The old white knight

Barristan POV

I did not like these people. Aegon Targaryen, as he called himself, was at the front. Behind him was Euron Greyjoy. From his eye, I could tell he was not someone to be trusted. That eye smiled too much like it hid many things. Then there was Jon Connington. He had not shown any respect to the Queen, only caring for the boy he brought.

They have been in court for weeks, demanding Her Grace's assistance in helping them attack the Seven Kingdoms. It was hard to believe them, especially when the one with answers supposedly lay in a coma. I knew Varys, and I knew he had many secrets. But hiding the true-born son of Rhaegar was shocking, too shocking.

I wanted to believe them, as did Daenerys, but there were too many questions. How did he survive? Who was the baby that was presented to Robert by the Lannisters? And most importantly, if Varys saved Aegon, why did he not save Rhaenys? She looked like a Martell rather than Targaryen. It wouldn't be hard to swap her for any other if he did the same with Aegon.

Aegon looked like Valyrion, but I could not see any resemblance to Rhaegar or Elia Martell. Even though I was old, my eyes could see well, and I remember Prince Rhaegar well enough. They and the happenings in Mereen wore out Queen Danaerys. I could see how exhausted she was each day.

"Is there news from Astapor?" The Queen asked after we were left alone.

"The last I heard, the city is still under siege."

"I should have sent some of my men to them," The Queen laments.

"I know how you feel, but the Golden Company endangers us. The ten thousand could destroy Mereen if we let our guard down. We can't trust them."

"Who can we trust?" Daenerys asked. "Is everyone a liar trying to use me?"

Betrayal was too familiar. Everyone spoke of one thing but did another. I could not answer her, yet part of me wanted to say something as I escorted her to her chambers. I stayed silent under Aerys' rule, and Robert ignored my words. Both were dead now, bringing their dynasties to ruin. I didn't want the same to happen to Daenerys. She was a good Queen.

"We want to return home, your grace," Euron's only smile was smiling at us as he turned from the corner. "Our homes were taken, and we were forced to leave them behind. We could only forget them alone, but we could take them back together."

"I have listened to your words," Daenerys replied. "And I have given my answer."

"I know that you are concerned about many things, but you always could burn them to ashes," Euron left after these words.

Only when he left did I realize I had my hand on the hilt of my sword. I didn't know what it was about him, but I felt fear around him. He walked non-threatening, but every time his eye moved to my queen, I felt like she was in danger. He didn't speak much, but each of his words seemed to dig deep into Daenerys.

"Your Grace," Missandei came to the Queen before she left for her chambers. "A messenger brought another letter from King's Landing."

Daenerys took it, read it, and threw it away. The news of another Targaryen was shocking not only to her but to me too. I never met Jaehaerys Targaryen, or as he once was called, Jon Snow. It was hard to believe that Eddard Stark had fooled them all, yet it could answer some things too.

Lord Eddard Stark was called honorable for a reason. So, many wondered where his bastard came from. Most were satisfied with the explanation that it was war, men lost themselves in war, and it wasn't hard to believe that a bastard or two would come out. Yet, I met Eddard Stark. He didn't look like someone who would lose himself.

"What was written, if you don't mind me asking, your Grace?" I asked.

"Lies," She replied in one word.

I didn't try to convince her otherwise, as I didn't fully believe in it myself. Not speaking that now there were two Targaryens aside from the Queen. Both sons of Prince Rhaegar. With better claimant to the Seven Kingdoms than Daenerys. It was too convenient. Yet it seems that the Seven Kingdoms accepted one while the other didn't dare to reveal himself.

"Who's here?" I yelled out as we entered the Queen's chambers, and a shadow stood inside.

"It is me," Daario Naharis still had his blue beard and hair. "I have returned, my Queen."

"Why?" Daenerys asked. "You were to keep watch over the siege of Astapor."

"The siege is over," He replied.

"So, Astapor has fallen?" I asked.

"No, the opposite. Yunkai had lost," He answered.

"Once, you said that it would take a miracle for Astapor to win," Daenerys said. "You said it was a lost cause. You are one of the reasons we didn't send help when Shireen Baratheon asked for it. Now, you say that Astapor still stands?"

"Taller and mightier than before," Daario replied to the angry Queen. "The former slaves from Yunkai have been accepted inside Astapor."

"How?" I asked. "Yunkai had three to four times more men."

"It seems to win such a battle. One knight is enough," He said. "Have you heard a man named ser Oscar Rivers?"

"There are plenty of knights in the Seven Kingdoms, yet I never heard of someone named Oscar Rivers," I answered.

"It is said that half of his face is burned so badly that you can see his eye socket with a melted eye inside," Daario said. "I saw him lead a couple of hundred horsemen into Yunkai's camp, killing the Wise Masters, before escaping. Then another night, he joined forces with one of the Sellsword companies and crushed the remaining forces of Yunkai."

"Did you see the man?" Daenerys asked.

"From far away, I couldn't see how he looked."

"It couldn't be," I muttered, thinking of a certain man.

"Do you know someone?" Daenerys hearing me, turned to me.

"Sandor Clegane, half of his face is scarred with burn marks," I answered. "He is a ferocious fighter with few equal to him."

"What kind of man is he?" Daenerys asked.

"He was called the Hound," I said. "He is a brother of the Mountain, who killed Elia Martell and smashed Aegon's head into the wall."

"The last I saw of him, Aegon didn't seem to have been smashed into the wall," Daario commented.

"I saw the babe that was presented to Robert," I said. "It had silver hair. I did not dare to look better at the face or what was left of it."

"Enough," Daenerys yelled. "Leave both of you. I want to rest."

Both Daario and I left the Queen's chambers, leaving her alone. I shouldn't have said the last part. It would only give her morbid thoughts and terrible dreams. The thought of what happened that day still doesn't let me sleep peacefully. I still wondered what would have happened if I was left to protect Aerys, not the Kingslayer.

"Why are you still here, Daario?" I asked as I saw him not leaving while I guarded the doors.

"I wanted to ask about them," He said. "If what you said is true, then the boy is a liar and trying to use our Queen."

"They are not honest," I agreed.

"Nobody knows that I have returned," He said. "I will watch them and find out what they are hiding."

"You won't find much," I said. "The boy seems to believe in his story, and neither Jon nor Euron will tell the truth."

"At least we can agree on something," He said. "But even if what they said is true, the boy is a puppet playing his part in a mummers show."

It was hard to disagree. The boy didn't seem to have experienced any hardships. He looked naïve. He did anything that was told to him like he had no thought of his own. He seems to believe he is Aegon Targaryen, yet he doesn't realize his situation. To demand that he and the Queen marry so audaciously and then be shocked when she refused only meant he didn't even think about such an outcome.

"What is the situation in Astapor now?" I asked before Daario left.

"I didn't stay to take a look," He replied. "Once I saw the Yunkai army defeated, I left to report to our Queen as fast as possible."

"Is that so?" I asked.

"Don't look at me like that. I did as my Queen commanded."

He was bad news. It would have been better if he hadn't returned longer. I could not trust him with the Queen's safety and well-being. As Aegon, he, too, only cared about power. Without the dragons being by Daenerys side, they would have abandoned her. After all, Varys told of the Queen in a small council in King's Landing when she was powerless and harmless. Only lord Eddard and I have not agreed on the assassination of a little girl.

It wouldn't surprise me if getting rid of Daenerys and Viserys was his goal back then, so Aegon wouldn't be interrupted in his conquest. He knew of the incest and everything, yet he didn't care to tell anyone. He wanted a war between Joffrey and Stannis, so Aegon would come with his Golden Company once both forces exhausted themselves.

It fitted his character well. A spider spreads a web to catch its prey. Yet the appearance of Jaehaerys was shocking to him as it was to others. Who would have thought of honorable lord Eddard Stark being able to harbor such a secret? Once he told Jon Snow was his bastard, everyone believed him.

…

"You can not treat me like this," Aegon shouted as he stormed out of the courtroom.

Another day and another refusal from the Queen. The boy started to show his temper. At first, he came with promises, and now he comes with threats. His actions didn't help him get any favor from the Queen. It was wise of the Queen not to let the Golden company inside the city. No matter what Aegon or anyone else said.

I fought them in the Ninepenny War. They were supporters of the Blackfyres, so they could not trust them, no matter what they said about only wanting to return home. It was the only reason the Queen tolerated them. She sympathized with them and their wishes to return home. Otherwise, she wouldn't even listen to them.

"Your grace," Missandei came next to the Queen once she was done holding the court. "A dozen of ships have arrived at the harbor."

"Who is it?" Daenerys asked.

"She proclaimed herself as Asha Greyjoy," Missandei answered. "She wants an audience with you."

"Greyjoy?" I asked, and Missandei nodded. "If I may, your Grace."

"Please speak, ser Barristan."

"We should secretly have an audience with her," I said. "We could find out more about Euron from her."

"You don't think they are working together?" Daenerys asked.

"As far as I know, Euron was exiled from the Iron Islands for his crimes against his own family," I replied. "I don't know the details, but it is an opportunity to learn more about Euron."

"Missadei, please discretely prepare a room and lead her to it."

"As you command, your Grace," Missandei left.

Though she was just a girl, I knew she was wiser than most. She understood what she had to do without much explanation. The fact that she always comes to the Queen first with any news meant that she didn't trust anyone else. It wouldn't be easy for a girl only of twelve name days to live such a life. Looking at her, I thought of Sansa Stark. She was a similar age, yet their personalities and capabilities couldn't differ anymore.

A.N. As always, If you want more, up to five advanced chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852