Chapter 5

King Robert Baratheon had never been a patient man, but where the Targaryens were concerned he was even less patient. The Hand of the King had called for a private meeting and had been arguing for what felt like ages to the king about lifting the price on Daenerys Targaryens head over her sister's threat.

„Robert, I am telling you! You have nothing to win and a lot to lose in this matter!" Lord Eddard repeated.

„Ridiculous! I never thought of you as coward but you want to run from a little girl!" The king snickered.

"Robert, think about it!" Ned yelled. The king gave him a look that said he was pushing their friendship. Ned took a deep breath and continued in a more respectful tone.

"She has dragons! Have you forgotten what you learnt in history class? Aegon took the Seven Kingdoms with just three dragons and barely 5000 men! She has more than twenty! Daenerys Targaryen isn't a threat to you!"

"But she doesn't have an army!" The king argued.

"She doesn't need one! She can burn us to the ground from the skies and we can't do a thing about it!" Ned wondered if Robert had always been that stubborn and narrow sighted or if the years of drink were taking a toll.

"And what if the sisters unite? A Dothraki army of 40.000 men and twenty dragons led by two Targaryen princesses!" Ned knew that the Dothraki would never cross the Narrow Sea but he was running out of ideas. Robert had to see reason.

"Enough! I stand by my decision! I am the king and I don't have to give any explanations!" Robert shouted and left the room.

Lord Eddard slumped into the closest chair. He wondered if had been always blind to his friends character. Had it been a mistake to renounce to the Iron Throne in favour of Robert? Lord Eddard had never craved power or expected it given that he was the second born son but he always thought it was a Lord's and a King's duty to serve the people. He always kept that in mind and he believed he was a good Lord to his people. At least he hoped he was. But Robert had always been abusing his position being more interested in drinking and whoring. Ned felt as if he had met the king for the first time when he arrived to the capital. From the hallway he could hear the bickering of his daughters Sansa and Arya. Lord Eddard rolled his eyes, wishing his wife was with him or yet better wishing to be back at Winterfell.

Aeryelle hadn't been to the clearing in days. The sky had been clear for days and she hadn't dared riding Daemon. She needed a horse. She tenderly petted Daemons head while he was fast asleep. He was loyal and he loved her, but a horse would draw less attention. Then she heard someone approaching and turned around. Jamie couldn't have been injured too badly, if he was already coming back. But it wasn't Jamie, it was Ser Barristan.

"Is he…" Her voice trailed off…

"He will live." The knight replied and Aeryelle felt the weight drop. She slumped onto a tree trunk.

"It was a masterful performance the two of you gave. I believe there are no two other fighters who could have done it." The old man praised and smiled warmly.

She smiled back: "Except the man who taught us."

"You are too kind princess. I might still be a good fighter but my time has passed." He said sadness in his eyes.

"Nonsense! Your attacks after the melee proved otherwise. Even if they were staged it was almost impossible for me to block them." Aeryelle insisted and meant it. Of course she had been fighting two men, but still Ser Barristan was one of the finest fighters alive.

"I wished others would see it that way, but Robert Baratheon has dismissed me this morning for being too old to be his Lord Commander."

"Then he is more stupid than I thought." Aeryelle was furious. It was one thing hunting down the family threatening the throne but it was another thing to shun her friend.

"There is more. – The assassins haven't been called back. Your sister is still in danger." Ser Barristan explained concerned. "You have to act now otherwise Robert will never take you seriously." He added.

"Then it is over. I'm no conqueror. I suppose he knew all along." Aeryelle sounded discouraged and lowered her head.

"You might not be a conqueror but you are a leader!"

"I wish. I'm handy with a sword but that is about it!" She insisted.

"Don't you remember?"

"Remember what?" She lifted her head.

"You were about ten and the dogs in the main court went lose. Your father ordered all the dogs to be killed." Ser Barristan started to tell.

"Yes, I remember. I assembled all the children and arranged for a search party. They all agreed because we all loved dogs. But those dogs had been starved and attacked us. Two children died." Her expression had gone dark and for once she looked her age of 34. "Why would you want me to remember that?"

"I know it was tragic but you are missing the point. All those children followed you! They didn't know you were a princess but they followed you anyhow. Your conviction, your heart and you wit are worth more than 200.000 men! People will always follow you and if you let me, I will be the first one!" With that he went down on one knee and said:

"My queen, would you allow this old knight honour of serving in your Queensguard? I pledge my sword and my life to you. I shall die protecting you, if I have to."

Aeryelle was moved to tears.

"Rise my friend. Never shall you kneel before anyone. And it is I who is honoured that you serve in my Queensguard and as the Hand of Queen, for there is no one better suited for the job and no one whom I trust more." Ser Barristan rose and before he knew it, Aeryelle had hugged him fiercely and he hugged her back, awkwardly at first and then strong as a father.

"Now was must make a plan. You have to act quickly. Robert has to see that you are not making empty threats. There are still families how consider him a usurper. I am thinking of House Velarion and House Celtigon to start with. Those you must get on your side. Dragons are a good but you will need an army." He had obviously been given it quite some thought.

"Oh but I have an army." Aeryelle said casually.

"What?" Ser Barristan exclaimed.

"As I said, Valyria has risen." She said and seeing the confused look of Ser Barristan she explained:

"After the Doom of Valyria many people like King Tommen II of Casterly Rock went to the ruins in search of wealth and some just stayed. Because they didn't want to share the wealth they spread the rumours of the place being poisonous. It is a well-hidden secret only known by those brave enough to go there and fight their way through the stone men."

Ser Barristan was stunned. "How many people live there? Did you get the dragons there? How is it kept a secret?" She grinned, she had expected all the questions.

"I don't know how many people exactly, maybe 500.000 in the capital and about 100.000 in the smaller cities around it. They had been trying to raise dragons until I arrived there. After they realised who, what I was it was all easy. I helped them raise the dragons and they swore my fealty."

"So you are Queen of Valyria?" Ser Barristan asked.

"No, I guess more like protector of Valyria. But if I decide to reclaim my birth right they will follow me and come out in the open." She said her voice firm.

"Are you sure?"

"I'll bet my life on it." She responded and Ser Barristan thought she sounded like a queen.

"How many men do you have?"

She smiled and answered: "50.000. Will that do?"

Now he smiled: "That's do nicely. Let's begin!"

She climbed onto Daemon's back and petted him. Then she signalled to Ser Barristan. He was nervous but didn't hesitate and climbed behind her. When Daemon rose Aeryelle could hear the old night sigh with delight. He hadn't expected any more adventures at his age and there he was riding behind his queen on a dragon.