Ser Jon Connington watched as Daenerys stood out on the balcony, staring out over Pentos. It had been a week since Viserys had informed the knight and the princess of his plans to marry his sister off. The whole past week the pair had immersed themselves in learning the Dothraki language so Daenerys would have a chance of surviving with the savage tribe. Connington personally wished he could sneak off with the princess in the night to protect her from her brother, but she refused his offer of salvation. She believed her brother would not let harm come to her and still trusted him, a foolish thought in Jon's mind.
"Daenerys!" Ser Jon watched as Dany flinched at the sound of her brother's voice calling for her. She turned her head and watched as he walked into the spa towards her with a piece of clothing in his arms. "There is our bride to be. With her ever faithful shadow." Viserys sent a quick glare over his sister's head at the knight that did not go unnoticed by Jon. Viserys gave his little sister a large false smile while presenting her with the clothing, "Look a gift from Illyrio."
Dany glanced at the dress with a blank expression. "Touch it," Viserys said, "Go on, feel the fabric." She slowly raised her arm to reach out and grasp the edge of the dress feeling the soft, but very sheer fabric. "Isn't he a most gracious host?"
"He is now that you are giving him what he wants," Jon muttered under his breath and the Valyrian male's face contorted from glee to rage.
Before her brother could snap at the knight Dany cut in, "What Ser Connington means is we've been his guest for over a year and he's never asked us for anything."
Viserys's smile returned, but in a far tighter way, "Well Illyrio is no fool, he knows I won't forget my friends when I come into my throne." The princess nodded her head slightly and Viserys handed the dress over to one of the many handmaidens in the spa room, looked to the knight, and said, "Leave us, Ser. I wish for a word with my sister alone." Ser Connington held his tongue, bowed to the royal siblings and started to stroll from the room. As he reached the doorway and began to turn the corner he could hear the prince speak to the princess, "You still slouch."
Connington stormed through the manor with anger engraved on his face. He was still enraged with Viserys and Illyrio's plan to sell of princess Daenerys. He passed through the entrance to the gardens when a voice caught his attention, "Ah, Ser Connington. Just the man I was looking for." Jon cranked his head towards the voice and saw Lord Illyrio himself walking his way. The frail old man had a smile of victory on his face, almost as if he knew the knight could cause him no harm no matter what he did. "I was hoping to take a turn in the garden and was hoping you would accompany me for a time." He gave Illyrio a short nod before stepping in behind the aging man as they both began to pass through the lush foliage.
They wandered in silence for a time until the Essosi man spoke up, "I've noticed you and the princess have been taking the time to learn Dothraki, a useful skill. It will help her transition better." He smiled at the knight's steaming anger. "You can't protect the girl forever, and this is helpful for your King. He will get his army."
"But they will never truly follow him, they will only follow their Khal," Illyrio tried to cut in, but was unsuccessful. "And this arrangement only helps you protect you city from invaders. It does nothing to help either of my charges."
"So he will not get an army you say?" The older man raised his brows in false concern at the Westerosi man.
"No, but you made it look like he will get one though. In truth Viserys is selling his sister away and will get nothing in return. You will reap the spoils while that poor 16 year old girl will be the one to suffer." The red head watched as the Lord's face reddened with shame from his ruse being revealed.
They both stopped their walk, "So why not simply inform the King of what he will lose?"
Jon shook his head, "The King will lose nothing, he is so immersed in your lie and he has not held love for his sister in any way for quite some years."
Illyrio observed as the knight admitted to the boy-King's faults, and felt his plan was safe. He now knew for certain the foolish man would have no issue gifting his sister to the Khal even if he had to drag her to the wedding himself. He waited in silence as Connington sighed and walked away in defeat. The Essosi lord continued on his walk reminding himself of all the preparations he had to finish before the Khal arrived.
Now all that needed to go right was the ceremony later today.
Dany sat on her bed after her strange talk in the spa with her brother rubbing her sore feet. She was so distraught from Viserys's words she had stepping in the water before it cooled enough and burned the soles of her feet. The handmaidens had given her a salve and she tried to gently rub it into her skin without irritating the reddened flesh more. The sound of her door creaking open caused her to tilt her head to see Ser Jon walking into her room.
"Jon, I'm sorry my brother sent you away." She watched him shake his head as he walked over to her.
"It is within his rights as our King," he quirked his brows at her actions. "I'm sorry princess, did something happen to your feet?"
Dany laughed, "I was foolish and got into the bath water too early."
The knight shook his head while chuckling at his charge, "You burned them didn't you?" She nodded her head bashfully. "It's a normal thing to do, you have nerves and there is nothing wrong with that my lady."
The princess smiled up at her friend and stood to put on the dress Viserys had given her earlier. It was a beautiful pale purple to bring out her eyes with off-the-shoulder sleeves. Daenerys normally would love to wear a dress like this, except this specific one was made out of sheer fabric which barely covered her skin at all. She was rather embarrassed to wear such a dress in front of a crowd of people. She scooped up the outfit and walked over to her panel changing screen. She watched as her old friend turned his back as she went behind the screen, and smiled at his respect. She shimmied into the vulgar clothing and stepped back out to the main area of her quarters.
Ser Connington turned back around and she watched as his face went pale and his eyes shot down to the floor.
"Daenerys is that the dress your brother gave you?"
She blushed, "He said it would please the Khal."
Jon raised his head so his brown eyes caught her purple ones, "You should not be dressed in that my lady. It demeans your position."
"I'm sure Viserys just wants the Khal to like me." She watched as sadness filled the knight's eyes.
"I don't mean to speak out of turn, but if your mother saw you like this it would break her heart."
His words sunk into her mind and tears started to fill her eyes. She knew Jon was right, her mother would weep if she saw how her brother was treating her, but what could she do? She could not just abandon the only family she had left, but her brother was horrible to her. She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at her protector. She remembered what he looked like all those years ago next to her beautiful mother. Both were not young then, but they were full of life. Ever since losing his Queen the knight had aged exponentially. His bright red beard had grayed at the edges, small wrinkles had formed on his forehead from worrying so much, and his brown eyes had dulled from a rich chocolate color to a hue closer to dirt. Even with all these changes he still stood tall and proud. The best friend of her oldest brother, her mother's shield, and now her own.
"Jon?" She finally spoke up after her tears had fully dried.
"Yes, Dany?"
"I know I have to go through with this marriage, even if I know I don't want it," He sighed at her words. "However, you are my sworn sword now so I want you to be by my side no matter what." His eyes brightened with her declaration and he kneeled in front of his princess.
"I promise." He then stood and extended his arm out to Daenerys which she took with a smile and a renewed spirit.
They both left the room and walked to the front of the manor where Lord Mopatis and the Targaryen King were waiting along with many household guards for the Dothraki Khal to arrive. Viserys scoffed at their appearance together, but Illyrio simply collected the young girl from Ser Connington and placed her next to her older brother. He then led the knight to stand next to himself while they all waited in the heat of the day for the hoard. While they waited, Jon noticed Viserys's temper start to flare.
"Where is he?" The silver haired man asked Illyrio.
The older man turned and gave Viserys a blank look before responding, "The Dothraki are not known for their punctuality." Right as the words left his mouth however, everyone in the area could hear the sound of hooves approaching. Connington watched Dany tense up, but he could do nothing to comfort her at the moment. When the Khal and the rest of his riders came into view Lord Illyrio walked to meet the group on their horses.
"Respect the one who is respectful, great Khal. May I present my honored guests, Viserys of house Targaryen, the third of his name, the rightful King of the Andals and the First Men. And his sister, Daenerys of house Targaryen." As Illyrio spoke, Jon let the harsh words float through his ears as he slowly translated the introduction. He watched as the Khal's eyes passed over Illyrio and Viserys to settle on Dany. He stared deeply at her for a few seconds.
While the Khal was watching the princess Jon could make out Viserys's whispers to her, "They cut their braids when they lose a fight to show their shame. Khal Drogo has never lost a fight. He's a savage of course, but he's one of the finest killers alive. And you will be his queen." Viserys stopped his whispers when he caught the Khal's eyes, and Illyrio turned towards the siblings.
"Come forward my dear." Daenerys glanced at Jon and when she saw him nod his head she stepped forward to follow Lord Mopatis. She shakily stepped closer to Khal Drogo, but as Ser Connington took his eyes off of her he saw the horse lord watching him instead with burning curiosity. Jon bowed his head toward the Khal and the man returned it before setting his eyes on the woman in front of him. He and Daenerys held eye contact for a few moments before he reared up his horse and turned back to return the way he came with all of his men following his action.
Viserys ran up to Illyrio once all of the Dothraki had left, "What? Did he not like her?"
"If he did not like her, we would know." Illyrio then offered the Targaryen siblings a walk through the garden and as the three left the entrance to wander the knight followed behind in silence. They continued turning through the corners of the garden until they reached the bench Dany was so fond of sitting on and watching the waves. "It won't be long now. Soon you will cross the Narrow Sea and take back your father's throne. The people drink secret toasts to your health, they cry out for their true king."
Connington rolled his eyes at the flourished words, even he knew the peasants couldn't care less who sat on the throne as long as they had food. "When will they be married?" Viserys asked as they all began to turn back towards the manor.
"Mostly likely tomorrow. The Dothraki never stay in one place for too long." Dany and Jon shared a look at the Lord's words.
"Is it true they lie with their horses?" Viserys asked stupidly, and the knight rolled his eyes at his foolish words.
Illyrio chuckled, "I would not ask Khal Drogo that." Dany lightly laughed at her brother's conversation. Viserys calmly turned around and harshly slapped his sister across the face, causing her to cry out, before turning back around as if nothing had happened. Jon pulled the princess close to him and away from the King.
"Do you take me for a fool?" He pressured Illyrio.
Illyrio shook himself out of his shock at the man's reaction and answered, "I take you for a King. King's lack the caution of common men; I apologize if I've given offence."
Viserys scoffed, "I know how to play a man like Drogo, I give him a queen and he gives me an army."
Dany stopped walking, pulled away from Ser Connington, and took a deep breath, "I don't want to marry the Khal. I want to go home." Jon gripped his sword at his Lady's foolish lack of restraint. Viserys and Illyrio stopped walking and turned back towards the girl, almost shocked at how she spoke out against her brother after his previous action.
Her brother walked over to her and said, "So do I. I want us both to go home, but they took it from us. They took our mother from us as well. So tell me, sweet sister, how do we go home?"
Dany looked down for a moment before giving her response, "We could send letters to the Martells and Tyrells. Both are loyal to us and both have men I could marry in their families. Either of them could give us an army as well as safe passage back to the Seven Kingdoms." All three men were surprised at her answer. Jon was proud of her using her knowledge he taught her all those years ago, Illyrio was worried Viserys might actually heed his sister's wise words, and Viserys was angered at his sister's sudden confidence.
"Wrong: we go home with a loyal army, Khal Drogo's army. We do not even know if the Martells and Tyrells would not try to sell us out to the Usurper." He reached out to softly brush her sore cheek before he whispered, "I would let his whole tribe fuck you, all 40,000 men and their horses too. If that's what it took." He leaned over and kissed Dany's forehead while she was frozen in fear. Then he turned and walked away from the scared girl and the disgusted knight with Lord Mopatis following him.
Jon walked over to the girl who was still standing in the same place and scooped her up into his arms, carrying her to her chambers to rest after her brother humiliated her. He set her in her bed, placed the blanket over her, and lightly patted her head before quietly leaving the girl to herself for the night. As he walked to his own chamber in the manor he prayed the wedding the next day would help free his princess and not condemn her to more suffering.
The next day found Daenerys sitting beside her husband in a white dress, watching the strange dancing of the Dothraki women as the couple received wedding gifts. She met Jon's eyes in the crowd and gave the knight a small smile, but she was boiling with nerves. The Khal had not spoken a word the whole time she had been here and she worried she displeased him in some way.
A guest approaching shocked her out of her own mind as he opened up the box he was holding to reveal a handful of snakes. She gasped as he held them up with his bare hands, and heard chuckling from next to her. She quickly turned her head to see the Khal laughing at her reaction. She blushed, but steeled her nerves, "You enjoy feast, my Khal?" She hoped he would not be upset by her broken Dothraki, but instead he seemed surprised, and impressed.
However his impressed face fell when he caught the bruise forming on her cheek, and he gently passed his hand over her face, "Who laid a hand on your face?" She tensed before looking over to where her brother, Illyrio, and Ser Jon were sitting.
"My….brother." She watched as Khal Drogo shot her brother a dangerous glare.
"If he tries to lay another hand on you he will find himself without hands." She breathed a sigh of relief at her new husband's words and nodded her head. "In truth I was wondering if your father had laid his hand upon you."
His words confused her, "My father?" The Khal gestured and she followed his hand to Connington. She laughed at the mistake and shook her head at him. "Not father, my friend."
"Then why does he look at you with a father's eye?" Dany had no words to respond to her husband, but was saved by another guest bringing a gift up to the couple. The man looked to be around Jon's age and he was clearly of Westerosi descent. If his pale skin didn't give him away then his armor holding a family crest did, and if Dany was seeing it correctly then she even knew which family it was.
He bowed to the Khal before presenting his gift, "A small gift for the new Khaleesi; Songs and histories of the Seven Kingdoms."
She took the books gratefully, "Thank you, are you from my country?"
He nodded his head, "Ser Jorah Mormont,"
"Of Bear Island?" He nodded his head in surprise at the girl's correct statement and she felt pride for being well informed about her home country.
He continued his previous statement, "I served your father for many years," He turned back towards Viserys and stated in a louder voice, "Gods be good, I hope to always serve the rightful King." The man he spoke of inclined his head towards the newcomer while Jon squinted his eyes at the other knight.
As Jorah began to return to his seat Daenerys heard her knight's voice call out, "Funny if I think about it, the Mormont family sided with their liege lords, the Starks, during the rebellion."
The other man swirled around and seemed shocked to meet with the face of Ser Jon Connington. "Ser Connington? I thought you had been killed over 12 years ago along with the late Queen Rhaella." Jorah noticed how the red headed knight's eyes darkened at the mention of the passed queen.
"The rumors you heard were wrong, Mormont." Jorah gave a small smile to the other knight before quickly leaving to reach his seat near the back of the wedding.
Daenerys heard another chuckle from her left and noticed Drogo watching the scene as well, "It seems like your father does not approve of Jorah the Andal."
The Valyrian girl sighed, but did not correct her husband's mistake again, "They fight long time ago." He nodded at her words and leaned back in his chair. They both turned back to the dancing to see the women locked in sexual positions with men of the tribe, and two of the men began to fight over one of the women. The two circled each other and drew their arakhs and began to attack. The fight went on for a few minutes while both men swung and maneuvered their way around until one caught the other's neck on his sword, drew it across, and effectively killed the man. He then walked up to the corpse, cut the dead man's braid, and threw it to Khal Drogo's feet. He slammed his cup onto the table to show his approval, and the victor went back to the woman.
Dany was in a state of shock over the violent death, but Illyrio's words to her brother caught her ear, "A Dothraki wedding without at least 3 deaths is considered a boring affair." She tried to push the moment out of her thoughts as she slowly nibbled on some of the food in front of her and quietly talk with her husband. They both were invested in a conversation about the night sky when Ser Connington walked up to the dais holding a small wooden box. Khal Drogo waited until he bowed and allowed him to approach.
He walked up to Daenerys with a sad smile on his face, "I have a special gift for the new Khaleesi," Drogo smiled at the man who wielded his people's tongue so well. "A gift from her mother," Dany gasped at her friend's words and watched as he opened the box to reveal a valyrian steel crown with three dragons blowing fire onto a large ruby in the middle of the metal circle. "Your mother wore this crown for over 20 years and I have kept it safe for you my princess." The Valyrian girl jumped up and pulled Jon into a tight hug. He patted her on the back and pulled her away to place the crown upon her silver hair. Once it was settled in the middle of her head he gave her a gaze full of pride and sorrow.
"You look so much like Rhaella."
Dany beamed at the red haired knight, "Thank you so much Jon, this means so much to me. I have no words to describe my happiness." The older man smiled down at the young girl, bowed once again to the Khal, and returned to his seat. Dany also sat back down, wiping her tears as she did. She felt a rough hand on the side of her face and saw Khal Drogo giving her a small smile.
"He has much respect for you and your mother." She nodded her head in agreement. He pulled his hand away from her and rose from his seat holding his hand out for her. She grasped his hand and followed him as he led her through the crowd to a beautiful white mare next to a large black stallion. "She is for you, my Khaleesi."
Daenerys smiled a pet her muzzle, "She is beautiful." Khal Drogo stepped closer to her, picked her up by her waist, and placed her on her new mare. He then jumped onto the stallion next to the mare, and began to ride slowly away from the wedding. Before Daenerys could follow her new husband she felt a hand sharply grab her leg.
Her eyes jumped down to see Viserys harshly holding her, "Make him happy." He threatened before releasing her leg and letting her leave. She glanced back one more time once she caught up with Khal Drogo to see Ser Connington waving to her with a small smile on his face.
She waved back to her dear friend before following her husband into the night.