Chapter 11:
Author's Notes: Hey everyone! I know this late but I have a good reason. I woke up the next day after I had updated last, only to have my back seize up on me. Apparently the mattress I was using wasn't right for my back and my back finally went on strike. I couldn't sit up for long periods and had to visit a chiropractor a few times this past week. Anyways I am finally able to sit up for a bit now and I decided to put this up a.s.a.p. Thank you to everyone who reviewed last time around. You guys are the reason I'll keep going for as long as I possibly can.
As they rode past the stakes and pits that surrounded the eunuch encampment, Spencer could hear Grey Worm and his sergeants running one company through a series of drills with shields, shortswords and heavy spears. Another company was bathing in the sea, clad only in white linen breechclouts. The eunuchs were very clean, she had noticed. Some of the sellswords smelled as if they had not washed or changed their clothes since the Iron Throne had been lost, but the Unsullied bathed each evening, even if they'd marched all day. When no water was available they cleansed themselves with sand, the Dothkari way.
Spencer kept glancing at Ashley, something she seemed to be doing more and more as each day passed. She knew she had been treading dangerously when she had escaped from the ships to reach Ashley's pavilion. The look on Ashley's face had been enough to tell her that she could not try her anger again, she might not survive it. Apart from that, Ashley had been right, she really did favour her above the others. There had been some murmurings about that amongst the handmaids but when Spencer had saved Ashley's life, it had been put down to her skill with a sword. She knew, however that maybe there was something more than just someone to talk to. She knew because she felt the same way. The eunuchs knelt as they passed, raising clenched fists to their breasts. Spencer watched as Ashley returned the salute.
Children ran behind their horses, skipping and laughing. Instead of salutes, voices called to Ashley on every side in a babble of tongues. Some of the freedmen greeted her as "Mother", while others begged for boons or favours. Some prayed for strange gods to bless her, and some asked her to bless them instead. Ashley smiled at them, turning right and left, touching their hands when they raised them, letting those who knelt reach up to touch her stirrup or her leg. Many of the freedmen believed there was good fortune in her touch.
"I am not a god you know," Ashley stated as she faced Spencer again, "but these people seem to think so."
"They see your goodness and the way you fought for their freedom. It is not a small matter to them and because of it they want to worship you. Isn't that what any leader wants?" Spencer asked as she watched the emotions play on the Khaleesi's face.
"No. A good leader wants respect, something he or she has to earn. A good leader wants to be able to walk freely among the people, hoping that all is well with them as it is with him or her. That is all I want. If I live freely, with no worries or war or hunger then my people should have the same."
"Then they will," Spencer answered.
"So, apart from continuously disobeying me, what have you been doing?" Ashley asked, watching as a small blush formed on Spencer's cheek at the mention of her indiscretions.
"Talking to you Ashley,"
"One would think so wouldn't they? Seeing us as we are now but sometimes it feels as if I seem to be the only speaking truthfully and openly."
"I do speak openly with you," Spencer began.
"But not truthfully?" Ashley interrupted.
"I…Ashley, if you find the time, later, I will tell you everything."
"Should I be worried?" Ashley asked, smiling but fearful at the same time.
"No! No you should not," Spencer replied. At least I hope once you hear me out, I'll still be alive to tell you more.
"Good," Ashley said as she nodded. She brought her silver closer to Spencer's mare and leaned in towards the blonde. "I also have a few things to confide in you. Some that I hope you will agree to and accept."
Spencer looked into Ashley's eyes, watching the swirling purple and brown roll together before clearing into brown again. "If you must," she replied with a smile.
Ashley stared in surprise before laughing out loud at Spencer's boldness. This was why she enjoyed spending time with the Westeroi girl. All those who surrounded her day and night did not share Spencer's boldness or humour towards her. They all fear me too much. That has to change. She stopped to speak to a pregnant woman who wanted the Mother of Dragons to name her baby when someone reached up and grabbed her left wrist. Turning, she glimpsed a tall ragged man with a shaved head and a sunburnt face. "Not so hard," she started to say, but before she could finish he'd yanked her bodily from her saddle. The ground came up and knocked the breath from her, as her silver whinnied and she heard Spencer call out her name. Stunned, Ashley rolled to her side and pushed herself onto one elbow…
…and then she saw the sword.
"There's the treacherous sow," he said. "I knew you'd come to get your feet kissed one day." His head was bald as a melon, his nose red and peeling, but she knew that voice and those pale green eyes. "I'm going to start by cutting off your teats." Ashley was dimly aware of Spencer calling out for help. A freedman edged forward, but only a step. One quick flash and he was on his knees, blood running down his face. Mero wiped his sword on his breeches. "Who's next?"
"I am." Arstan Whitebeard leapt from his horse and stood over her, the salt wind riffling through his snowy hair, both hands on his tall hardwood staff.
"Grandfather," Mero said, "run off before I break your stick in two and bugger you with…"
The old man feinted with one end of his staff, pulled it back, and whipped the other end faster than anyone would have believed. The Titan's Bastard staggered back into the surf, spitting blood and broken teeth from his mouth. White beard placed himself in front of Ashley and Spencer. Mero slashed at his face and the old man jerked back. The staff thumped Mero's ribs, sending him reeling. Arstan splashed sideways, parried a looping cut, danced away from the second, checked a third in mid swing. Spencer was off her horse now, pulling Ashley to her feet when they both heard a crack. They saw a jagged bone jutting from Mero's calf and as he fell, he twisted and lunged at Whitebeard. Arstan swept the blade aside almost contemptuously and smashed the other end of his staff on the big man's temple. Mero went sprawling, blood bubbling from his mouth as waves washed over him. A moment later, the freedmen washed over him too, knives and stones and angry fists rising and falling in a frenzy.
Ashley turned away, sickened. She was more frightened now than when it had been happening. He would have killed me. She turned her head into Spencer shoulder. And Lysa.
"Your Grace." Arstan knelt. "I am an old man, and shamed. He should have never gotten close enough to seize you. I was lax. I did not know him without his beard and hair."
"No more than I did." Ashley took a deep breath to stop her shaking. Enemies everywhere. "Take me back to my tent. Please."
By the time Mormont had returned, Ashley was huddled in her lion pelt, sipping a cup of spice wine, with Spencer sitting not too far away from her, also drinking the same wine. "I had a look at the river wall," Ser Jorah started. "It's a few feet higher than the others and just as strong. And the Meereenese have a dozen fire hulks tied up beneath the ramparts…"
Ashley cut him off. "You might have warned me that the Titan's Bastard had escaped."
He frowned. "I saw no need to frighten you, Your Grace. I have offered a reward for his head…"
"Pay it to Whitebeard. Mero has been with us all the way from Yunkai. He shaved his beard off and lost himself amongst the freedmen, waiting for a chance for vengeance. Arstan killed him."
Ser Jorah gave the old man a long look. "A squire with a stick slew Mero of Braavos, is that the way of it."
"A stick," confirmed Ashley, "but no longer a squire. Ser Jorah, it's my wish that Arstan be knighted."
"No."
The loud refusal was surprise enough. Stranger still, it came from both men at once.
Ser Jorah drew his sword. "The Titan's Bastard was a nasty piece of work. And good at killing. Who are you, old man?"
"A better knight than you, ser," Arstan said coldly.
Spencer could see the confusion begin on Ashley's face. I guess I might not have to wait until later to tell her the truth. It's begun to appear now, she thought fearfully. I told Ser Mormont I recognized Arstan from my time at King's Landing.
"You said you were a squire," Ashley stated in confusion.
"I was, Your Grace." He dropped to one knee. "I squired for Lord Swann in my youth, and at Magister Illyrio's behest I have served Strong Belwas as well. But in between, I was a knight in Westeros. I have told you no lies, my queen. Yet there were truths I have withheld, and for that and all my other sins I can only beg you forgiveness."
"What truths have you withheld?" Ashley did not like this. "You will tell me. Now."
He bowed his head. "At Qarth, when you asked my name, I said Arstan. That much is true. But it is not my true name."
She was more confused than angry. He has played me false, just as Jorah warned me, yet he saved my life just now.
Ser Jorah flushed red. "Mero shaved his beard, but you grew one, didn't you? No wonder you looked so bloody familiar…"
"You know him?" Ashley asked the exile knight, lost.
"I saw him perhaps a dozen times…from afar at most. But every man in the Seven Kingdoms knew Barristan the Bold." He laid the point of his sword against the old man's neck. "Khaleesi, before you kneels Ser Barristan Selmy, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, who betrayed your House to serve the Usurper Robert Baratheon."
The old knight did not so much as blink. "The crow calls the raven black, and you speak of betrayal."
"Why are you here?" Ashley demanded of him. "If Robert sent you to kill me, why did you save me?" he served the Usurper. He betrayed Rhaegar's memory and abandoned Nicholas to live and die in exile. Yet if he wanted me dead, he need only have stood aside…"I want the whole truth now, on your honour as a knight. Are you the Usurper's man or mine?"
"Yours if you will have me." Ser Barristan had tears in his eyes. "I took Robert's pardon, aye. I served him in Kingsguard and council. Served with the Kingslayer and others near as bad, who soiled the white cloak I wore. Nothing will excuse that. I might still be serving at King's Landing still if the vile boy upon the Throne had not cast me aside, it shames me to admit. But when he took the cloak that the White Bull had draped about my shoulders and sent men to kill me that very same day, that was when I knew I must find my true king and die in his service…"
"I can grant that wish," Ser Jorah said darkly.
"Quiet," said Ashley. "I will hear him out."
"It may be that I must die a traitor's death," Ser Barristan said. "If so, I should not die alone. Before I took Robert's pardon I fought against him on the Trident. You were on the other side of that battle, Mormont, were you not?" He did not wait for an answer. "Your Grace, I am sorry I misled you. It was only to keep the Lannisters from learning that I had joined you. You are watched, as your brother was. Lord Varys reported every move Nicholas made, for years. Whilst I sat on the small council, I heard a hundred such reports. And since the day you wed Khal Drogo, there has been an informer by your side selling your secrets, trading whispers to the Spider for gold and promises."
He cannot mean… "You are mistaken." Ashley looked at Jorah Mormont and did not fail to notice Spencer's fear and guilt showing through her eyes. "Tell him he's mistaken. There's no informer. Ser Jorah, tell him. We crossed the Dothkari sea together, and the red waste…" Her heart fluttered like a bird in a trap. "Tell him, Jorah. Tell him how he got it wrong."
"The Others take you, Selmy." Ser Jorah flung his longsword to the carpet. "Khaleesi, it was only at the start, before I came to know you…before I came to love…"
"Do not say that word!" She backed away from him. "How could you?" What did the Usurper promise you? Gold, was it gold?" the Undying had said she would be betrayed twice more, once for gold and once for love. "Tell me what you were promised?"
"Varys said…I might go home." He bowed his head.
I was going to take you home! Her dragons sensed her fury. Viserion roared, Drogon beat the air with black wings and Rhaegal twisted his head back and belched flame. I should say the word and burn the two of them. Was there no one she could trust to keep her safe? "Are all knights of Westeros as false as you? Get out, before my dragons roast you both. What does roast liar smell like? As foul as Brown Ben's sewers? Go!"
The two men rose stiffly and turned to leave. Spencer rose as well, knowing there was nothing she could say now to stop whatever punishment was coming her way.
"I did not dismiss you." Ashley said as she faced the sea.
Spencer turned around and went towards Ashley's seat. She knelt down and awaited her fate.
"You knew didn't you? You knew about both of them and yet you said nothing to me." Ashley did not let her answer. "If Ser Mormont is serving the Usurper…then who are you?"
Spencer bowed her head. "My name is Spencer Carlin. I am the first daughter of Arthur Carlin, the former hand of the Usurper and Lord of Winterfell. I came here under the pretense of Lysa Petyr and was taken in by Ser Mormont who knew my father and respected his wishes to take care of me."
Ashley's dragons rose into the air as they felt Ashley's anger rise further. "Everything you told me…" She took a deep breath willing herself to calm down. "Explain yourself."
"My father was appointed the Hand by the Usurper and when he was to travel to King's Landing, it was decided that I would be the heir's future wife. My sister travelled with us. When the Usurper died, his son took over his throne. The queen was suspicious of my father and of what my family knew so she accused my father of treachery and executed him. She would have slain my sister and I had it not been for my father's foresight. We escaped the eve of his death and hid out in the town until my sister boarded a ship to Winterfell. Only one of us could go so I stayed behind to keep her safe. One of my father's men travelled with me until we reached Pentos and I found Ser Mormont there. We travelled together as you were wed to Khal Drogo and required his services. I was to remain unknown until I could return to my family but you saw me that day at the river."
"Were you paid to spy on me as well? Along with Mormont so you could both go home in return for my head?"
"No! No, I never intended to be involved with that but I could not object."
Ashley remained silent after Spencer had finished speaking. I don't know what to do anymore. Everyone who I trusted turned out to be liars.
"Ashley I…."
"Khaleesi or Your Grace. You lied to receive the right to call me that and you will never address me as such again."
Spencer swallowed back her tears. "Your Grace, I may have lied about who I am and what was going on around you but I never lied about my feelings towards you or how I viewed our friendship. I know that you cannot forgive such a betrayal and I am ready to accept my fate now."
But I loved you. I loved you. "Leave me. Go back to Ser Mormont's tent and await my decision there. My bloodriders will be guarding you all so do not attempt to escape."
Spencer looked up again, hoping to see Ashley's face one more time. She saw how tense Ashley was and the flush on her neck indicated her anger. "Khaleesi, I never meant to cause you any harm. I…your friendship and the time we spent together will mean more to me than you will ever know."
Ashley did not respond as she heard Spencer leave. Then the tears fell.
Explanations:
Mero/The Titan's Bastard: a slaver that Ashley and her army had defeated, among others, in Yukai, a city they seized before Astapor.
Ser Barristan Selmy/Arstan Whitebeard: he was humiliated by Aiden's character in the books and his pride in his 'white cloak' (the white cloaks were worn by the Kingsguards, knights whose purpose is to serve and protect the king at any time so they are always with the king.) His wounded pride was what made him join Ashley's army.
Ashley did not know Spencer's real name. I know I have been calling Spencer, Spencer, instead of Lysa but that was just so that there'd be less confusion so that's why Ashley asked her who she really was in this last chapter.
I hope that cleared things up a bit for this chapter. Other characters will be explained later in the story. Oh and before I forget, the next installment in this story isn't out yet so the story is going to become more and more my imagination and how I think things will go in the coming chapters. Thanks again for reading and feed me!