman Kingsguard from what I understand. Why did you choose to become one?"

"Who told you I am the only one. Maybe there are others there," Dacey replied, and Val realized that she wanted to divert the topic she was referring to.

"Robb told me."

"I was sure of it. Did he do it while he was soaked in his cups of wine?" Dacey asked.

"No. He did it after having had a wonderful night of fucking," Val responded with a smirk, remembering that night.

"It doesn't surprise me at all," replied Dacey, throwing another strain into the fire, "He's always been like that, even when he was younger."

" Have you known him that long?" asked Val curious to know more about Robb's past.

"Yes. I was a ward at the capital, where I became friend with young Prince Jon, and Robb Snow. Along with many others."

"Were you in love with him?"

" In love with Robb!? Old gods, no. He is charming, but he's not one to keep to one bed."

"Not of Robb, of the King. Of Jon," said Val.

"No. He was like a brother to me. As did Arya, and as were my real sisters," Dacey replied with her eyes fixed on the fire, and Val was sure she meant something else. "When I was younger, the boy I fell in love with and wanted to spend my life with died fighting against bandits. They were sent to kill the Prince. We were young at the time and, the boy I was in love was the only one to die. We still have to find out who sent the bandits."

"Even after all these years?"

"Yes."

"They were bandits, there's nothing to discover," said Val, and then added. "What's going on between you and the silver-blonde haired man?" recalling the way they looked at each other, or how their hands touched when they were close. One thing was certain they had feelings for each other, and perhaps the man was even in love with her.

"Nothing," Dacey responded, but Val was sure she was lying.

"You're in love," Val said, and when Dacey didn't deny it, she added, "You shouldn't fight what you feel. You should step up and tell him how you feel. Or maybe your Kingsguard vow?"

But Dacey didn't answer, and Val got up and then pushed her to the ground, and hopping over her, she started kissing Dacey.

Dacey immediately broke the contact and pulled her from above her, "Are you crazy?" Dacey asked.

But Val began to laugh.

"You're crazy."

"Maybe. I just wanted to try something, and then it's too cold to stay away. If we hug each other, naked, under the blankets the heat of our bodies will warm us up. An old friend of mine said that fucking is the best way to deal with the cold.

"I suggest you go to bed. Tomorrow we will leave at first light."

Val nodded and lay down on the bed next to her nephew. And before going to sleep she took a look at Dacey, who was still next to the fire. Dacey still didn't notice, but she was completely in love with the silver-blonde haired man. And Val knew that.