Daenerys watched as the pair of men walked down the hall. The taller man with brown hair was fairly handsome and with a bad leg. The shorter man with auburn hair looked far more grizzly, his beard untrimmed, dark bags formed under his eyes indicating that he's hardly had a full night of sleep for quite some time. His blue eyes looked tired but not out of exhaustion but of grief.
Once they stood less than a meter within Daenerys, Missandei spoke, "You stand in the presence of Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, rightful queen of the Andals and Rhoynar and the First Men, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, the Mother of Dragons and Breaker of Chains."
"I've been told that you're from my homeland." Daenerys announced and the taller man nodded, "What business do you have here?"
The man with the bad leg limped a step forward, "Your Grace, I've been sent halfway across the world to meet you at the behest of my grandmother, Lady Olenna of House Tyrell." Daenerys blinked in shock.
Daenerys knew of the Tyrells of Highgarden well. Viserys spoke of how the great house of the Reach sided with their rightful king during the rebellion. Mace Tyrell laid siege to Storm's End for a year whilst his bannerman, Randyll Tarly, delivered the usurper his only defeat on the field. Their sigil is of a golden rose on a green field.
"House Tyrell of Highgarden?" Daenerys asked and the man nodded, "How do I know this is true?"
A knight stepped into view revealing Ser Barristan Selmy, "He speaks true, your grace, it's been a long time but I recognize him. He is Willas Tyrell, the heir of Highgarden."
Daenerys kept her steady gaze on Willas, "Why has Lady Olenna sent the heir of her house to me?"
"To deliver you this." Willas held up a letter towards the queen. One of the Dothraki bloodriders snatched the letter from him before he walked away and handed her the letter. The two men watched as Daenerys unrolled the letter and silently read it.
"It seems that you are to be a member of our court and adviser whilst we plan our conquest of Westeros." She declared as she held up the letter toward Ser Barristan who read it before handing it to Jorah.
"If you'll have me of course." Willas quickly replied.
Daenerys gave the man a silent look before she spoke, "Missandei please escort Lord Willas to one of our guest rooms." Missandei gave Daenerys a respectful nod before she led Willas away, "And you?" She addressed Robert, "What do you wish of me, my lord?"
"I only wish that you could provide me with a chance to bear witness of the miracle that is your children." He declared.
The Queen gave him a curious look. That can't be all he wishes. She nodded, "Very well." She stood, "Follow me." She said before she turned around and climbed up the steps up to where her chambers resided.
The knights and bloodriders surrounded Robert as he followed the queen. He eyed the back of her silver head as she led them through the maze-like corridors and stairs. He glanced at the men around him. The Dothraki men had skin like copper and hair wrapped in long braids that reached down to their hips. Ahead were the two knights who flanked the queen. Ser Barristan is famed for being one of the best swordsman Westeros has ever seen and Ser Jorah was once the lord of Bear Island but disgraced himself by, ironically, selling slaves.
Individually any of these men could put up a fair fight. Together they'd slaughter him. He'd probably won't even put up a fight.
It's not like he has the will to fight anymore.
Eventually they reached a large wooden door. The queen opened the door herself revealing a large luxurious room. Robert hardly had time to take it all in as he was led out to a terrace. The terrace doubled as a lush green garden with a pool. From this height they could see the entire city below and feel the winds that only birds have ever felt.
A hot breath came down his nape causing him to spin around. Perched above the terrace was something he's never seen before. A miracle.
"Be still." The Queen instructed, "Rhaegal is wary of strangers."
The Queen reached up and placed a gentle hand on the dragon's snout. Rhaegal's larger than any horse he's ever seen. The dragon let a noise that could almost be compared to a pur. The smoldering bronze eyes glanced at Robert. It was almost as if he was suspicious of him.
"Is it true then, what they say?" Robert asked as Rhaegal turned away and crawled up the pyramid before taking to the sky.
"What do they say?" She asked with an amused smirk.
"That you and your king conceived dragons under a bleeding star." He said as he watched the dragon circled the sky, "That you birthed three eggs."
"That sounds painful." The queen had a humorous smile.
Robert returned the jest with a chuckle of his own, "The tails about you and your husband seem taller and taller the further west you are."
"How far west did you hear of us?" Daenerys asked as she approached the parapets and looked over the city.
"There are tails of a beautiful silver queen that commands a Dothraki horde alongside the most dangerous man in Essos." He said before he asked, "Where is the king, your grace?"
Daenerys looked down at the city in silence before she said, "Join us for supper. I would like to hear more tales about myself and the king."
"Irri." Robert blinked in confusion before a young Dothraki girl walked out onto the terrace. They spoke briefly in a rough tongue he didn't recognize, "Irri will lead you to one of our guest rooms. A bath will be drawn for you. Please rest, supper is a while yet." Robert only nodded before he followed the girl back inside.
"Word of us has reached Westeros." Daenerys sighed.
"It was only a matter of time, Khaleesi." Jorah replied.
"The Lannisters, Baratheons and Starks no doubt have heard about us, not to mention our armies, fleet and dragons." She looked out at the western horizon and sighed, "Daemon would want us to prepare for the worst."
"How so, your grace?" Barristan asked.
"Poison tasters and extra guards for a start, even on the terrace." She replied before she turned to face the knights, "And invite Willas Tyrell to supper as well, I would like to know more about the situation in Westeros."
"Yes, your grace." The knights nodded as the queen looked down at the city below, "Any news from our spies in the pyramids?"
"Daario informs that there's nothing yet but he ensures that the masters tongues will slip soon." Jorah replied.
Daenerys didn't approve of the use of such young children being spies but it couldn't be helped, "Daemon left us with an invaluable network of spies and we must put our faith in them. We can't let the city fall further into chaos."
"If the king were still here -"
Daenerys cut Jorah off, "Daemon is in Asshai to learn more about our dragons. What he's doing there is just as important as everything happening here."
Daenerys purposely neglected to inform them of the 'one enemy' Daemon spoke of. He didn't want to raise any concerns over the taint. If Daemon was going mad then she must be too. What could Quaithe want and how is she invading their thoughts? Hopefully Daemon can learn about that as well.
Dinner with the Mother of Dragons was certainly different from what Robert expected. He fully expected the evening to be a stiff and tedious affair but it was anything but. The queen would tell a few jokes, she spoke stories of the places she's been to when asked and enthusiastically inquired about Westeros. She proved to be quite the delight to be around.
The Queen seemed to radiate an infectious air of lightness that affected everyone. They ate, drank and told stories. Even Ser Barristan seemed to have lowered his guard although that is in appearance only. Ser Jorah however seemed to be focused on more serious matters.
Leaning in to whisper to the queen he muttered, "Perhaps it's about time to speak about the matter at hand, Your Grace."
Her smile almost immediately dropped but she still nodded, "Yes." She sat up straight in a more cordial manner, "I'm afraid Ser Jorah is right, my lords." She turned to face the heir of Highgarden, "Lord Willas, I've considered the offer your grandmother has given me."
"And you've come to an answer, Your Grace?" He asked.
"In order for me to allow you in my court you must prove yourself suited for the task first." She declared, "You see we're facing quite a few problems in Slaver's Bay and perhaps a man with a mind like yours could be of use on this front."
Willas bowed his head, "I hope to prove to be worthy of the task, Your Grace."
"As do I." Daenerys replied with a polite smile before she turned to face Robert, "And Robert from what I hear your ship departs in the morn, I am sad to see you go."
Robert cleared his throat before he replied, "I've actually been considering prolonging my stay, Your Grace."
"Is that so?" Daenerys asked curiously, "What brought this on?"
"I've grown to admire the architecture of the city as well as appreciate the food." He let out a laugh.
"You're a bad liar." Daenerys replied, causing Robert to freeze, "What's your true purpose here?"
Long gone was the cheerful woman they had just been dining with. Here sits a Dragon Queen prepared to order her men to kill him should he give her reason to. His gaze darted around the room from the queen, Barristan, Willas and Jorah. He sighed before he downed his goblet of wine.
"I'm afraid I haven't been entirely truthful, Your Grace." He confessed, "I am not a sailor or trader, I was once a soldier for the northern army."
"You fought for the Starks?" Daenerys asked.
The calmness in her voice sent a chill down his spine, "Yes until we were ambushed during a wedding at the Twins." He caught the full attention of everyone, "The Boltons, Freys slaughtered everyone in the name of the Lannisters. I barely managed to escape when. . ." His words caught in his throat.
"When what?" Daenerys asked gently.
"A pack of wolves, a pack larger than any I've ever seen, came from nowhere and took down anyone in their path." He explained, "They killed and imprisoned anyone who fought for the Starks. My mother and pregnant wife were murdered."
Daenerys blinked in shock before Jorah asked, "And the King in the North?"
"Dead." He muttered, "They beheaded him and placed the head of his wolf on his neck."
A look of horror engulfed Daenerys. Robert noticed it wasn't just a look of shock but realization. What is she thinking? Before he could contemplate it any further the Old Bear spoke.
"The Boltons and the Starks have had a tense rivalry for generations, Your Grace." Jorah stated, "The Boltons rebelled against the Starks before it's not too out of left field for them to do this."
"And Walder Frey isn't a man of honor, he's as sly as a rat." Barristan added, gaining another shocked look from the queen, "He arrived after the Battle of the Trident had ended claiming to have been gathering his forces but Lord Tarly named him the Late Lord Frey. He took it as a slight."
The room fell silent as the queen took in all the information before she looked at Robert, "I am deeply sorry for your losses, Robert, truly I am. I know what it's like to lose a child before I could even hold him." She took a moment to compose herself before she continued, "I would be honored to house you as my guest. Now let us continue with our meal, I believe that we all deserve at least one night of leisure."
Essos was far different than anything he's ever seen. It was far hotter than King's Landing and it smelled better. After docking at Pentos he asked the captain where a former smith apprentice should go. He suggested Qohor, he claims their forges have no equal in the known world.
He found a trading caravan that'll go through Norvos and Qohor before going into the Dothraki Sea. Gendry didn't know how else to get to Qohor, he's in an unfamiliar land with people who speak unfamiliar tongues. Once again he traded his labor for safe passage to Qohor.
They traveled on a road like one he's never seen before. It was wide, straight and raised a foot over the ground, the black stone it was made of was smoother than silk. Days into the trip he found that they were called Valyrian Roads, sometimes called Dragon Roads. They were built during the reign of the Valyrian Freehold with arts that have long been lost to time.
Gendry lost track of time as they continued on the road. A month, two or maybe even three? He could not say. When they finally arrived at Norvos he couldn't fathom the words to describe his shock. He wasn't prepared for the differences between Pentos and Norvos.
The city was divided into two with one city sitting atop the other. They remained there for a week and in that time he learned more about the city. The nobles lived in the upper city and the commoners lived in the city below. It reminded him a great deal of King's Landing with the Red Keep sitting high above the city below.
It took nearly a month to reach Qohor. They rode through the Forest of Qohor for two weeks. He saw trees larger than any gate he's ever seen with golden leaves that allowed the sunlight to stream over them like stained glass. Gendry never knew there could be so many trees in one place. The trees also hid what lurked within such as wolves, bears, tigers and boars. This proved to only be a prelude to what was hidden within.
Qohor proved to be far more exotic and stranger than Pentos and Norvos combined. Men in black leather armor, spiked caps armed with spears manned the walls like statues. They must be the Unsullied slave soldiers he heard about during the trip. They were said to be the greatest soldiers in the world.
"We're here boy." The captain of the caravan stated, "The city of sorcerers. Are you certain you wish to settle here?"
"I'm a smith, it's all I know and they have the best forges in the know world here." He explained, "And it's a hell of a lot safer than where I'm from."
The man gave him a look that almost resembled pity, "If you say so lad."
Riding through the gate, Gendry felt a sensation of relief overcome him. The Lannisters would never think to look for him here.
He'll be safe here.
Castle Black survived an attack from the largest Wildling army the Watch has ever seen. They were on the verge of slaughter until Stannis Baratheon and his army arrived. The wildlings were no match for mounted men clad in armor. They captured Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall, as well as his wife and newborn son and the Wildling Princess, Val.
Stannis' men have set up camp outside of Castle Black whilst he, his family and the red priestess were housed within the castle. There were only a few men manning the walls as they had no pressing threats at the time. This allowed a passing shadow to slip through the courtyard undetected. This shadow appeared to be a black cloud of smoke.
The black cloud seemed to glide over the snow leaving no footprints behind as it slipped inside the castle. It moved through the corridors without sound. Going door to door it moved freely throughout the castle before it found its destination, the Maester's Quarters. The smoke slipped under the door like fog before it approached Maester Aemon.
The smoke cloud stood over the old maester's sleeping form. It leaned over him before a pale hand appeared from the smoke, reaching for him. Before they could touch the door swung revealing Melisandre of Asshai. The black figure quickly dissipated leaving only the maester and the priestess in the room.
Melisandre looked the room over before she heard heavy footsteps behind her, "Forgive me, my lady, but Maester Aemon is asleep." Samwell Tarly said, "He needs his rest."
Melisandre gave the room one last look before she replied, "Yes, as do we all, Samwell Tarly for the night is dark and full of terrors." She then departed leaving Sam with a chill down his spine.
That night Melisandre hardly had any sleep. She kept her eyes locked in the flames in the hearth of her chambers. Before she saw the Wall and the men of the Night's Watch fighting valiantly with Stannnis at their side. Now all she saw were a trio of shadows in the flames, unmoving, stalwart and united. What is her lord trying to tell her, who are these three figures?
"Three, there must be three." She muttered, "The lord has chosen three champions. Stannis is one of them, he must be. Who are the others?" She wondered before she remembered whose room the shadow was in, "The blood of kings." She whispered, "But who else carries the blood of kings?"
No matter what the flames showed her they never revealed the answer she wanted. It seems to be so close yet so far out of reach.
Who was the shadow and who did it serve?
