Chapter 35: Vaes Dothrak
In Essos...
Quentyn Martell POV
After Arianne, with the help of their uncle Oberyn and the snakes, overthrew their father, Quentyn and those who were loyal to him escaped from Sunspear knowing that she would imprison him or worse, kill him. Even though he believed his sister wouldn't go that far.
And now Quentyn was in Essos approaching Vaes Dothrak to meet the Great Khal Drogo.
Once in front of the two gigantic bronze stallions whose hooves meet a hundred feet above the roadway and form a pointed arch, he was mentally preparing for the meeting with the Khal. Quentyn heard many stories about the Khal and how strong, dangerous and intimidating he was, but Quentyn vowed not to show fear in front of him.
As they were following the road leading to the central palace, he could feel the Dotrakhi's eyes on them and he was quite scared of them. At any moment they could attack them with their bows at a distance and they could do nothing.
When they reached the center, they climbed down and Willam Wells said, "I have a bad feeling about this."
"Don't worry, nothing will happen," Quentyn reassured him.
"Fin hash yer?" asked a Dothraki warrior. (Who are you?)
"Anna hake ajjin quentyn hammer akka anha jadat tat vaes dotrack tat tihat yeri Khal Drogo," said Quentyn in Dothraki, raising his hands in sign of surrender. Luckily, he learned a bit of Dothraki language from Maester Kedry, who accompanied him, otherwise he would not have known how to make an alliance with the Khal. (My name is Quentyn Martell and I am here to meet your Khal, Drogo.)
"Yer said," said the terrifying Dothraki. (Only you.)
"Akka Maester Kedry," said Quentyn pointing his hand. (And Maester Kedry.)
The Dothraki, hesitant, nodded, but when Quentyn stepped forward, the Dotracky shook his head and said, "Vo az."
And Quentyn looked toward his companions, who nodded, and he took off his sword from his hips and handed it over to Wells.
Entering into the great tent, he saw many men at the back, and he was led on a large white box.
"Speak!" said one of the men sitting there. He was large and muscular, with a long braided tail and a mustache.
"With your permission, my master will translate for you better," said Quentyn, pointing towards Maester Kedry.
The Khal nodded, and Maester Kedry approached him.
I know that my father formed an alliance with you, to fight our enemies, by offering my sister as his bride and that you have accepted.
The Khal whispered something to Kedry, who said, "He did not."
"But I heard a rumo..."
"The price was the silver-haired girl. The dragon queen of the north," Kedry interrupted him after Khal said something to him.
Quentyn didn't know what to say, he was speechless. Apparently, his father lied to him, or maybe the Khal is lying.
"Why are you here?" asked the Khal, obviously through Kedry.
"Kemisolat," Quentyn said.
The Khal at that moment stood up and looked threateningly at him, "Anha zala jin zasqa chiori arrekoon jin ahesh rhaesh!" (I want the white woman from the snow!)
"Yer tikh zhorre mae," said Quentyn, obviously lying. Daenerys Targaryen was his destiny. She was his woman and nobody else's.
The Khal smirked, and turning to those present, started to shout words, many of which he didn't even understand, but they were certainly positive, as everyone cheered him on, ending up looking at him with a mixed look of threatening and non-threatening.
"Come, Prince Quentin. They offered us one of the tents while we stayed here," Kedry said, and Quentyn following him asked, "What did he said?"
"Not here."
Tyrion Lannister POV
Tyrion and those who accompanied him had been travelling to Vaes Dotrakhi for some weeks and now they were approaching the Dotrakhi capital.
When his father told him that it was no longer his intention to wait for the Khal's arrival in Westeros to form an alliance but to send him directly to Essos, Tyrion freaked out, but he still couldn't change his father's mind. And now they were approaching the city.
In addition to the Lannister soldiers, and a Magister from Volantis, one of their allies, and that offered support with ships, in exchange for a military hand against the Follower of R'hollor, who spoke their language and that Dotrakhi, Tyrion also hired a good sellsword from Westeros. Of course, he was a talkative one who didn't follow orders very much, but he knew how to do his job. Which was killing. And for them, it was enough. In fact, Tyrion told him that "he will pay more money than anyone else who attempts to bribe him to betray him. Because he enjoys life."
"What shit of a city," Bronn said as they were about to pass under the great bronze horses.
"They are called the horselord by the Essosi, it's normal that their city smells with all the horses in it. I'll give you an advice, though. Don't tell them if you don't want to lose your head."
As they were following the road to the palace, Tyrion saw the eyes of the Dothraki on them and heard their guide say, "Whatever happens, never draw your swords. This is their sacred city and weapons are forbidden."
"Good to know," said Tyrion, trying to imagine what the savages might do if that happened.
When they reached their destination, they got off their horses and followed their guide, who after talking to a Dothraki, and after some laughter on their part, he showed his hand to follow him, but not before they took away all their weapons.
"If they try to kill me, dwarf, I'll send you first," said Bronn, getting ready to enter.
As they entered, there was what looked like a feast, but when the Dothraki saw them, they stopped from feasting, and one of the men who previously laughed at them, walked toward a group, and leaned toward a tall man, whispering something, that he nodded, and the Magister, followed by Tyrion, approached the man, who was for sure the Khal.
"My name is Tyrion of the House Lannister son of King Tywin of the House Lannister, of the Kingdom of the Rock, and Hand of the King," said Tyrion presenting himself in the common tongue as the Magister was translating it.
"I have come here to propose an alliance, and I bring you gifts too," continued Tyrion, signaling his men to bring in the gold.
The great man looked at him with a smirk on his face and said something in his tongue.
"Why should he ally himself with you, a dwarf?"
"We've heard rumours that you intend to invade Westeros because a witch told you that Daenerys Targaryen will bear your child..."
"Vezh fin saja rhaesheseres!" He shouted out, standing up and raising the horn with wine, finishing it all in one breath, and earning the cheers of all who were around him, and who continued the feast.
Not having understood what he said, Tyrion looked to the Magister, who said, "The Stallion Who Mounts the World. But Lord Tyrion. Don't use the word witch. They don't like it."
"Kifindirgi jif anha kemik ma yer?" the Khal asked.
"Why would he do that?" Magister translated.
"Because he has no chance in the invasion. He will be defeated before he even sets foot in Westeros."
"Kisha ray zhorre jin Westeros kemik," said the Khal, pointing at a man and Tyrion saw a sun embroidered on his chest. Martell. Obviously, they sent someone to forge an alliance to resist his father and who better than Dothraki.
"He has already formed an alliance with one of Westeros, Lord Tyrion. With Quentyn Martell."
"Dorne will soon fall," he replied, and the Magister translated.
The Khal rose again and looking toward the warriors who were there, said something that made them laugh and then said something to the Magister, who approached him, "Tomorrow morning you will have your answer, Lord Tyrion. Now enjoy the feast."
While a Dothraki gave him a horn of wine.
"Magister, what did the Khal say to his men?" asked Tyrion very curious about it, especially since they were laughing at him.
"It's better not to know," said the Magister as he walked away, and after taking one last look at the Khal, who had a smirk on his lips, he headed to the Dothraki.
"What brings a prince of Dorne to Essos, and especially to the city of the Dothraki?" asked Tyrion, sitting beside him, sipping.
"Business."
"Alliances," said Tyrion. "You know this is a waste of resources. Resources, which we both know you don't have."
"What does a dwarf know about the resources I have or don't have?" He asked angrily.
"Nothing," Tyrion answered, sipping, and then adding, "Everything."
After some silence between them, the young prince asked, "Do you have a better proposal for me?"
"Depends on what you will offer in exchange for my proposal."
"Let's hear yours."
"We both know my father will break Dorne with his armies and his wealth, so we offer you the chance to keep the title of Prince of Dorne, but in return, your family must swear eternal allegiance to House Lannister, and fight for it whenever the King wishes."
"What if I refuse?"
"It doesn't matter. Dorne will be ours anyway. Your sister has neither the strength nor the allies to stand against us."
"What if my sister makes an alliance with the Frosty North?"
"It doesn't matter. As I told you, our armies are vast. Think about what we've offered you," said Tyrion as he got up and headed to where Bronn was sitting, who was in a drinking competition with a Dothraki, and sat next to them, not losing sight neither of the Magister nor Quentyn Martell.
The next morning Tyrion was summoned to the Khal's tent to find out the decision he had made regarding the alliance.
Upon entering he saw that the Magister was already there, who said, "The Great Khal has made his decision regarding your proposal, and he accepts. But your soldiers will not touch the Dragon Queen when they will sack and destroy the North. She belongs to the Khal and only to him."
" Of course," replied Tyrion, smirking, and bowing to the Khal, who looked at him with a smirk on his lips, then saying something, and Tyrion looked towards the Magister.
"We leave in three days for Volantis with all the Khalassar."
"Tell the Khal, that our ships are waiting there. You will accompany him there because I must leave today for Myr before we meet again at Volantis," said Tyrion, and after the Magister translated, the Khal nodded, and Tyrion left his tent to go and prepare himself.
In the North...
Daenerys Targaryen POV
"Your Grace," Daenerys heard a voice calling. And waking slowly and opening her eyes, she saw it was Missandei.
So she closed her eyes again to sleep a bit more, but in that moment the child started kicking. Daenerys groaned, putting the hand on her belly, caressing it.
"Daenerys are you all right?" Missandei asked a little worried.
"Yes. It's just that the little dragon-wolf woke up and started to make a fuss," she said, sitting up, with her back against the headboard of the bed.
Missandei, giggling, said, "I think that's his way of saying that he loves you," as she walked toward the window.
"Yes, he loves his mother, but he keeps kicking and kicking and he won't let her rest, and she'll be tired all day," Daenerys said, almost whispering, and with that she got the laughter of Missandei, who opened the curtains, letting in the light, and Daenerys raised her hand to shield her eyes a bit.
After getting dressed, Daenerys sat down in front of the mirror to have her hair braided. And while Missandei was doing it, Daenerys, looking first down, then looking in the mirror, asked, "Missy, do you think I'll be a good mother or a bad one?"
"Good one," she replied, smiling, braiding her hair.
"It's just that I'm so afraid of failing as a mother. I don't know, maybe it's because of my young age, or because Jon isn't here right now to give me reassurance, but I have that fear. Seeing my mother, she's a great mother, a great woman and a great lady..."
"And you are a great queen, a great woman, and soon a great mother, Daenerys," said Missandei, cutting her, stopping and looking at her, and Daenerys chuckled. Missandei, her greatest friend always has good advice for her in this matter, and she is also a great listener with whom to open up when there is no one else.
Suddenly they heard a knock at the door, "Come in!" said Daenerys, and saw Arya enter.
"Good morning Daenerys. Missandei," said the young Stark girl.
"Good morning Arya," they both greeted her at the same time, and Daenerys noticed she had something in her hand. "What have you there, Arya?"
"A plan of Jon created before he became king, and I think it is time to put it into action," replied Arya, putting it on the table, and unrolling it.
Daenerys rose up too, approaching the table. Indeed, it was the map of the North, with various points drawn, and connected with each other.
"What are they?"
"The defense of our kingdom," she answered with a smile. "Signal towers along the coast and then reaching Winterfell. And defensive forts at the entrances to the rivieras, and at their centers, with strong chains to block the enemy. Each defended by at least thirty men."
And watching this and hearing what Arya was saying, Daenerys remembered that Jon mentioned something to her about it when they were having conversations in the evenings and it was only the two of them.
"Then we'll present it at the council meeting today," Daenerys said, and Arya nodded.
After breakfast, Daenerys headed to the Council Chamber, with Arya, and was now listening to the latest news from the North and from Westeros, before presenting their defensive suggestions.
"Jaime Lannister is besieging Highgarden while the Tyrell family awaits help from their vassals. Arianne Martell has taken control of Dorne," said her father and Daenerys smiled. Now Quentyn Martell will not have the resources to attack Jon and have her. "Harold Hardyng usurped the throne, becoming the new King of the Valley, and even proposed an alliance to us," he said, giving her a sealed letter.
She took it and asked Lord Manderly instead, "Have the ships sailed to assist the King?"
"Yes, Your Grace. They should reach East Watch in about a week or two if the weather is bad, though we still have no news of the King."
"What about Mero Naaharis and his son? Did they answer? Are they coming?" Daenerys asked. He'll finally have what the fate that he deserves. For Irri and all the other women.
"Yes. Within a week they will be here. Bolton hasn't answered yet, but our sources tell us he's coming to the capital too."
" Good."
"But he is training the people of Dread Fort and from the nearest villages. They should have more than 5,000 men, not counting the 3,000 veteran soldiers and 1,500 second sons, of course."
"Well, apparently he made his plans clear with this."
"Not really. He can still use the excuse of helping the king. However, don't worry, Your Grace, the army that was at Castle Black is returning to the capital, and that will give us the upper hand against anyone."
Yes, what her father said was true, but that does not change the fact that Bolton is arming an army within his walls, and that his loyalty may be questionable. As she thought about what to do, Daenerys noticed the silence of the lords.
"You are quite silent, my lords. Do you disagree with what we have discussed?" she asked.
The lords became red and embarrassed, perhaps even a bit offended.
"It's not that we disagree, Your Grace, but the fact is, what will stop you from making false accusations against the other lords?" said Lord Manderly.
"Loyalty, Lord Manderly," she said not looking at him, but at her, father. Then turning to lord Manderley added, "As long as you are loyal to the King, you have nothing to worry about."
Lord Manderly nodded lowering his head while she saw out of the corner of her eye, Robett Glover huffing. Glover was starting to make her lose patience with these attitudes of his, and if he wasn't the heir to Deepwood Motte, she would have already put him in his place and removed him from the Court. That was also one of the main reasons why King Eddard gave him a seat on the council and a position, lately.
"Have you anything to add, Lord Robett?"
"No, Your Grace. You have our unconditional support in this matter," said Glover in his strong voice and seriously.
"Thank you. Now let's move on to the next topic," said Daenerys as she glanced toward Glover, who lowered his gaze. She may be young, she may be a woman, but she was the queen, and Jon has entrusted her with the ruling of his kingdom, and she certainly will not disappoint him in this regard.
"Your Grace," Daenerys heard her call, and looking towards the voice, coming, it was her father's voice calling his attention. "It's all right, Your Grace."
"Yes, Lord Hand. Just a little tiredness and thoughts caused by the pregnancy," she replied, drinking some water from her goblet. "Please continue."
"As I was saying, thanks to the trades with our allied cities of Essos, we have a large amount of food for the winter, besides what is produced in glass gardens at Winterfell."
"Good. We do not know how long this winter will last, so it is better to be well supplied and of course, prepare for the worst. How is the expansion of the capital going?"
"A lot of houses have been built during this time, mostly wooden, of course, but it's only temporary until winter is over," her father said.
"Good. But now the time has come to present you the king's plans for the defense of the North," said Daenerys nodding to Arya, who stood up, placing the map on the table and everyone present stood up to look at it. Even Lord Manderly did so, though he did it with difficulty.
"The king wants signal towers to be built along the coast and then inland so that he will know when one of his lords is in danger and go to help him, or when an invasion is coming," said Arya, glancing between the map and the lords.
"But what will stop the enemies from lighting them up to lure us into a trap?"
"They will be very tall and will be protected by the best and most loyal soldiers," Daenerys spoke, and Arya nodded.
"Then, in addition to this, he wants four forts to be built at each canal leading to the center of the north, or to other cities and towns, and that they may be navigable," said Arya.
"With your permission, Your Grace, but if we have 500 ships on each side of the north that protect the bays, why create these forts?" asked Manderly, and Daenerys was sure he felt a little offended about it. Or at least his pride was because he considered his house to be one of the most skilled on the sea.
"House Greyjoy is building a fleet. Euron has become the new King of the Iron Islands and has something in mind. And we all know that no one is better at sea than them," said her father, and she was surprised. She didn't hear anything about it, and if what her father says was true, then they really had to build these forts. Especially considering Melisandre's visions. The Kraken will bring the wrath of the Seas to Winterfell.
"Then we support this project," said Glover, surprising everyone.
"Well then. If there's nothing else, the meeting is over," said the king's hand and the lords left the room.
But before he left Lord Manderly said, "Your Grace, I would like to speak to you in private when you have time."
" Of course, my lord. You may speak now if you wish."
"I'm an old man, very tired, and very fat. I no longer have the strength of my youth to participate in this reunion and to debate. So I'd like to ask if you'll accept my son Willys taking my place on the council as the new Master of the fleet so that I can return to White Harbour, and retire from politics."
"Certainly," said Daenerys. "Tell him to come to court to be appointed.
The Lord nodded and left.
When she and her father were left alone, he approached her and gave her a scroll, then poured some wine into a goblet drinking it and leaning against the table.
Queen Daenerys,
I have received some news that you are searching for Dragonglass across the world, and I would like to propose an alliance between our two kingdoms. Dragonstone is on a mountain of Dragonglass, and I am sure that this will help you a lot, because there is a very large amount of it.
I have also heard that your husband, the king, has been lost Beyond the Wall, and definitely dead as a result, so I would like to propose a union. A double marriage, my son, Prince Malekit, and you, and myself and the widowed queen, Ashara Stark.
I look forward to your reply.
Greetings.
Godfrey of House Blackbourn, King of Dragonstone.
" He is joking, isn't he?" she asked, throwing the scroll over the table.
"No. But we don't need his alliance anyway, for now." After some time in silence while, she was thinking about it, a bit angry, and signing several documents, Daenerys heard her father say, "Lord Manderly has decided to postpone the marriage between Rhaegar and Wynafryd until the king returns. The girl has returned to White Harbour."
"What?"
" I am sure he fears that if the King is dead our power will diminish, and we will face a rebellion."
"Then I'll talk to him when his son is appointed," she said, and her father nodded, sitting next to her.
Feeling his gaze upon her, Daenerys sighing, and rolling her eyes, asked, "What is it?"
Sipping from his goblet, with his back resting against the back of the chair, he said, "Rhaegar left for Essos a week ago in disguise, to hire the Golden Company."
"Good," replied Daenerys smiling, but on second thought, another doubt came to her mind. "Father, how are we going to pay them, though? When I suggested it, it was more to frighten the lords than anything else."
"Don't worry about it. Jon and I will take care of it."
"What do you mean?" she asked curiously.
Looking around earlier, her father leaned towards her, whispering, "With the treasure hidden under Winterfell?"
"Treasure?" Daenerys asked out loud, chuckling, and surprised.
"Quiet," he whispered. "No one must know about this. "
"And tell me father, where is this treasure?"
"Down in the crypts, in a room with a sealed door that only Stark blood can open."
"And who knows about it?" she asked, without bursting out laughing about such nonsense. Jon never told her anything about a treasure, or Arya or Ashara. None. It must be a lie for sure.
"Jon and me only," he said, sipping from the chalice. "But you must tell no one."
"And where did he get this treasure from?" Daenerys asked seriously this time because he realized her father was serious about it.
"I don't know. But he brought it from Essos when he returned with the Unsullied. It was night when the Unsullied carried it down so no one else knew about it."
"Why didn't Jon tell me?" she asked very upset about it.
"He was waiting for the right moment, I guess. He didn't want to use the treasure without thinking."
"So he'll be mad at me about it!" snapped Daenerys, leaning against the back of the chair, and crossing her arms in front of her chest, despite her belly.
"No, he won't," replied her father, looking towards her.
"If he's got all that gold there, why didn't he hire mercenaries before?" she asked, still angry, instead.
"Come on Daenerys, you know very well that mercenaries are not reliable that much. Someone could always come up with an offer..."
"It doesn't matter! If he loved me and trusted me, he should have told me!" she shouted.
"Dany..."
She didn't let him finish, getting up she left the room furious, despite her father's calls, which were forgotten in the distance by her anger, and headed to her old room. She didn't want to sleep in the room of the one who didn't trust her.
Jon Stark POV
Jon and his men were tired, hungry and freezing as they kept heading towards the Camp of Giants, and if he had, to be honest, it was as if they were circling around. Snowstorms kept hitting them every few days and they always lost their way. They only managed to make their way through the snowdrifts thanks to Six-skins and his bear.
According to the Wildlings, it was that bastard of the Night King, who was doing this to them because he wanted to stop them from reaching the Giants and Hardhome.
But now anyway, even though there was no snowstorm, they were still struggling to proceed, and Jon felt the icicles on his beard, forming.
"Are you all right, boy?" asked the great red-bearded man, with his loud and powerful voice.
"No, I am not," said Jon, with his sword on his back, cold, almost trembling, and looking at the others they trembled enough too. Not the big man, though. Apparently, the Wildlings were used to it, much more than they were.
"You're in the true North, boy," he laughed. "It's always been like this here. But that bastard makes it even worse. He's close, I can feel it."
"How far to your clan?"
"I don't know. We're definitely lost by now, but the fucker sent the eagle up. We mustn't stop, or we'll be fucked. Going to be icicles like the bastard of the night shit."
As they were marching, in which Tormund kept talking, telling about his sons and daughters and that they are surely in Hardhome, and other of his adventures beyond the wall, he suddenly said, "You know, there's a secret on this side of the Wall to keep your balls from freezing off.
"And What is it?"
"Keep moving. Walking is good, fighting is better, fucking is best."
And he started laughing, making other people laugh too. "But your beauty isn't here, so keep move your ass."
Old gods one of these days he is going to kill this red-bearded, but thought, he has a point. How much he would like to be in Winterfell right now, in the arms of a young silvery-blonde-haired maiden, with the warm blood of the dragon inside, who would surely be able to warm him up.
"I don't know if we can survive another attack by that damn thing," Jon heard Arthur say. In fact, of those who left with him the first camp survived only the four Wolfsguards, Robb, the Great Jon, the Commander of the Night Watch Rodrik, and the three Wildings. All the others were dead. He had left with fifty men from Castle Black, excluding those present, two more Wolfsguard and the ten Night's Watch, and now only they were left.
"We must reach the giants' camp as soon as possible," Jon said. "And we must return to Winterfell to prepare the North."
"I'm sure Daenerys is preparing it properly."
"I don't doubt it, Arthur. But that's not what I'm talking about, it's about defense. For now, our greatest defense is the Wall, but what if it falls? And there is also those damn Bolton and the Tully."
"I'm sure Daenerys is handling them well," said Arthur. "She is a Targaryen and they had good mind and instinct on this regard."
"In terms of resources and armament, I'm sure she and Lord Aerys know what to do, but not in terms of defense. Even I don't know what I'm going to do in that regard yet either, but I do know that we need to increase the pace of our march.
"Maybe. But we're all tired, even I don't know if I'm going to make it to that camp," said Arthur, and Jon didn't disagree with him on that. Even Jon doesn't know if he will survive this expedition and keep his promise. Return to Dany. But he hoped if he should die here, she moves one and finds a good man for her.
Shaking his head from that kind of thoughts, he said, "Then let's stop for a while," said Jon and saw Sixskin approaching, on his bear.
"We're half a day away from the camp, boy. We don't need to stop. We'll rest once we get there with a piece of mammoth in our hands," said the old man laughing as he moved away.
He and Arthur exchanged a glance and he heard Viserys say, "That old man is completely crazy! Hope he is the first one that Icy boy will claim!" And everyone chuckled.
"Lord Umber? What do you say?"
"Might as well listen to that bastard. If there's meat to eat, better hurry up," replied Umber laughing too and all of them resumed their march, still following the old man and his bear.
When the sun came down, they finally reached the camp, and from a distance, it seemed in an almost pitiful state. Who knows what it will be like up close Jon thought, hearing a pat on his shoulder and the laughing voice saying, "Come, boy! Come to meet my clan!"