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Chapter 6

When they arrived at Valyria Ser Barristan felt sorry for Aeryelle, for Valyria had not risen. There were indeed many living people living there, but it was far from the glorious city of the past. People had tried to rebuild the ruins by using the means available, which often included curved parts of boats, old cloth being used as a roof, and broken stones of all colours and shapes. The result was a mix of crooked and decaying huts.

The inhabitants were not any better. Ser Barristan saw people from every known city but most of them seemed to be sick or come down in the world. But the worst was the overall stench. Ser Barristan at first thought he might have gone soft at all the years at the Red Keep but one look at the princess told him, she felt the same. She looked embarrassed.

„I guess I saw only, what I wanted to see." She answered apologetically.

„Valyria in inhabited again. So much is true. Let's see if they will give us an army. Who is in charge?" Ser Barristan tried to be practical. „That would be Toben. You could say he is the mayor. He lives this way!" She pointed to street to their left.

Toben was a bravoosi in his fifties and seemed almost refined in his surroundings, despite the smell of stale beer on his breath.

"An army? Are you insane?" He laughed.

"But you said you would follow me, if I ever decided to reclaim my throne!" Aeryelle only wanted to wake up from this nightmare.

"Good lord! This was drunk talk! We were dreaming of glory we knew we would never achieve!" Toben's voice showed pity and Aeryelle felt her anger rise.

"You said you could put together 50.000 men!" She yelled feeling humiliated in front of Ser Barristan.

Toben laughed: "Have you seen any soldiers here? We might be able to put together 2.000 men, if the stone men decided to attack, but that would be about it! But those men would risk their lives protecting their homes. They would not follow a wanna-be-queen into a crusade!"

"Careful!" Ser Barristan threatened calmly.

Aeryelle got up and walked around in the shabby house, taking deep breaths.

"I guess there is nothing for us here." She finally said and they left.

They went to where Daemon was waiting for them.

"I really don't know how I could have been so blind. I feel so stupid. It has been a few years since I was here, but I never…" Her voice trailed off.

"Well, then we must see that we find you an army somewhere else. How about we find us some mercenaries?" Ser Barristan suggested.

"No, I don't trust men, whose loyalty can be bought. How about those families you suggested? House Velarion and House Celtigon?" She asked.

"Yes, by now they story of the Targaryan heir challenging the King will have spread. They don't have many men, but it is start and there are certainly others."

Daemon flew them back to the Seven Kingdoms and three weeks later, House Verlarion and House Celtigon had pledged their allegiance to Aeryelle, as had two houses from the North, four houses from Riverun, one house from the Vale and no less than 7 houses from Dorne. She had even spoken to House Martell, the ruling House of Dorne.

Prince Doran's sister Elia had been Raeghar's wife and was murdered during Robert's rebellion. Prince Doran was on Aeryelle's side but they both decided that for the moment it was better that House Martell appeared to be loyal to the crown.

In the end Aeryelle and Ser Barristan had managed to reunite 12.000 men. They were no match for the Baratheon forces but with her dragons the odds would be in their favour, when she called the banners.

Then the unthinkable happened. They were staying at an inn at the reach, when Ser Barristan entered his face white as a sheet.

"What happened?" Aeryelle asked worried.

"There was a fight and Lord Stark was injured and Jory Cassel is dead." Ser Barristan explained.

"Who was it?"

"There is more. Robert is dead and his son Joffrey has been crowned king. Apparently Lord Stark tried to usurp the throne and he was put in the dungeons." Ser Barristan explained.

"What? That is ridiculous. Lord Eddard would never do such a thing! Especially not to his friend's son!" Aeryelle has started to raise her voice and people were beginning to look at them. Ser Barristan indicated her to be calm and then she realized he hadn't answered her question.

"Who challenged Lord Stark and killed Jory? No common man would dare such a thing!" She was beginning to feel sick.

"Ser Jamie." The old knight answered and Aeryelle realized she has feared this answer all along.

Without any further word she went outside. Once she was out of sight she called Daemon and they took off.

She has been at the clearing for less than half a day, when he showed up.

During that time, she had decided it had all had been a misunderstanding, that he could explain everything. Surely he had devised a plan that would make perfect sense.

But one glimpse at the guilty look on his face told her that there was no such plan.

"I am glad you came. I wanted to tell you myself." He said his voice raspy.

"Is it true?" She asked.

"Yes, I am afraid it is. All of it!" He replied knowing that this would change the way she looked at him forever. He knew how much she cared for the Starks and would never forgive him. Aeryelle gasped and felt again nauseous.

He took a deep breath and started to speak again: "There is more I need to tell you. I know you will never be able to forgive me, but you need to know the truth about what happened to Bran."

She turned her head in shock and then he told her the truth, only omitting that ever since he had pushed Bran out of the window he had been having nightmares and woke up screaming and crying every night. He couldn't expect her to forgive, because he could never forgive himself. He knew that when it came to Cersei he lost his mind only to become the worst version of himself.

The look of horror and disgust on Aeryelle's face was the worst punishment.

"Who are you? Because you are certainly not the man I used to call my friend!"

"Aeryelle, please!" He made a step towards her and without thinking she unsheathed Dark Sister.

He looked at the sword and then into her eyes, then he opened his arms:

"Please do it! Death is no worse than what I have been going through ever since I pushed him out of that window. I loathe myself more than every person in the Seven Kingdoms together could." His eyes were almost pleading her to do it and she knew she couldn't. This was no cold blooded killer, this was a man tormented by his own crime. She lowered her sword.

"Can you help us?" She asked.

"Yes, that is the other reason I am here. King Joffrey will supposedly be merciful, once Lord Stark has admitted his guilt. The King will allow him to live out his life as a man of the Knight's Watch." Jamie said.

"So?" Aeryelle sounded annoyed.

"Joffrey is cruel and will never be merciful. I am certain he will have Lord Stark executed. Robb Stark has called the banners and is marching to King's Landing with 18.000 men. Save Lord Stark from execution and he and his men will certainly follow you. Save a good man and double your army in the process." Jamie explained to her quickly. He had been giving it a lot of thought and Aeryelle knew immediately he was right.

She climbed onto Daemon's back simply saying "Thank you."

"I know I can't ask you for forgiveness. But I swear that I will redeem myself or die trying." He pledged just before Daemon took flight.