Hello, Readers.
Sorry for the long wait, but here is the next chapter.
Dothraki is in bold.
Enjoy.
"Now I'm going to make a low right lunge, and you try to stop me," Jarred said as he and Arya were sparring. She gets ready with her wooden sword to block the low right lunge, except Jarred strikes her on the left, causing her to drop her wooden sword. "Now you are dead."
"You said right," Arya complained, "but you went left."
"Yes, and now your dead," Jarred lectures her.
"Only 'cause you lied," Arya accuses him.
"Exactly," Jarred tells her, "You can't always trust your opponent will fight fairly. You must always be ready for anything that might come your way. Something my father taught me."
"Your father. They say he fought off pirates when he was fourteen," Arya asked him.
"Yes, he did," Jarred tells her, seeing she was urging him to go on, "They posed themselves as merchant traders, looking to make deals with House Longwaters, but they turned out to be pirates, wanting to take all our wealth. They killed his father and two older brothers while he, his mother, and three sisters were held prisoner. But he found a way to escape to Seaside Harbor and the needed ships. They attacked, killed all the pirates, and reclaimed his seat."
"That's why they call him the Sea Dragon," Arya asked, wanting to know more about Lord Jonathor.
"One of the reasons," Jarred answers.
Arya said, "I heard he hasn't been in court for years. That he's dying."
Jarred stayed quiet momentarily as there were rumors of his father being ill or dying. He asked his mother about it, which she denied, saying they were rumors and nothing more. Jarred believed her, especially since he visits Dawn Isle multiple times a year, and his father always appears healthy and robust during those visits.
"He's not dying," Jarred tells her, "He just likes the comforts of home."
Before Jarred could continue, a Kingsguard knight, Ser Myran Trant, along with some Lannister guards, approaches, "Arya Stark, come with us. Your father wants to see you."
"He does," Jarred asked, wondering why a Kingsguard knight and Lannister guards were here, not any Stark knights, "We're still practicing."
"I'm afraid Lady Stark must come with me now," Ser Myran insisted harshly, causing Arya and Jarred to be taken aback.
"My father wouldn't send you," Arya concluded as she picked up her wooden sword from the ground, "And I don't have to go with you if I don't want to."
Not wanting things to worsen, Jarred gets in front of her, calmly asking, "May I know what this is about?"
"This is none of your concern, my lord," Ser Myran tells him as he tries to grab Arya's arm as she tries to get away.
"I'm not going with you," Arya yells as she kicks him in the leg, more accurately, in the vulnerable part of the leg that was not covered with armor, causing him to shout in pain and let her go. When she saw she was released, Arya quickly ran away as the other knights were about to go after her, until Jarred stopped them, "Let me go get her. She won't go with anyone but me."
Jarred called out for her as he ran, but she couldn't hear him as she kept running down the halls. Seeing she turned around a corridor, Jarred ran as fast as he could to get there, but when he did, he saw she was gone. Breathing heavily, Jarred looks around the hallway to see where Arya could have gone, but to no avail. She was gone.
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There was nothing but darkness. There was nothing but an empty silence, as only a dripping sound could be heard in the dungeon. Suddenly, a slight flare of light was seen as the prisoner who saw the one holding a burning torch, dressed in a dark cloak, was none other than Lord Varys, carrying a wineskin of water.
"Lord Stark, you must be thirsty," Varys advised as he passed the wineskin off to him.
"Varys," Ned's eyes widen, reluctant to take the wineskin.
"I promise you it isn't poisoned. Why is it no one ever trusts the eunuch," Varys says as Ned begins to drink the water from the wineskin quickly, "Not so much, My Lord. I would save the rest if I were you. Hide it. Men have been known to die of thirst in these cells."
After hiding the wineskin behind him, Ned asked, "What about my daughters?"
"The youngest, it seems, to have escaped the castle," Varys informs him, "Even my little birds cannot find her."
Ned sighs with worry, although relieved since Arya was always easy to lose, "And Sansa?
"Still engaged to Joffrey," Varys tells him, "Cersei will keep her close. The rest of your household, though, is all dead, it grieves me to say. I do so hate the sight of blood."
"You watched my men being slaughtered and did nothing," Ned accused.
"And would again, My Lord," Varys admits, "I was unarmed, unarmored, and surrounded by Lannister swords. When you look at me, do you see a hero? What madness led you to tell the Queen you had learned the truth about Joffrey's birth?"
"The madness of mercy," Ned admits with a frustrated sigh, seeing that he made the mistake of confronting Cersei about the truth about her children, "That she might save her children."
"Ah, the children," Varys contemplates, "It is always the innocents who suffer. It wasn't the wine that killed Robert, nor the boar. The wine slowed him down, and the boar ripped him open, but it was your mercy that killed the King. I trust you know you are a dead man, Lord Eddard?
"The Queen can't kill me," Ned denies, "Cat holds her brother."
Varys shakes his head, "The wrong brother, sadly. And lost to her. Your wife has let the Imp slip through her fingers."
Ned was now filled with dread. The Starks have now lost their advantage, "If that's true, then slit my throat and be done with it."
Varys, however, argues, "Not today, My Lord. You do have one friend working for your survival."
"Hellen," Ned guessed, considering how much she tried to warn him of trusting Baelish. Warnings he wished he listened to now.
"Quickly but quietly, I'm afraid," Varys tells him, "She may be Baratheon, but she is also Longwaters."
Without saying another word, Varys gets up from the floor and walks out, but not before Ned asks him, "Tell me something, Varys. You and Hellen. Who do you truly serve? Lord Jonathor Longwaters?"
"We serve the Realm, My Lord," Varys proclaimed, looking at the Stark Lord one last time, "Someone must."
With that, Varys leaves the dungeon as Ned contemplates what he just heard, not knowing if he could trust Varys. But he does trust Hellen. Trusting that she is doing everything she can to help him and his daughters.
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In the Red Keep of Jarred Longwater's bed chambers, he stood in the middle of the room with his mother, Lady Hellen, and Queen Cersei as they questioned him about Arya Stark.
"And then she just ran off," Jarred explains to them, "I tried running after her, but when she turned to a corridor, I lost her. I don't know where she went after that."
"Are you certain, nephew," Cersei questions, "You were the last to see her."
"Yes, Your Grace," Jarred tells her, "I do not know."
"One would wonder why you did not let any guards go after her," Cersei wonders.
Jarred defends himself, "She was fearful of them, and she and I got close during our lessons, so I knew she wasn't going with them unless I was there with her due to the time we spent together in our lessons."
"Arya Stark is a wild girl," Hellen said, not appreciating her son to be questioned like this, "Easy to lose. Regardless, we must find her as soon as possible."
Cersei stared at Jarred for a while as the young man stood still from the Queen's gaze, "Quite right. We will have guards searching the city, and hopefully, nephew, you will be there to help them."
"Me, Your Grace," Jarred questions, surprised by this.
"Yes. As you said, you both got close during your lessons, so she would most likely return with you by her side," Cersei said, "It would also be a good deed of you as you plan to be placed in the Kingsguard. Don't you agree, Hellen?"
Hellen glares at Cersei. Despite being the Queen and married to her brother, Hellen never had a high opinion of Cersei. While believing her to be vain, temperamental, and have no political thinking, she was still the Queen, "I'm afraid so, Jarred. Arya might listen to you. Just hurry to find her and bring her back before something bad happens. Remember, she is but a small girl in a large city. She could put herself in danger quite easily."
Pondering on his mother's words, realizing she was right, Jarred nods, "Of course. I'll do what I can to find her."
"Good. Now, Hellen, we must go to Sansa and speak with her about all this," Cersei said as she left the room, with Hellen reluctantly following her as Jarred stayed in his room, worried for Arya.
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"Your father has proved to be an awful traitor, dear," Varys tells her as he, Lord Baelish, Maester Pycelle, and Lady Hellen are in the Queen's chambers, standing behind Cersei, who sits on her desk with Sansa seated on the other side as they interrogate her.
"King Robert's body was still warm when Lord Eddard began plotting to steal Joffrey's rightful throne," Pycelle added.
"He wouldn't do that," Sansa denies fiercely for her father, "He knows how much I love Joffrey. He wouldn't. Please, Your Grace, there's been a mistake. Send for my father. He'll tell you; the King was his friend."
"Yes, Sansa, but sometimes friends can make mistakes," Hellen softly tells her.
Cersei gently tells the young girl, "Sansa sweetling, you are innocent of any wrong. We know that. Yet you are the daughter of a traitor. How can I allow you to marry my son? I'm unsure if I can longer allow you to serve as one of my daughter's ladies."
"I've been a good companion to the princess," Sansa pleads, "She'll tell you. Her other ladies will tell you as well. Especially your sister, Your Grace. Lenora will tell you everything."
"I'm sure she will," Cersei said, although she wasn't interested in her sister's opinion on this matter, "However, there is another matter."
"A child born of a traitor's seed is no fit consort for our King or companion to the princess," Pycelle said, "She is a sweet thing now, Your Grace, but in 10 years, who knows what treasons she may hatch?"
"I'll be a good wife to Joffrey; you'll see," Sansa begs them all, especially Cersei, "I'll be a Queen just like you, I promise. I won't hatch anything."
"She is only a young girl at the moment," Hellen tells them, "She is not guilty of a crime a family member of hers has committed."
"I'm sure that is true, my good sister," Cersei said slightly sarcastically.
"The girl is innocent, Your Grace," Baelish supports Hellen, "She should be given a chance to prove her loyalty."
Cersei looks at Sansa momentarily until she gives her a piece of paper, "Little dove, you must write to Lady Catelyn and your brother, the eldest. What's his name?"
Sansa confusingly tells her, "Robb."
"Word of your father's arrest will reach him soon, no doubt," The Queen hands the girl the quill, "Best it comes from you. If you would help your father, urge your brother to keep the King's peace. Tell him to come to King's Landing and swear his allegiance to Joffrey."
"If I could see my father, talk to him about..." Sansa tried to say until she saw Cersei's disapproving face.
"You disappoint me, child," The Queen says, "We have told you of your father's treason. Why would you want to speak to a traitor?"
"I only meant that," Sansa tries to say, not wanting to get her family into more trouble, "what will happen to him?"
"Your father is currently in the dungeons," Hellen tells her, "And he will remain there until a decision has been made."
"What kind of decision," Sansa asked dreadfully, not wanting anything bad to happen to her father.
"That depends," Cersei tells her.
Sansa fearful flusters, "On...on what?"
"On your brother," Cersei tells her honestly, "And on you."
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Cassana and her ladies were in her bed chambers, sitting on the large windowsill frame. Cass was in the center, Lenora was on the right, and Ceryse was on her left, with Jocelyn and Ema sitting on cushions while they all talked about recent events. Most recently, Sansa's meeting with the Queen and small council.
"What do you think they are saying to her," Jocelyn asked.
Lenora sighed, "They just need to see if she knew anything about her father's actions."
"She's just a child," Ceryse said, "Practically Jocelyn's age. What could she know anything about it?"
"It's just a formality," Lenora explains, "And considering the severity of Lord Stark's actions, they need to be sure about everything."
"I'm just surprised that the loyal and honorable Ned Stark would say that Joffrey has no claim to the throne," Ema confessed, "Why would he say that?"
"No idea," Lenora tells her, "They're still trying to figure it out."
"It just doesn't make sense," Ema ponders.
"None of it makes sense," Ceryse concurred, "And he did all of this right after the King's," She was about to say the king's death but stopped herself since Cass was still with them.
Seeing her friends' awkwardness, Cass assures them, "It's fine. Really."
After an awkward silence, Lenora asked her softly, "How are you feeling?"
Cass tries to come up with an answer, "It's just…I don't understand how Ned Stark, of all people, would do this."
Lenora shakes her head, "Yes, but Cass, how are you with your father's…"
Cass knew what Lenora meant but didn't want to discuss it. She knew her father was hurt badly and was prepared for him to die, but to have it happen was something else. She didn't know what to feel. Sad, angry, depressed. Cass was never close to her father. They only had bonding moments when hunting together, and he did many things she hated. Such as drinking daily and sleeping with every woman who crossed his path; the abuse made her mother suffer.
"I loved my father, but," Cass starts to say until the door opens, revealing it to be Jarred. After seeing him, Cass and her ladies immediately get up from the windowsill, "Is Sansa alright?"
"She's fine," Jarred said while closing the door behind her, "A bit shaken up, but considering the circumstances."
"What did she say," Lenora asked.
"My mother said that she is proclaiming her father's innocence, but considering how everything went," Jarred sighed, "She also had to tell them that she knew nothing of what her father did."
"Of course she was," Cass cuts him off, "She would never do that."
"Yes, but it doesn't change that her father committed treason against Joffrey," Jarred reminds them, "Who is now king."
"Right. Joffrey is king," Cass said to herself, remembering that Joffrey is now on the throne.
"When can we see her," Jocelyn asked.
"Well, that's just it," Jarred tries to say to his cousin, "Considering the circumstances, Cass, she can no longer be one of your ladies."
Cass's eyes widen, "Why?"
"Your mother believes a traitor's daughter might not be a suitable companion for the princess," Jarred tells her. He then sees Cass get angry and is about to say something, but she cuts her off, "Her words, not mine."
"So what happens now," Ceryse asked.
"Ned Stark will remain in prison for the time being," Jarred said, "As for Sansa. She'll be under watch."
"What about Arya," Cass asked, noticing Jarred never mentioned her.
Jarred stayed silent before admitting, "No one knows where she is."
"What do you mean no one knows," Lenora asked in surprise, "You were there with her before, were you not?"
"Yes, but when the Kingsguard knight came for her, she just ran off," Jarred explains, "And because of that, your mother charged me to lead a search party to go find her."
"Well, then, what are you waiting for," Cass questions, "Go find her."
"I'll do my best, but King's Landing is a large city," Jarred said as he left the room while the girls could look at each other, afraid of what would happen now.
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As Hellen makes her way back to her bed chambers after speaking with Cass, she worries about Ned's fate. Sitting down at her desk, she puts her face in her hands in an attempt to process everything. The plan is for Ned to admit to treason and be sent to the Wall to avoid execution, but it doesn't seem fair. Despite speaking the truth, Ned is punished for trying to do the right thing. Hellen knows the truth about Cersei's children and that her brother, Robert, has been betrayed by Ser Jaime, a heinous act that only the Targaryens can commit since they are considered closer to gods than men. Hellen also knows about Jon Arryn; her brother, Stannis, was investigating this before Jon died. They both suspect Cersei had a hand in it, but Hellen knows to be cautious in approaching the matter, especially since Stannis left for Dragonstone and never returned. It's a difficult situation, and Hellen feels fearful of Ned, and the injustice he's facing that could cost him his life.
The door opens, causing Hellen to look up to see Varys, "How is he?"
"Doing well, considering the circumstances," Varys tells her as he closes the door, walking up to her desk to sit on one of the chairs in front of her. "But still holding strong."
Hellen sighs with relief, "Did you find Arya?"
"Not yet," Varys said, "But I have my bird circling to find her, and your son has just left the Keep with the search party."
"She's a wild little thing," Hellen tells him, "Very easy to hide in plain sight. Is Sansa alright?"
"A bit frightened, but no harm done," Varys said, "I take it you already reported to your Lord husband about this turn of events."
"Which events," Hellen asked sarcastically, laying back in her seat, "That Ned Stark committed treason according to the Queen or that my brother ran off with his squire to the Reach with plans to make himself king? And let us not forget my other brother, who's brooding all day and night on Dragonstone?"
"Speaking of which, I just received word from my birds," Varys begins to report, "Apparently, there has been a woman in red who has been conversing with your brother for some time now. A woman in red, hailing from Asshai."
"Asshai," Hellen questions, wondering who was this woman her brother was talking with.
"Yes, my lady," Varys confirms.
"Conversing about what," Hellen asked, wanting to know more.
"I'm not sure," Varys admitted, "However, you and I are more than aware of the queer practices of Asshai."
Hellen nods in agreement, knowing that many dangerous and mysterious things go on in Asshai, such as queer practices, spellsingers, aeromancers, and warlocks practicing their arts openly. However, she had more important things to worry about, "We'll dwell on that later. Right now, all that matters are Ned and his daughters. Find Arya and get Ned to confess treason. Once that happens, he will be sent to the Wall to avoid execution, and his daughters will return to Winterfell safely."
"Sansa's engagement to King Joffrey might still stand," Varys reminds her.
"King Joffrey," Hellen scoffs, "After what happened, there's no chance of that. Just try to convince Ned to admit treason, and all of this will be put to bed."
"Of course, my lady," Varys bowed his head as he got up to leave the room. Hellen sighed apprehensively. She grabbed a jug of wine and poured it into her cup to drink to calm her nerves. If anything happens to Ned, the North will go to war on the South, considering his wife is a Tully. Her sister is an Arryn; there could be a chance that the Riverlands and the Vale might join the North against the Crown, which could end them all since it happened before during Robert's Rebellion.
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In Essos, the Khalasar of the Dothraki had made it to the Lhazar. A region south of the Dothraki Sea filled with pastures, hills, and small cities filled with the Lhazareen, a people of peaceful sheepherders. It took two weeks for the Dothraki to reach the region, but as they did, by Khal Drogo's orders, one of the cities had been sacked. Drogo and his men went to the city as the women and children stayed at the campsite while Areon, Dany, and Jorah rode their horses with them. Dany and Jorah stayed behind while Drogo and Areon went ahead of them. Areon watched as the Dothraki men destroyed all the homes of the Lhazareen. Killing the men and herding the women and children like cattle to one side. Small huts and houses were burning to the ground, Dothraki men taking their spoils, taking whatever was valuable. Some of the men even take the women for their pleasure. It was horrible in Areon's eyes. He knew the Dothraki could be savages, but he only saw them fighting in the Dothraki wedding ceremony and riding with them in the Dothraki Sea since meeting them. Now, he finally sees them in full view of what they do to innocent people, which makes his stomach turn.
"What are they doing," Areon asked as the Dothraki took the prisoners.
"Taking some of the lamb men as slaves," Drogo answered.
"Slaves," Areon gasped in horror.
"The Dothraki make gifts of them to slavers," Drogo explained.
Areon's brows furrowed, "For what?"
"For gold and steel," Drogo tells him, "To get you you're iron chair."
As they ride through the devastation, Areon's heart is heavy with sorrow and guilt. He can't help but feel responsible for the destruction around him, even though it isn't his doing. It's meant to be his path to the Iron Throne, but he isn't sure if that's what he wants. The sight of ruined homes and innocent lives lost weighs heavily on his soul. It brings back painful memories of his past and his brother's cruel treatment of him. Areon can't shake the memory of being treated like a slave and beaten down by Viserys as if he were nothing. And now these innocent people are suffering that same fate. As they approached the temple of what seemed to be some deity, the Lhazareen worshiped since there was a sheep carving on the stone wall. Areon can't help but feel a sense of reverence for the sacred space. However, Drogo scoffs at it and sits in front of the stone carving, making Areon uneasy as they disrespect the place of worship. Despite his reservations, Areon sits by Drogo's side, trying to find solace amid chaos, along with some Dothraki men bringing in corpses of dead bodies, making Areon more uneasy.
"Drogo," Areon begins to say, not wanting to offend the Khal, "Why must we do this? We need ships to cross the Narrow Sea."
"We need gold to buy ships, and to do that, we need slaves," Drogo tells him, "This is the way of war. The Dothraki way."
Before Areon could say anymore, one of Drogo's men approached him and told him that Daenerys had taken some of the women under her protection, which angered some of the Dothraki as it stopped them from taking their spoils. After summoning her, Dany, a few months pregnant, approached her with Ser Jorah and the women following closely behind her.
"Moon of my life," Drogo says to Daenerys, "Mago says you have taken his spoils. A daughter of a lamb man, who was his to mount. Tell me the truth of this."
"Mago speaks the truth, my sun and stars," Dany admits to her husband, "I have claimed many daughters this day, so they cannot be mounted."
"This is the way of war, as I have told your brother," Drogo tries to explain, seeing that their Targaryen sibling clearly doesn't understand their ways, "These women are slaves now to do with as we please."
"It pleases me to keep them safe," Dany counters Drogo's point of view, "If your riders would mount them, let them take them for wives."
Qotho scoffs, "Does the horse mate with the lamb?"
"The dragons feed on horse and lamb alike," Dany threatens, trying to be strong.
"You are a foreigner," Mago tells her with disdain, "You do not command me."
"I am Khaleesi," Dany reminds him harshly, "I do command you."
While Mago glares at her, Drogo chuckles with amusement before speaking to Areon, "See how fierce your sister grows? That is my son inside her, the stallion that will mount the world. Filling her with his fire. I will hear no more. Mago, find somewhere else to stick your cock."
Mago spits on the ground, showing disdain for his Khal, causing everyone to stir, "A Khal who takes orders from a foreign whore is no Khal."
Qotho tries to interfere, but Drogo calls him back. Areon stood up in case he needed to fight, but Drogo stopped him as he stared at Mago with a blank face. Mago draws his sword as Drogo walks up to him, causing the sword to reach Khal's chest. Drogo was not fazed by this but smirked as he pressed forward, causing the blade to go deeper, "The beetles will feed on your eyes. The worms will crawl through your lungs."
Mago starts swinging his sword while Khal Drogo dodges each attack. When turning his back on Mago, he grabs his daggers and speaks. "The rain will fall on your rotting skin," Drogo turns around, facing Mago, and drops his daggers to the ground, "Until nothing is left of you but bones!"
Drogo runs towards Mago while dodging his attacks. Mago screams, "First, you have to kill me!"
Khal Drogo grabs Mago's sword, disarms him, and cuts his throat open. He grabs Mago's throat, crushes it, and pulls out his tongue. He shows Mago's tongue to the crowd, who can only watch in horror as the Khal walks back to his chair and throws Mago's tongue on a pile of corpses.
While Drogo sat back down, Dany ran towards him, "My sun and stars are wounded."
Drogo looks at the wound on his chest, waving it off, "A scratch, moon of my life."
Dany turns to Drogo's men, "Where are the healers?"
Drogo shakes his head, "This is the bite of a fly."
"I'm sure he's fine, Dany," Areon said, knowing how strong the Khal is.
"I can help the great rider with his cut," A middle-aged woman suddenly steps forward, causing Qotho to raise his sword, causing her to go back.
"The Khal needs no help from slaves who lie with sheep," Qotho dismissed.
"She is mine. Let her speak," Dany commands him.
"Thank you, silver lady," the woman thanked.
"Who are you?" Areon asked.
"I am named Mirri Maaz Duur," the woman introduced herself while walking up to them, only for Qotho to stop her, "I was the Godswife of this Temple."
"A witch," Qotho spits on the ground.
Mirri Maz Duur, trying to ignore the audacity of her religion, continued, "My mother was Godswife here before me. She taught me how to make healing smokes and ointments. All men are of one flock, so my people believe. The Great Shepherd sent me to Earth to heal his..."
Qotho, hearing enough of this, slaps her, "Witch. Too many words."
"You don't need to strike her," Areon quickly defended.
Qotho glares at Areon, "A witch's words poison the ears."
"Lamb or lion, his wound must be washed and sewn, or it will fester," Mirri Maaz Duur concluded, recovering from the slap.
Hearing what she wants to hear, Dany pleads to her husband, "Let her clean your wound, my sun and stars. It makes me hurt to see you bleed."
Khal Drogo was in deep thought. As a Khal, he must present himself as strong; truthfully, he did not mind the pain. He also suspected that this woman was a witch, but seeing the desperation in his Khaleesi's eyes, he relents. Drogo orders his men to allow the strange woman to approach the great Khal. Still fearful of him, Mirri Maaz Duur came slowly as she began to inspect the flesh wound.
Areon looks at the woman suspiciously, wondering why this woman is willing to help after her village has been destroyed before her very eyes, "Why are you willing to help the Khal? After seeing your village destroyed?"
The old woman looks to Areon, saying, "We believe that all men are of one flock under the Great Shepherd."
"And how are you going to heal the wound," Areon questions again, "How exactly are you going to wash it?"
"Areon, let her do her work," Dany said, wanting her brother to stop interrogating the woman helping her husband.
Areon leaves Drogo's side to his sister's, "I just think we need to ask questions first."
"Why," Dany asked, "She knows how to do it."
"But we don't know anything about her," Areon reasons, "Or how she'll do it. Her ways may differ from what we saw in Pentos or the other Free Cities. Besides, why would she help us after what they did to her home?"
"I saved her from being taken by the Dothraki men," Dany ends the discussion, "She is under my protection. That's why."
"Dany, I'm just saying," Areon tries to say.
Dany, however, cuts him off, "I am allowing this for my husband to be better."
"But he's not hurt by it," Areon argues, "The pain doesn't seem to bother him."
"I am his wife and Khaleesi," Dany stated firmly, having enough of this argument, "It has already been decided."
She then leaves before Areon can say anything else. All he could do was watch as the older woman examined Drogo's wound. He was still suspicious of this. Maybe it was because she was thankful for Dany rescuing her, or perhaps she was trying to create good faith between her and the Khal so he would let her live. Whatever it was, Areon wasn't sure what to trust.
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Sansa was sitting in the bed of her room, terrified of what was happening. Her father has been arrested for treason, and her sister was nowhere to be found. She doesn't know what to do. She had just written a letter to her brother Robb to have him come to King's Landing to swear allegiance to Joffrey, the new King, but it would be some time before it happened. Not to mention the rumors of Tywin Lannister raising an army and attacking the Riverlands, her mother's childhood home. Her thoughts are interrupted as the door opens, revealing it to be Cass.
"I wanted to see if you're ok," Cass said as she closed the door.
"I'm well, princess," Sansa said softly.
"Sansa, remember," Cass said as she went over to sit next to the young girl, "You don't always have to call me that. Especially when we are alone."
"Oh, yes, sorry," Sansa flustered, still shaken up by the turns of events.
There were a few moments of silence before Cass began to say, "I can't imagine what you are going through. It must be horrible."
"Is my father alright," Sansa asked.
"From what I've been told, he ok," Cass tells her, "Going strong in all of it…Sansa, I have to ask, what did your father mean when he said Joffrey had no claim to the throne."
"I don't know," Sansa said fearfully, "Truly, you must believe me."
"I do, Sansa," Cass rubs her shoulders to calm her, "I know you had nothing to do with it. I do believe you. Lenora, Ema, Ceryse, and Jocelyn believe you."
"You do," Sansa asked as she began to relax.
Cass nods her head, "Yes. We do."
"But what's going to happen to my father," Sansa asked.
"Remember what we told you about Joffrey when you came here," Cass reminds her.
Sansa nods, "Yes, you said always to compliment him and…and…."
"And make sure he knows you are on his side," Cass reminds her, "If you want your father to be alright, go to Joffrey and beg him for mercy after you stroke his ego. Once that happens, he'll do whatever you want."
"You think so," Sansa asked hopefully.
"Yes. I'll help you know what to say," Cass assures her. She knows her brother very well. Joffrey can be impatient, violent, and temperamental but also highly vain. So if Sansa plays her cards right, maybe Ned Stark will receive mercy from the crown.
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It was morning, and the Lannister army was getting ready for battle. In the main tent of the war camp, Lord Tywin, his son, Gerold, and brother, Kevan, were going over battle strategies as Lord Tyrion, free from Catelyn Tully, enters with a few savage-looking people, causing his father, brother, and uncle to look at him with surprise.
"Tyrion, you're here," Gerold exclaims with surprise and confusion.
"Brother," Tyrion greeted nonchalantly, "Uncle, Father."
"The rumors of your demise were unfounded," Tywin observed, raising a brow.
"Sorry to disappoint you," Tyrion remarked.
"It's a relief, actually," Gerold assured him.
"Oh, I'm sure it is," Tyrion quipped.
"And who are these…. companions of yours," Tywin asked while eyeing the savages.
Tyrion then introduces his 'companions,' "This is Shagga, son of Dolf, Chieftain of the Stone Crows. Timett, son of Timett, ruler of the Burned Men. This fair maid is Chella, daughter of Cheyk, leader of the Black Ears. And here we have Bronn, son of..."
"You wouldn't know him," Bronn stated as Tywin, Gerold, and Kevan looked at each other, dumbfounded that Tyrion would take these as companions.
"May I present My Lord Father, Tywin, son of Tytos of House Lannister," Tyrion presents to his companions, "Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West."
Eyeing the savages, Gerold slowly asked, "So, where did you meet these…companions?"
"I met Bronn on my way to the Vale with Catelyn Stark," Tyrion answered, "As for everyone else, I meet them on the road here. It's all quite thrilling, but a story for another time. Kind of you to go to war for me."
"You left us no choice," Tywin said bluntly, "The honor of our House was at stake. Your eldest brother would never have submitted to capture so meekly."
"We have our differences," Tyrion admits sarcastically, "Jaime and I. He's braver. I'm better looking."
"He's been covering himself in glory," Tywin proclaims proudly.
Gerold looks at him uneasily, as he has never heard his father speak so highly about him as he does Jaime, "He has been leading the armies well so far."
"Jaime smashed the River Lords at the Golden Tooth and now lays siege to Riverrun, Catelyn Stark's homeland," Kevan praised, much to Gerold's annoyance.
"And the Starks," Tyrion asked, "Lord Eddard?"
"Is our hostage," Tywin said, "He will lead no armies from his dungeon cell."
Tyrion rolled his eyes, "How did my sweet sister persuade the King to imprison his dear friend Ned?"
"Robert Baratheon is dead," Gerold told Tyrion, surprising his brother, "Joffrey rules in King's Landing."
"Our sister rules, you mean," Tyrion corrected, still surprised by the news.
Soon, a messenger handed a scroll to Kevan, who reported, "Stark's son has called his banners. He moves south with a strong host."
Tywin smirks, "A green boy. One taste of battle, and he'll run back to Winterfell with his tail between his legs."
"We shouldn't underestimate him, Father," Gerold said, causing his father to give him a stern look. Gerold, nervous from his father's look, continues regardless, "Men younger than Robb Stark have been known to lead armies and win."
"Winning battles is different than winning wars," Tywin shot down, "He's only a boy with no experience in battle, such as you."
"Maybe," Tyrion comes to his brother's defense, "Though the boy does have a certain belligerence. You'd like him. While we're on the subject of war, I made promises to my friends here, and a Lannister always pays his debts. We shall require 3,000 helms, shields, swords, pikes, and maces..."
Another messenger appears before Tyrion could finish: "If it please, My Lord, Ser Addam bids me report that the Northmen have crossed the neck."
Tywin grins as he gets up from his chair, "The wolf rushes into the lion's jaws. So be it. Kevan commands the drummer's beat assembly. And send word to Jaime that I am moving against Robb Stark."
"At once, My Lord," Kevan obeyed as he left the tent.
Meanwhile, Tywin slowly walks up to the hill tribesmen as Tyrion goes for a jug of wine to drink, "It is said that the men of the Mountain clans are great warriors. Ride with me against my enemies, and you shall have all my son promised you and more."
"Only if the half-man fights with us," Shagga stated firmly, "Until we hold the steel he pledged us, the little lion's life is ours."
Tywin looks over to Tyrion and seems fine with the condition, even though Tyrion and Gerold look uneasy.
After all is settled, Gerold escorts Tyrion to his tent so he can rest while Tyrion tells him everything that has happened since returning from the Wall.
"So Bronn was your champion at a trial by combat and won," Gerold sums up, "He doesn't look like a man to fight with honor."
"No," Tyrion admits, "But the opponent did."
"So you got out on a technicality," Gerold concluded.
"Technicalities can get you so far," Tyrion gives a joking smile.
Gerold couldn't help but smirk back, "You got yourself out of many things on technicalities."
"How is Jaime," Tyrion asked.
Gerold tells him, "Fine. He's leading the army right now."
"I'm surprised you weren't there with him," Tyrion questions.
Gerold shrugs, "Father wants me to stay here to go over war plans."
"Twenty years of age and still haven't had a taste in battle," Tyrion sighed sarcastically, "except for tourneys and such."
Annoyed by this, Gerold stopped the walk and shot back at Tyrion, "You have no experience. In either of those."
"That might change according to father," Tyrion said, although he was worried he would fight in battle. "Come let us get a drink," He said as he continued the walk, "We might even get a girl for you."
"I don't think so," Gerold said, not wanting to anger his father.
Tyrion stops walking as he turns to Gerold, "Quick question, brother, have you ever been with a woman?"
"Compared to you or any man," Gerold japes since Tyrion slept with hundreds of women.
"Any man," Tyrion said as Gerold shifted slightly while avoiding Tyrion's gaze. It was true that Gerold never lied to a woman and was still a virgin. There were many times when Tyrion tried to take him to brothels, but Gerold never went as he was always afraid of what his father might say if he got caught.
Seeing his answer, Tyrion said, "You may be the son of Tywin Lannister, but there is nothing wrong with taking some pleasures of life. A word of advice from your brother."
"Half-brother," Gerold corrected, reminding him they have different mothers.
"Brother, nonetheless," Tyrion counters. He then walks to his tent, "You'd be surprised how much you would enjoy those pleasures."
Gerold stayed where he was, pondering about what Tyrion said. He could just forget about everything and drink himself to stupor and sleep with as many women as he wants, like Tyrion, but he is still Tywin Lannister's son, and his father would kill him for doing that. But he can't deny that he has thoughts of doing so.
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In King's Landing, all were in the Throne Room, with Joffrey on his throne, wearing an antler-themed crown, Cersei on a cushioned chair on his left, and the small council on his right. All the other court members were there, along with Cass, her ladies, and Sansa, in the gallery where they could see everything. Jarred wasn't with them due to being with the search party to find Arya Stark in the city of King's Landing.
Grand Maester Pycelle speaks slowly to the royal court, "It is also the wish of His Grace that his loyal servant Janos Slynt, Commander of the City Watch...Be at once raised to the rank of Lord. And granted the ancient seat of Harrenhal, his sons and grandsons shall hold this honor after him until the end of time. In the place of the traitor Eddard Stark, it is the wish of his Grace that Tywin Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West, be appointed Hand of the King. Lastly, in these times of treason and turmoil, it is the view of the Council that the life and safety of King Joffrey be of paramount importance."
When the old man was finally done, Cersei rose from her chair, "Ser Barristan Selmy."
Ser Barristan Selmy steps forward to the throne, bowing to the Queen, "Your Grace, I am yours to command."
"Rise, Ser Barristan," Cersei ordered, "You may remove your helm." The knight did just that as the Queen continued, "You have served the Realm long and faithfully. Every man and woman in the Seven Kingdoms owes you thanks. But it is time to put aside your armor and your sword. It is time to rest and reflect proudly on your many years of service."
This shocks everyone as Barristan looks at the Queen with surprise and confusion, "Your Grace, the Kingsguard is a sworn brotherhood. Our vows are taken for life. Only death relieves us of our sacred trust."
"Whose death, Ser Barristan," Cerise questions, "Yours or your King's?"
"You let my father die," Joffrey condescends, "You're too old to protect anybody."
Barristan, seeing what was happening, tries to say, "Your Grace."
"The Council has determined that Ser Jaime Lannister will take your place as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard," Cersei tells him.
Astounded by this, Barristan argued, "The man who profaned his blade with the blood of the King he had sworn to defend!"
"Careful, Ser," Cersei warns him.
"Your service to the crown will not be forgotten, Ser Barristan," Hellen tries to soothe him, wishing this wasn't happening as the knight was a good mentor to her son, "Your good and noble deeds will forever be remembered in the White Book of the Kingsguard. You will be given a great keep beside the sea, with servants to look after your every need."
"A hall to die in and men to bury me," Barristan concluded, seeing precisely the truth. "I am a Knight." As he removes his white cloak and throws it on the floor with his helm, he proclaims, "I shall die a Knight."
"A naked Knight, apparently," Baelish quipped, causing some court members to laugh a bit.
Infuriated by the disrespect, Barristan silences them all as he draws his sword as so-called fellow Kingsguard knights, who also pull their swords in defense, "Even now, I could cut through the five of you like carving a cake!" He looks up to Joffrey with disdain, "Here, boy!" He yelled while throwing his sword on the floor, causing Joffrey to be shaken, "Melt it down and add it to the others." And with that, Ser Barristan the Bold turns to leave the Throne Room with his head held high as all watched him silently leave. They never expected him to do what he just did.
After watching this unfold, Cass looks on to see Ser Barristan the Bold leave the Throne Room, wondering how Jarred will handle this. He was a squire to Ser Barristan and even received his knighthood from the great knight. Only time will tell when Jarred returns from his search party looking for Arya.
Still reeling from Ser Barristan's exit, a page proclaims, "If any man in this hall has other matters to set before His Grace, let him speak now or go forth and hold his silence."
Seeing that this was her chance to save her father, Sansa, after getting an encouraging look from Cass, stepped forward from the crowd, "Your Grace."
"Come forward, My Lady," Joffrey urges her as he sits on his throne, wearing his golden crown.
Sansa obeyed, walking forward before the throne's steps as the page announced, "The Lady Sansa of House Stark."
"Do you have some business for the King and the Council, Sansa," Cersei asked.
Sansa kneels on her knees as she begins to beg the new king, "As it please Your Grace, I ask mercy for my father, Lord Eddard Stark, who was Hand of the King."
"Treason is a noxious weed," Maester Pycelle said, "It should be torn out, root..."
"Let her speak," Joffrey orders, "I want to hear what she says.
"Thank you, Your Grace," Sansa thanked him.
"Do you deny your father's crime," Baelish asks.
"No, My Lords. You are the King, and I know in your infinite wisdom he must be punished," Sansa admits reluctantly, "All I ask is mercy. I know my lord father must regret what he did. He was King Robert's friend, and he loved him. You all know he loved him. He never wanted to be Hand until the King asked him. They must have lied to him. Lord Renly or Lord Stannis or somebody. They must have lied!"
"He said I wasn't the King," Joffrey reminded her, sharply almost, "Why did he say that?"
Sansa stayed quiet for a moment, trying to come up with an answer, "He was badly hurt. Maester Pycelle was giving him milk of the poppy. He wasn't himself. Otherwise, he never would have said it." Sansa stops herself to glance at Cass, who nods her head, urging her to say what she told her to speak to stroke Joffrey's ego, "You are the rightful King and the throne is yours by right, and any who say otherwise is a fool."
"A child's faith. Such sweet innocence," Varys comments, "And yet they say wisdom often comes from the mouths of babes."
"It is possible that Lord Stark was led astray by all of this," Hellen concurs, "No one could ever deny his honor and loyalty, especially to the King."
Maester Pycelle, however, bellowed, "Treason is treason!"
"Anything else," Joffrey asked.
"If you still have any affection in your heart for me, please do me this kindness, Your Grace," Sansa pleads to the King.
"Your sweet words have moved me," Joffrey says, "But your father has to confess. He has to confess and say I'm the King, or there'll be no mercy for him."
"He will," Sansa promises him.
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Areon was standing in the middle of nowhere as if he were on a rocky plain, and what seemed to be in front of him was a large pyre burning with a roaring fire. It was as if it was for someone's funeral. However, he could hear someone chanting some language he couldn't understand, but then the chanting turned to screaming of pain. The screaming sounded like a woman, but he couldn't tell for sure, but he was unsettled by it. As he looked up, Areon saw what appeared to be a red comet piercing through the sky. He looks back at the burning pyre; however, even though the flames are consuming it, he begins to hear a sort of chirping, or what seems like chirping. All Areon could make out of it was some animal in the pyre, and then it became clear that there were multiple animals. Before he could notice it, Areon was walking closer and closer to the fire as the chirping grew louder and louder. He couldn't explain it, but it was as if the chirping sounds were pulling him towards it. He tries to fight it off but to no avail. He just kept walking as the woman's shrieking kept going.
As he got closer, he could see two bodies in the pyre. One small, the other large. He couldn't tell who they were, but he continued to walk until he was in the fire. The fire was hot, burning away Areon's clothes and hair, but he felt no pain. He looked at his long hair, slowly burning away until it was all gone, but his focus turned to the chirping that grew so loud that he found three large eggs rocking and cracking open. Just as the eggs were now empty, the fire suddenly blew out. The Pyre was gone. The woman screaming in pain was gone. He looked around and saw that it was no longer night. He looked at the sky to know it was morning, but the comet was still there. Areon then heard a chirp as he looked down, seeing himself sitting on the ground, naked, as the fire burned away his clothes. He begins to trace his skin to see if he has any burns, but he doesn't, as he is only covered in dirt and ash. However, he touched his head and felt no hair, realizing that it burned away, too. He then heard the chirping again, looking down at his hand to see three animals in his hands. His eyes widened as he saw that they were what seemed to be dragons. Small baby dragons. One of them, a small black one with red markings, looked at him with its red eyes. It began chirping at him. Areon could do nothing but stare at it.
Suddenly, Areon jolted awake and gasped for air. Confused, he looked around and realized he was back in his hut. He nervously checked his head for missing hair and felt the sweat on his forehead. Areon tried to calm himself by rubbing his hands on his face, but it didn't work. He decided to step outside for some fresh air. Before leaving, he threw on his leather vest since he had been sleeping shirtless. As he walked towards the campfire, he noticed that nobody was around. Areon sat down and watched the flames dance about. He couldn't help but remember his dreams and how the fire didn't hurt him. He even remembered putting a dragon egg in a burning pot and lifting it without feeling any pain. Curiosity getting the best of him, Areon decided to test his theory and stretched his hand towards the fire. As he got closer, he could feel the heat but remained unfazed; however, as he got too close, a sudden pang of burning pain shot up his hand. Although he wasn't truly burned, the pain lingered as he pulled his hand away from the flames.
"Targaryens always preferred heat," a voice said, causing Areon to turn to see Ser Jorah walking up to him, "Although I don't think it works well with them."
"Just seeing something," Areon tells him as the older knight sits beside him.
"By burning yourself," Jorah asked.
Areon looked at Jorah and then back to the campfire. He wasn't sure if he could tell him about his dreams. He told Dany, but no one else, that maybe he could trust Jorah since he stopped the assassination attempt on his sister.
"I have been having," Areon tries to find the right words, "strange dreams as of late."
Jorah burrows his brows in confusion, "What kind of dreams?"
"I don't know, honestly," Areon tells him honestly, "I just keep seeing dreams about dragons."
"Dragons," Jorah repeats, then waves it off, "Maybe it was just wishful dreaming."
"I don't think so," Areon shakes his head, "because in most of my dreams, the dragon burns me, and then I wake up, but in this dream…it was different."
"Different, how," Jorah asked.
Areon tries to recollect, "I dreamt I was in a pyre, and I went inside it as it was burning. The fire burned my hair and clothes but didn't hurt me. And when I was in the fire, I saw dragon eggs in it…and when the fire burned out, the eggs hatched…and then baby dragons appeared."
"Dreams can be strange in certain times," Jorah explains.
Areon argues, "But all the time. I've had these dreams since we left Pentos, and they've been getting stranger every time. There was even a red comet flying over me in them."
"A red comet," Jorah's eyes widen.
"Yes," Areon notices Jorah's reaction, "Why? Does it mean anything?"
Jorah stayed silent momentarily before explaining, "In Westeros, red comets usually bear significant omens. It differs for many people, but it was always considered important."
Areon then thought deeply about Jorah's words, "Does it say anything about dreams?"
"Not that I've heard of," Jorah answers.
"Have you heard anything about these dreams," Areon asked Jorah.
"Forgive me, Your Grace, but I do not," Jorah admits, causing Areon to go quiet.
Areon was still determining what he would do or what these dreams meant, but if there was a red comet and they said something, then maybe he was having more than strange dreams.
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