Hello, Readers.

I own nothing but my characters and their storylines.

Dothraki will be bold.

Enjoy.

It was midday as Jarred rode his horse back to the Red Keep front gates with several knights of the City Watch, still looking for Arya Stark. It has been days since her disappearance, and no one has seen her. Jarred taught her well how to hide from her enemy, and he hopes he can catch her in time before something happens.

As he and the men came to the front gates of the Keep, Jarred got off his horse, took off his riding gloves to give to an attendant who came to take the horse's reins and began to make his way to the Red Keep for some rest before going back out again. As he was leaving, he saw Ser Barristan Selmy in traveling clothes, walking up to a horse that was made ready for him. Confused by this, Jarred goes to him, "Ser Barristan. Are you going somewhere?"

Barristan looks at his former squire, knowing he doesn't know since he hasn't been in court recently. The older knight turns to him, "I have been dismissed from the Kingsguard, Jarred."

"What?" Jarred's eyes widen with shock, "Dismissed? But the Kingsguard is an oath…"

"An oath for life that only death releases us, yes," Barristan said, "However, the King and Queen Regent believe I am not capable of protecting the King anymore."

"Not capable," Jarred questions in disbelief, "But your Barristan the Bold. You're one of the greatest knights in the realm."

"Others think otherwise," Barristan said as he returned to his horse to prepare his saddle for what seemed to be a long journey ahead.

"Who's going to be the new Lord Commander," Jarred asked.

Ser Barristan reluctantly admits, "Ser Jaime."

Jarred's eyes widen with shock, "Jaime Lannister. The Kingslayer. Why him?"

"You should ask the Queen that question," Ser Barristan said.

Still trying to grasp the situation, Jarred comes up closer to the older knight, "There has to be some mistake."

"I'm afraid there isn't," Barristan tells him honestly, "I no longer bear the White Cloak. I can no longer stay here."

"But where will you go," Jarred asked in confusion.

Barristan turns back to Jarred, unsure what to say. He sighed before facing the young lord, "I don't know, but my time in the Red Keep is done." Jarred was about to say something, but the older knight stopped him, "Do you remember when I knighted you while you were my squire?"

"Yes," Jarred reminisced, although the news of Barristan's dismissal was still weighing on him, "It was when a band of outlaws was hiding in the Kingswood and…"

"And we went out to fight them, and at the age of five and ten years of age, in combat, you slew down their leader who was twice your size," Barristan finished as he put his hand on Jarred's shoulders, "You showed great bravery and honor during that. That is why I knighted you. You must never forget, Jarred, that as a knight, you are to protect and defend those who cannot defend themselves and to fight bravely when needed, however hard, humble, or dangerous it may be. You are a knight of Westeros. Never forget that."

Jarred couldn't say anything but nod as Barristan patted his shoulder before going to his horse and sitting on his saddle. Jarred then asked, "Will I see you again?"

Barristan looks at Jarred briefly before saying, "I pray we will."

And with that, Ser Barristan the Bold, a former Knight of the Kingsguard, rode his horse to the front gates of the Red Keep as Jarred walked up a few feet to the gates, watching his old mentor ride away, still unable to fathom what happened.

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Lady Hellen was sitting at her desk, speaking with one of the trading cartels the Red Keep has been dealing with and, more importantly, discussing the debt the crown owes to them.

"I assure you the crown is doing everything it can to ensure our investors receive their payment," Hellen said as she signed a legal document, which had an amount of money written on it, or the amount of money the crown could give at the moment.

"You must understand our worry, considering how much money has been given over the years," the trader said.

Hellen nods, "I assure you the crown hasn't forgotten it's debt. And we intend on giving you the rest of the money in due diligence."

"Very well," the trader said, "I'm sure your lord husband, the Sea Dragon, is more than capable of that, considering the wealth Dawn Isle accumulated during his time as its lord. He also has three sisters married to wealthy families, does he not?"

Hellen could tell that the trader was more interested in Jonathor than the crown. Then again, Jonathor made Dawn Isle reach new heights of wealth since he took over its lordship, along with his sisters married to wealthy families. One sister in Braavos, another in Qarth, where her younger son is being fostered, and the youngest in the Summer Isles.

"We look forward to doing more business with you," Hellen ended the conversation as the trader reluctantly bowed his head and left the room while her older son, Jarred, entered the room with a furious look.

"Jarred, what happened," Hellen asked, noticing the look.

As the trader cartel left the room, Jarred closed the door before facing his mother, "Why was Ser Barristan dismissed from the Kingsguard?"

After being taken aback but not surprised by this, Hellen slowly sits in her chair, "So you've heard?"

"I ran into him as he was leaving," Jarred comes up to his mother's desk, leaning a bit to her, "So, again, why was he dismissed?"

"Cersei and Joffrey said he was too old to protect the King," Hellen calmly tells him, "There was nothing I could do."

"Nothing you could do," Jarred repeats, "You could've tried and convinced them to let him stay. He is a respected knight we've known since I was born. He was the one who knighted me."

"I know, Jarred, but there was nothing I could do," Hellen said, "By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late. We tried to offer him a keep and other needs to give him a comfortable life, but he denied them."

"Of course he did," Jarred exclaimed, "He knew exactly what it was."

"Jarred," Hellen tries to say, only for her son to leave the room in a fury.

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"So, what's going to happen with Lord Stark now," Cass asked her mother while they were in the Queen's bedchambers.

Sitting at her desk, Cersei says, "Once he confesses to treason, he will be sent to the Wall as punishment."

"Robb won't like that," Cass reminds her.

Sitting on the opposite side of the desk, Cersei shakes her head, "No, but he will endure it if it means his father remains alive."

Cass fidgets her hands together, "I just hope all of this will end as soon as possible. For all our sakes. Especially the Starks."

Cersei eyes her daughter, "You care for them. Especially Robb and Sansa."

Cass looks at her mother, shifting in her seat, "Well, Sansa was my lady for months. Of course, I care for her."

"And Robb," Cersei asked.

Cass shrugs, "He was…kind during our time together at the North."

Cersei smiled as she could tell Cassana was interested in the Stark boy, "Quite handsome, too. You both got along very well."

Cass chuckles a bit, "He was…charming."

"Charming," Cersei chuckles, "So if there were a consideration of a betrothal, you wouldn't object to it?"

Cass looks at her mother with confusion, "What do you mean?"

Cersei gives a small smile, hinting that it was still possible, "For the name of peace between the two Great Houses and to placate the Starks after all of this, would you accept it?"

Cass was stunned by this, "But you said you weren't going to force me into a marriage."

"Yes, I did," Cersei calms her daughter, "But if it's to someone you are interested in, would you?"

Cass then begins to think about it. She can't deny she found Robb Stark charming, handsome, and kind. She could do a lot worse than him. And it could bring peace between the North and the South, which she can't deny is essential. A servant opened the door before she could say anything else, "Your Grace. Ser Jarred wishes to speak with you. Urgently."

"Is it about Arya Stark," Cersei asked.

Cass stood up from her seat, "Did he find her?"

"He said it's about Ser Barristan's release from the Kingsguard," the servant said as Cass looked at her mother nervously as they knew this would happen.

"I said he would be upset at that," Cass tells her.

Cersei nods before telling the servant, "Send him in. Cassana, maybe you should leave us for a moment."

Cass obeys her mother as she leaves the room while she sees Jarred enter the room with an angry look. Cass wanted to say something but decided now wasn't the time and left as the door closed behind her.

When they were alone, the Queen and knight stood in front of each other as Jarred started the conversation, "You dismissed Ser Barristan."

"I did not," Cersei denies, "Ser Barristan Selmy was dismissed as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard by King Joffrey Baratheon."

"Joffrey did this," Jarred scoffs, not believing her, "Why?"

"Your uncle, the King, was tragically taken from us, and where was Ser Barristan," Cersei asked Jarred, "He was far from him, not being by his side to protect him."

"Because Robert ordered it," Jarred argues, "Not to mention he was drunk, and a boar hit him. There was nothing Ser Barristan could do."

"Nonetheless," Cersei dismissed, "He cannot protect our new King in his old age."

"Old age? Old age doesn't matter," Jarred argues again, "It is a vow for life only death can break. And he's still more than capable of fighting."

"It doesn't matter now because it has already been done," Cersei ended the discussion, "So there is no need to speak of it any longer."

Jarred wanted to say something, but he knew the Queen would command him to drop it, so he had no choice but to relent. "Since he's gone, does that mean there's an opening in the Kingsguard?"

"There was," Cersei said, "But the vacant position was given to Sandor Clegane."

Jarred's eyes widened as his jaw dropped, "Sandor Clegane? The Hound? He's not even a knight."

"He has been Joffrey's sworn shield for years now," Cersei reasons, "So it makes perfect sense to give him the White Cloak."

"I've been your daughter's sworn shield for years, too," Jarred reminds her, "I was even waiting for a vacant position to take my oaths."

"I am aware, dear nephew," Cersei said, although Jarred could sense it was false sincerity, "But I assure you, when the time comes, you will take your oath. Until then, you have to wait and continue your task of finding Arya Stark. Did you find her yet?"

"N-no, not yet," Jarred stuttered, "But since the gold cloaks are looking for her, I doubt she would go willingly with them."

"Then find a way," Cersei orders.

Jarred would say something, but he was still processing what was happening right now. He spent years training and readying himself to take the following vacant position of the Kingsguard, and now, not only did his mentor get dismissed, but the open position was given to a man who wasn't even a knight. It was maddening. Seeing nothing left to say, Jarred left the room in a quiet fury but carefully did not slam the door since he was still in the Queen's presence. As he leaves the room, Jarred hears a voice, "It was about Ser Barristan, wasn't it?"

Jarred sees Cass waiting outside the room, "You heard?"

"Some of it, yes," Cass tells him, "I'm sorry, Jarred. I know how you looked up to him. When I found out what was happening, there was…"

"Nothing you could do," Jarred cuts her off, "Right."

Jarred begins to walk away as Cass follows him, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Arya Stark is still somewhere in the city," Jarred curtly said, "I have bigger matters to worry about."

The young Longwater Lord angrily walked away as the princess stopped following him, guessing he needed time alone. Jarred kept walking through the hallways of the Red Keep until he reached his sword practice room, as it was one of the few places he could be alone. As he closes the door and stands in the middle of the room, Jarred begins to remember the lessons he taught Arya here. He admits at first, he was dreading it, never like to be around people, but after a while, Arya warmed up to him. Her willful nature is amusing, as it reminds him so much of Cassana. He then considers where she could be and how scared she must feel in King's Landing. Then he had an idea. Arya must be afraid to see the City Watch looking all over the city to find her. She would hide from them, so he thought he find her faster if he were dressed as a commoner. If dressed as a commoner, Arya won't run when she sees him. It was a long shot, but it might work.

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It was night as Areon Targaryen stood in the middle of nowhere before a great burning pyre as smoke rose to the night sky with a red comet bleeding through. Areon did nothing but look at the flames, dancing around as they burned two bodies placed on the pyre, one large, another small. Areon heard the shrieking yell again as another body, a woman's body, was tied to the pyre, burning to death, but Areon didn't seem to care. Suddenly, he looked down to see he was holding a chest of three large eggs. He felt some pull inside him while looking at the eggs and the burning pyre. He couldn't explain it, but it was intense, as if it was hurting him as he walked closer and closer. Once he reached into the flames, they burned stronger than before, burning away the wood and the bodies, along with his clothes, hair, and chest, but the eggs stayed untouched, as did he. Areon looked around the flames and saw one of the bodies burning away, and he could recognize it. Areon looked in closer and was shocked to see a familiar face. Khal Drogo.

Areon immediately shot up, again in sweat, breathing heavily, looking around to see he was still in his hut. He quickly touches his skin and hair to see that the fire is all a dream. Another intense dream. But there was something different in it. Drogo was in the pyre. After getting dressed, Areon leaves the hut, seeing everyone packing up the camp to resume the journey. As this happens, Areon quickly walks over to Drogo's tent, hoping to see if he is okay. As he did, he looked inside to see his sister was inside, eating her breakfast with her maids.

"Areon," Dany exclaimed, noticing something was wrong, "Is everything alright?"

"Um," Areon tries to say as he gets in the tent until he is close to Dany, "is Drogo here?"

"The Khal is out with bloodriders," Irri said.

"Why," Dany asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just wondering," Areon said, although his demeanor says there was more than that.

"Are you alright, Your Grace," Doreah notices something was wrong, "You seem so pale."

"I'm a Targaryen," Areon waved off, "I've always been pale."

"No," Dany argues as she grabs his hand, "You seem flushed. You look distressed."

Areon was still breathing heavily, and his face was flushed, but he didn't want to say anything, "I'm fine."

"No, you not," Dany said, "What's happened? Please tell me."

Seeing his sister wanting to help him, Areon was about to say something but closed his mouth while eyeing Doreah and Irri. Getting the hint that he wants them alone, Dany tells them to leave the tent to give them privacy, which they do.

Once alone, Areon sits beside Dany as she grabs his hand, "Tell me. Was it another dream?"

"Y-yes. It was," Areon admitted, although he didn't want to tell what it was, "It was just the same dream as before. Being in a pyre with the eggs, I wasn't burning…and that's it."

"No," Dany shakes her head, not believing it, "That's not it. What else did you see? You can tell me."

"Dany," Areon said, not wanting to tell her, especially with her pregnancy condition.

"Tell me," Dany said more forcefully.

Seeing there was no way around it, Areon relents, taking a deep breath before saying, "I think I saw Drogo in the pyre."

Dany's eyes widen, "What do you mean?"

"I don't know," Areon admits.

"You don't know," Dany repeats, "What do you mean you don't know? It was your dream."

"But that doesn't mean I know what it means," Areon excused defensively.

"W-w-what else did you dream about," Dany pressed on, wanting to know more.

"There's nothing else," Areon said, "After I saw it was Drogo, that's when the dream ends."

"What do you think it means," Dany asked.

Areon thought hard about it, but he didn't know the answer, "I don't know."

"Did you have these dreams before," Dany asked again. Areon looks at her with a scared look. He did have a dream about someone's death. Viserys's. He dreamt of Viserys dying with melted gold, which happened shortly after. Seeing the look he had, Dany urges him, "Areon, if there's something you need to say, say it."

Seeing no way out of this, Areon reluctantly said, "One time, I had a dream about Viserys dying."

"What," Dany's eyes widen at this.

"I saw melted gold on his head," Areon admitted, "Sometime before Drogo poured it on his head at Vaes Dothrak."

Dany started breathing heavily as fear took her. Areon saw Viserys dying with melted gold on his head, and it happened. Now, he was having those dreams about Drogo. What does this mean? Will Drogo die? Before they can speak on anything else, Drogo enters the tent. They both looked at him and immediately saw the patch on his chest since that was where the wound was.

"Brother, we must go practice again," Drogo said.

Areon nods, trying not to give away anything, "Alright. I'll be there in a minute." Drogo nods as he leaves the tent, but before he does, Areon asks, "How is the wound feeling?" Drogo looks at him, confused, "Just curious if you're feeling better."

"It's nothing," Drogo waves off as he leaves the tent.

When he was gone, the Targaryen siblings looked at each other, with Areon saying, "Should I tell him?"

"No," Dany fiercely denies, "You will not say a word."

"But Dany," Areon tries to say.

Daenerys, however, cuts him off, "It was just a dream. Nothing more."

Areon could tell she was scared, so he respected her wishes and left the tent for the practice. Once Drogo and Areon were far enough from the Khalasar camp, they began training. However, Areon noticed Drogo was a bit slower than usual. He tried to make a strike at Areon, who deflected it quickly, but it wasn't a hard strike like the other times.

"Are you sure you're ok," Areon asked.

"It's nothing," Drogo waved off, seeming tired.

Areon wanted to say something, but he remembered that a Khal must show strength before his Khalasar; otherwise, they wouldn't follow him, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than dreams.

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It was early evening as Cass was in her bedchambers, sitting on her vanity table, brushing her hair to get ready for bed, but she couldn't stop thinking about everything happening in the realm right now. According to some sources, after his father's arrest, Robb Stark is now marching down the south for war, while her grandfather, Tywin Lannister, is marching up to raid the Riverlands in retribution. She couldn't believe how everything escalated so quickly. She wasn't surprised by what her grandfather did since her uncle Tyrion was kidnapped by Catelyn Stark, supposedly under Ned Stark's orders. Tywin always made sure the Lannisters were the most powerful and feared family in the realm, so his launching an attack in the Riverlands wasn't that surprising to her. Cass was surprised to find out that Robb launched a full-scale war with the entire North against the Iron Throne. Based on their first meeting months ago, she thought Robb was kind and gentle; then again, his father is in the black cells of the Red Keep, and everyone remembers what happened the last time a Stark was arrested in the capital. More specifically, the Mad King Aerys Targaryen captured and murdered Rickard and Brandon Stark, causing Robert's Rebellion.

Cass couldn't imagine what Sansa must be feeling. Right now, her father is in prison, she doesn't know where her younger sister is, and now her brother is going to war. Wondering how the young girl is doing and still in court clothes, Cass leaves her bedchambers to see the Stark girl. However, it was a long walk since her room is at the tallest tower of Maegor's Holdfast since her father's arrest. After some walking, Cass gets to Sansa's door, knocking softly. When she heard a voice saying, "Enter," the princess entered the room, seeing the girl sitting by her window.

"Cassana," Sansa greeted surprisingly.

"I wanted to see how you're doing," Cass said, closing the door before sitting next to the girl.

"I'm alright," Sansa smiled, although Cass could tell it was forced.

"Sansa. Really. How are you," Cass asked again with a little more force.

Seeing that there was no way to lie again, Sansa's smile dropped as she said truthfully, "I'm scared."

Hearing the answer she wanted, Cass gently hugged the girl, who immediately hugged the princess back. Cass can tell that the girl does not know what to do. What can she do? She already gave a merciful request to the King, and judging by what Joffrey said, if Ned confesses that he commits treason to the throne, he might live out his days in the Wall.

Seeing that the girl was still scared, Cass thought, "Sansa, I'm going to show you something, but you can never tell anyone about this. Alright?"

"Alright," Sansa said, confused by what the princess was doing.

"In about a half-hour, I want you to come to my room, and I'll explain everything then," Cass said as she got up and started walking out the door. Before she opens the door, she turns to Sansa, asking, "Do you trust me?"

"Yes," Sansa asked as she trusted the princess that she got close with.

"Meet me in my room in a half hour," Cass smiles as she closes the door to do what she needs to do.

After the half-hour, Sansa walked up to the princess's room, softly knocking on the door. The door opens as Cass's head pops up, "Quickly come in."

Doing what Cass said, Sansa enters the room and is surprised that the Princess of the Seven Kingdoms was dressed in some rags as if she were a commoner, "Why are you dressed like that?"

"Do you know when Maegor the Cruel built Maegor's Holdfast? He also built secret tunnels and passageways in case the royal family needed to escape a siege," Cass said.

"No, I did not," Sansa raised her eyebrows.

"Well, I found one years ago that leads directly to the city," Cass said as she got some clothing rags from her bed, "So put these on so no one recognizes us."

"Um, Cass," Sansa stutters, shocked by what was happening, "I don't think the Queen…"

"I do this all the time, and no one knows," Cass assures her, "Not even my mother. We'll be fine."

"But what if we get in trouble with the people," Sansa tries to argue, "What if they know who we are or…"

"I know the safest places to be in," Cass said, "I promise, nothing will happen. And even if we do get in trouble, we can go to the City Watch for help."

"B-But," Sansa tried to argue again.

"Sansa, I order you as your princess to go with me," Cass pulls rank as she holds out the ragged clothing to Sansa.

Seeing she had no choice but to obey, the girl grabbed the clothes and went to the folding screen nearby to change her clothes. When she did, Sansa and Cass quickly left the room, walking through the hallways. Due to them dressed as commoners, the guards paid no attention to them as they approached a corridor where they walked up to a painting of a forest in the middle of two torches hanging on the walls. Quickly looking back and forth to make sure no one was around, Cass pushes the painting open, revealing a passageway tunnel deep inside. Sansa's eyes widened as she had never seen something like this before. Smiling at the girl's surprise, Cass gently grabs her hand, pulling her in. Once they do, Cass quickly closes the painting behind them before anyone else sees them.

After a long walk, Cass leads Sansa through the dark tunnels hidden in the Red Keep, "How do you know where to go," Sansa asked.

"I found these tunnels long ago and always tried to remember which way I went," Cass answered, "After a few more years, I know where to find the one that goes to the city and back."

Eventually, the two girls found their way out of the tunnels that led to an exit outside the outer walls of the Red Keep. Sansa's eyes widened as she and Cass saw the whole city of King's Landing before them. Seeing Sansa's wonder, Cass grabs her hand as the two quickly enter the city. After seeing some of the establishments, Cass saw a stable where they have horses to rent. Having some coin on her as she usually does for these moments, Cass rented a horse.

"Do you know how to ride one," Cass said as the proprietor brought out a horse.

"Not really," Sansa admits.

"Then we'll ride together," Cass said as she got on the saddle, with Sansa reluctantly joining her.

As the girls got on the horse, they rode throughout the city until they reached the vibrant Fishmonger's Square. The marketplace was in full swing, with various vendors selling their wares. The girls dismounted their horses and made their way through the crowds of people, the hoods of their disguises pulled low to mask their identities. Cassana held tight to the horse's reins, ensuring it didn't wander away, while Sansa marveled at the exotic goods on display. From jewelry from far-off Essos to fresh fruit and small wild animals from the Summer Isles to fine silk fabrics and clothing from the Free Cities, the market was a feast for the senses. They even used some of their coins to purchase some of the delicious fruit on offer. Finally, they reached the heart of the market, where tables were set up as night eventually fell on them.

"Amazed by what you see," Cass questions.

Still amazed, Sansa said, "It's better than I thought. Do the others come here?"

"We come here from time to time with guards present," Cass said before leaning in, whispering, "But sometimes I like coming here alone in disguise to see how people are when they don't know who I am."

"Why," Sansa asked, not understanding, "You're a princess. They would do anything for you."

Cass shrugs, "I just like seeing people living their lives normally. Never bowing to me or being careful with what they saw. I like seeing them being who they are for a change."

Sansa slightly nods, now getting what the princess is saying, although she disagrees wholeheartedly with it since she likes to be in the Red Keep, "Does anyone know about the passageways?"

"No, just you," Cass admits, "And don't tell anyone about it."

"But why tell me," Sansa asked.

Cass gives her a sympathetic head tilt, "Just because of everything you're going through. With your father and Arya." Noticing that Sansa went quiet, Cass then begins to tread lightly on the subject, taking her hand into hers, "I promise. We're going to find Arya. Everything is going to be ok."

"You think so," Sansa asked in a fearful tone.

"I know so," Cass promises her, "Joffrey knows better than to do anything to Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell. And we are going to find Arya."

"I hope she's ok," Sansa said as she looked down at her hands, fidgeting them, "Sometimes we fight, but…"

"I know," Cass said while grabbing the girl's hand, as she has a sister, although she admits they are not that close due to the age difference since Myrcella is far younger than Cass. "Let's just take our mind off of it."

Sansa nodded as she and the princess continued to explore the marketplace before they headed back to the Red Keep.

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Hellen sat on her couch in her bed chambers, still upset about what her son had gone through. As she expected, Jarred was furious about Ser Barristan's dismissal from the Kingsguard, but she could do nothing to change it. Just as she was getting a headache, someone knocked on her door. "Come in," she said, and Lord Varys entered. "It's late, Lord Varys," she remarked.

"I know, my lady, but I had to bring news of Lord Stark," Varys bowed his head.

Hellen became more alert and cautious. "You made sure no one followed you here? The Red Keep is filled with spies from Cersei, Littlefinger, and Pycelle."

"I assure you, it's safe," Varys said.

Hellen took a deep breath before asking, "What news do you have about Ned?"

"He's agreed to confess to treason before the King," Varys replied.

Hellen breathed a sigh of relief. "So he'll live. He'll be sent to the Wall and hopefully convince his son and the North to lay down their swords. And this whole nightmare will end."

"I assume you'll send a raven to your lord husband about this?" Varys asked.

"Yes," Hellen responded.

Varys then became serious. "My lady, I'm afraid my birds have given me a more troubling tale. Your husband may already know about it, but I don't think you do. It concerns Areon Targaryen, specifically his brother-by-law Khal Drogo."

"What happened?" Hellen asked, tensing up.

"The supposed poison attack on Daenerys Targaryen didn't go according to plan," Varys informed her. "It seems that Ser Jorah Mormont prevented it from happening."

"What?" Hellen's eyes widened. "Why did he stop it?"

"It appears that he has become loyal to the Targaryens," Varys said. "My sources tell me that the assassin fled once he was caught and was captured by the Dothraki. It seems that Khal Drogo sees this as an omen of war."

"W-what do you mean, 'omen of war'?" Hellen's hand trembled as she placed it on her chest when she felt it tighten.

"They're a month's ride away from Qarth," Varys said grimly. "They've already destroyed some villages in the Lhazareen province and are collecting slaves to trade for gold and ships to come to Westeros."

"Slaves?" Hellen gasped in horror. "They're collecting slaves?"

"Spoils of war, I fear," Varys speculated. "However, what is certain is that they believe the assassination attempt was real, and now they're coming to Westeros."

Hellen tried to calm herself down by taking deep breaths, but fear and dread had taken hold of her. She had warned her brother Robert that this would happen if they went through with an actual poison attempt. That's why she and Varys had tried to avoid it by making Jorah think it was poison, allowing Daenerys to appear sick but recover without harming her child and hopefully put the whole thing to rest now that Robert was dead. But now, it seemed that things had gotten worse. The Dothraki were coming to Westeros, derailing all the plans she, Jonathor, and Varys had made. She remembered that her younger son Steffon was at Qarth and worried about his safety and the next phase of their plans to bring Areon to Qarth.

"Robb Stark is starting a war for his father's freedom, and now Khal Drogo is plotting to cross the Narrow Sea for his wife and brother-by-law," Varys remarked to Hellen. "The safety of a loved one… drives you to dangerous ends. You and your husband can attest to it, I'm sure. Your youngest son is at Qarth, is he not?"

Hellen glared at Varys but knew that he was right. She wondered what they could do now that the savage Dothraki was heading to their shores.

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