135 A.L. King's Landing

Queen Daenaerys Targaryen

The nightmares still hit her sometimes, even though it had been four moons since the event. Seeing her parents struck by those arrows as they sat watching the tourney was a memory that was forever imbued within Daenaerys. The tourney had been held to celebrate the birth of Prince Aenar Targaryen to Rhaena, and as such all had thought it would go off without a hitch, the faith was playing ball and as such there were no concerns as to any danger being present. And then the arrows had come and both her mother and father had been littered with arrows and lying face down on the ground before anyone knew what was happening. Aemon had found the culprits four hedge knights who had refused to say whose service they were in, all had died by dragon fire, their bodies on display for all to see. After that, Aemon had put in tighter security on their family, he had ensured that no one was allowed into Maegor's holdfast without either seeking permission from him or from Saera, and so there were fewer risks to them and the children, and yet still Daenaerys worried at night about their safety, and she worried about some of the choices her husband and now king had made.

When she and Saera had marched Aemon to the Sept all those years ago and wed him, the High Septon had not really batted an eyelid after all the man was someone whom they had all known since their childhood and he was one of the more accepting of the trait. However, when Aemon had announced that he wished to wed Baela and Rhaena Targaryen, daughters of Prince Daemon, even Saera had voiced her concern about the matter. Aemon though had simply shrugged and gone ahead with it, this time their parents had been willing to accommodate the marriages as it allowed for closer relations between the throne and the Velaryons. Still the High Septon had nearly pitched a fit at that and yet had officiated at it all the same. Daenaerys herself did not truly trust her fellow wives, Baela and Rhaena, Baela was far too much like her father for Daenaerys to ever really trust her, and though Rhaena was a sweet and pious girl, that she had birthed a son for Aemon, whom she had named Aemon as well, only made her more of a threat, no matter that the boy was sickly and weak even at two. It had become quite clear to Daenaerys early on that there would now be two factions at court, the faction made up of her and Saera and their lords and ladies, and the faction made up of Baela and Rhaena and their lords and ladies, and they would compete for Aemon's favour and attention.

It was a tense situation and one Daenaerys knew would be riddled with conflict once Aemon finally died, but for now, Daenaerys found her thoughts turning to the children that had been born from the various unions. Rhaena had birthed two sons in a very short space of time, the weakling Aemon the younger who it seemed mirrored his mother in being weak of mind and spirit, and Prince Aenar who was a few months old but was a much more robust child. Baela had birthed a girl named Alysanne who was two years old and a son named Daemon who was a year old. Saera had birthed a son a few short months after Rhaena had who was now second in line to the throne she had named him Maegon. Daenaerys herself had birthed two children a girl named Rhaenys who was four and a boy named Vaemon who was a year old. The children seemed to get along well with one another, though Prince Aemon spent more time with his mother then his siblings and seemed to be more a babe than any of the other actual babes. Something that was worrying Daenaerys, though she suspected that Prince Daemon, Lord of the Stepstones would not hesitate to rise to his grandson's aid should the need arise and that was something she was sure her husband had not thought through.

Of course her husband relied more on her and Saera when it came to running the realm than he did Baela and Rhaena, and so she had not been too surprised when he had named her to the small council as an advisor. The members of her brother's small council were, hand of the king Prince Viserys Targaryen a man whose health was failing him rapidly just like her father's had been before his death, master of coin the old Lord Lyman Beesbury who was still very effective and loyal, master of laws her sister's husband Lord Aenys Celtigar a strong and stubborn man, master of whispers was Lord Laenor Velaryon the Lord Paramount of the new Valryia a man who rarely ventured forth from Valyria apart for when council was held, and finally there was Grand Maester Orwyle and Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Ser Criston Cole a strange man. The King spoke then. "There has been much going on in the kingdoms since we last met my lords. Lord Rickon a staunch ally of my father and mother recently passed into the beyond and his son Lord Cregan's first wife also passed on leaving Lord Cregan with a babe as his heir, Lord Cregan assures me he shall remarry soon enough. There has also been word from Lord Joffrey Strong on Pentos, and that is the news I wish to discuss first. Lord Laenor if you would."

Lord Laenor had been a wild and brash man in his youth Daenaerys had heard that much from her mother, but he had since aged a lot and become mellower, with his children and grandchildren doing that to him. His voice was calm when he spoke. "Lord Strong writes that there has been some movement within the hills of Andalos, and though he has sent riders out to see what the commotion is all about, so far they have not been able to find anything. He also writes that those scions of the faith present within Pentos and Andalos have begun preaching against Your Grace and your wives, saying that you have grown greedy in your desire for an heir. Lord Strong writes that these men are trying to get the people of Pentos to spring into rebellion. He writes that he is playing a game of politics with them and is bringing them down from the inside."

Daenaerys looked at her husband and saw that he was looking thoughtful. "Very well, write back to Lord Strong and tell him to keep us in the loop. And I will want to have words with the High Septon to see what his stance on this whole matter is. After all if I remember correctly, the man leading the Faith in Pentos is the man's brother."

Lord Laenor nodded his head in agreement. "He is indeed Your Grace. Though from what my sources within the Sept of the Unifier have told me, the man is telling all those who will listen that his brother has naught to do with this man who is leading the attempts at uprisings in Andalos and Pentos. It seems to me though that it is likely that the man's brother is directly behind the job."

Daenaerys ears perked up at that and she asked the man. "What makes you say that my lord?"

Lord Laenor looked at her a moment before responding. "Well it is common knowledge within the Faith that the High Septon's brother desperately wanted to become the High Septon. When the cardinals chose his brother he became wroth and threatened to reveal certain secrets about his brother that would make it seem like the cardinals had been bribed into making him the High Septon. Now, when I learnt of this I went to the man and offered him a place in Pentos, and said being in Andalos the home of the faith would give him more power than his brother. Of course that is not true, but it seems that this has gone to the man's head. I would not be surprised if he truly believes he is more powerful than his brother now."

Daenaerys nodded and then turned to her husband and said. "You might be best served having this man taken care of Your Grace. Should he continue to spread more of his vile soon enough there will be trouble reaching Westerosi shores. Of course you must find out whether he is the right man to be taken out or if there are more of them."

Her brother looked at her thoughtfully then before nodding. "Aye, my sister speaks true. Lord Laenor I want your men in the Sept to find out all they can about the High Septon and his brother. Perhaps we can use that knowledge to our advantage, and I also want more information about the Faith's activities in Andalos. Perhaps it is time we reclaimed that for our own."

Lord Lyman spoke up then. "Your Grace, there has been a raven from the Iron Bank. They wish to know if you will be interested in taking out a loan with which to pay for rebuilding some of the greater buildings in Pentos and Volantis?"

Daenaerys looked at her husband and as he looked at her, she subtly shook her head. And he spoke the answer then. "You can thank them for the offer, but tell them that a loan shall not be necessary. We are already repaying off one loan we took from them are we not?" When lord Lyman nodded Aemon went on. "Then there is no need for us to further the burden. Volantis and Pentos are good enough as they are at present, should the need to rebuild any old structures arise, I am sure the Lords Paramount of those regions shall bring it up with the crown."

Grand Maester Orwyle spoke then. "Your Grace, there is one matter that I feel is very pressing for the council to discuss." The King looked at the man a moment before nodding for him to continue. "Bravos will continue to make offers of loans towards the throne in the hope of sinking their teeth into some of what you gain in taxes and such. Sooner or later they will stop making offers and will begin forcing these loans, not onto the throne but on your lords and as such this could lead to very dangerous territory."

Daenaerys was intrigued. "How so Maester? The bank has no armies to call upon, and Bravos itself is a city of traders and fishermen not warrior inclined like Volantis."

Orwyle replied then. "Well Your Grace, Bravos itself might not be very martial but they have many organisations that are, such as the faceless men and the incentive of the Iron Bank alone could inspire many men to take up arms against the crown should the reward be enough."

Daenaerys pondered that a moment before she then asked. "And do you believe that conquering Bravos would prevent such a thing from happening? Bearing in mind that we are still trying to deal with various other things following my parents' assassinations."

Orwyle had the decency to bow his head then but before he could speak Aemon spoke up. "That is a very interesting proposition Orwyle. I shall think on it before we take it any further. But for now, is there any more that must be discussed?" When no one else spoke Aemon spoke once more. "Very well, then I think it is fair to have this meeting called to an end, Daenaerys, uncle Viserys if you would stay behind though there are somethings I wish to speak with you both about." Once the others had left and Ser Criston was stationed outside, Aemon spoke. "Orwyle's suggestion has some strong merit, but there are things I am not so sure about. What do you think Uncle?"

Prince Viserys had once been a great man but age and illness were slowly taking their hold on him, and his voice was soft when he replied. "I think it a smart move, as it would put the Iron Bank firmly in our control. Though you must be careful that the Faceless men or whatever evil Bravos has does not come pouring out when you announce your intent."

Aemon nodded and looked toward Daenaerys and said. "I need you to be my ears now sister, find out what you can and tell me what you find out, and if you think we should, then Bravos shall be ours."