Mata I

Mata seethed as she saw Baelon dragged through the door, two of the horse men holding his arms, a massive welt on his tanned skin. He still made efforts to thrash away from his captors, but the fight had clearly been pushed down from whatever he had previously shown. He looked up in exhaustion, his eyes partially swollen from several strikes from his captors, and Mata's heart couldn't help but sink.

She desperately wanted to rush over to him, but she couldn't not with how she had been placed in one of a half dozen small cells that dotted the small dungeon that were held down in the bowels of the manse. One could ask why a cheese monger would have cells in his home, but Mata had known of their existence since she had arrived. She had actually been introduced to Illyrio down here, coming up from a hidden dock, by the Eunuch. They had informed her about the arrangement, and also told her that it would be her fate to sit in the cells should she fail to heed their instructions

'And now you find yourself in these cells as well,' she gave a glance over to Illyrio, who was lying down in abject pain in his own little cell, 'Pride makes fools of us all.'

It only took a few moments more for them to finally shove Baelon into his cell, and then turn away from the new prisoner. The two dothraki then marched from the dank room, leaving Mata alone with her fellow three captives. Mata swung her eyes between her son and daughter, the first exhausted and the second terrified.

'Despite all my work,' Mata could not help but whine to herself, 'Despite my secrecy, we still end up caged like animals,' she imagined the slinking smile of Varys' face, 'Gods, if Viserys and Dany were down here, I'd swear this was one of his plans.'

Yet it obviously was not. Not only were the "Rightful King" of the Seven Kingdoms and his…"beloved" sister not locked up and being prepared for an eventual move to the Black Cells of Kings Landing, they had actually been given honors and gifts. Alongside Illyrio being tossed in to the cell in the corner, it was clear that this wasn't part of Varys's plans. Instead, that new cloaked man, Mairu, had come in and smashed apart their lives.

"Hello in there!"

'Speaking of,' Mata thought, her eyes coming up to the man who had come prancing into the manse. He was relatively good looking, but in the way that many fighting me did.. There was some intelligence, but it was also clear from the way he carried himself, that his ego was far larger than both his muscles and his brain. The very fact he was almost dancing as he walked in gave those characteristics away. His attitude was somehow more arrogant and putrid than the arrogance of Viserys, who was following behind, the "King's" eyes focused on the sword in his hands. Dany was not there, but honestly Mata was glad. It meant she could be more honest.

"So this is the next phase of my demonstration my king," Mairu continued, nearly bowing as he waved his hands around the room, "For you see, I have even more treasures for you than Blackfyre itself."

"Very good, Mairu," Viserys eyes hung on the sword, the weapon of the conquerer, not even bothering to look up, "Your works have already set you as my most trusted companion," his voice was almost like a small boy when speaking with their father, "What other wonders do you have to share."

"Ah well," Mairu then turned his eyes toward Mata. The eyes studied her hungrily, looking up and down, and Mata slowly moved her arms over her chest and groin, even if it would not keep his leers at bay, "This servant, your grace," he finally said, the hunger causing his words to form a growl, "Do you…do you know who she is?"

"A mere serving girl of the traitor," VIserys' voice was dreamy, and Mata gave one look to still see him focused on the sword, "I see not what some Rhoynish peasant matters. Or-"

"You see," and at that, a cutting edge entered Mairu's voice. Viserys made no motion to it, but Mata could almost see some frustration appear on the edge of Mairu's face, "Your grace, she is one of the key plotters alongside the cheesemonger," before Mata could quite understand the implication, Mairu continued, "Do you not remember your days at the Red Keep your grace?"

The question finally drew Viserys out of his current obsession, but it had driven him into another of them. The "King's" Eyes seemed to focus now on something far beyond the sword in front of him. He then said, "Yes, I remember it quite well," and for a moment, Mata would swear she could almost see a tear begin to fall from the boy's eye, "Home."
"But you remember many of the figures, of the Red Keep," Mairu continued, rolling his hands together, "Including of the servants and the small folk."

"Yes," Viserys nodded, "I suppose I do," he then looked at Mata more closely, "Mata…There was a girl, yes, the Dornish Wench's bastard sister," at that Mata felt heat shoot up her spine, and the desire to reach out and strangle the brat through the bars, "But…but this could not be her. This could not be Mata Sands."

"Why not?" Mairu said, and suddenly Mata had the desire to instead strangle the shifty man for revealing all this. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Baelon's eyes opening wider than before in shock at the sudden reveal, and she could see Sheera almost smirking, as though this were some retribution of the gods.

"Well, her breasts are obviously too large."

"...," Mairu nearly reached up to slap his face, but his other hand caught it, and dragged it down. He then smiled at the Targaryen, while doing his best to contain his frustration. Mata, who had her hands free and did not feel the need to give support to this blasted "King", did allow herself to slap her forehead. She might be giving the game away, but even Viserys would get it once Mairu explained.

"It has been fifteen years, your grace," Mairu continued, his voice only somewhat hiding the strain, "A girl on her fifteenth name day will almost certainly have their breasts grow larger over fifteen more."

Viserys blinked for a second, before he suddenly gave Mata another look, and then his eyes widened once more, "The sand slut," he said, his eyes focused on Mata. He then pushed forward, and pointed at Mata through the bars, "You! You were just another trick that whore my brother married decided to try and play on my family. Filthy leach," he then reared back and spat through the bar, the spit landing directly on Mata's face, "You all should have been burnt by my father to save my poor brother-"

"Your brother was the whore!" Mata shot up, grabbing at the bars, "Your brother was a whore who humiliated his wife for his cock!" she could see the rage building in the amethyst orbs in the "King's" skull, but to finally speak the truth was too beautiful to pass, "Your brother was a whore, and he died to a whoremonger like Robert Barathe-"

"Die you bitch!" Viserys swung Blackfyre at her. Luckily, he was not a swordsman, and it clangend into the bars. But Mata was forced to jump back to avoid the blade cutting into her fingers. Still, Viserys advanced, his hate on full display, "I'll cut out your tongue-"

"Your grace," Mairu raised his hands, his eyes glancing back to Mata as she regained her footing, "You must hold yourself. There is further use for her, and I shall nee-"

"Oh, you are just like Rhaegar!" Mata continued, "You play act like some warrior king, but you are really just a child swinging around wildly," for a second, Rhaegar was there, his face over Viserys, "Always spoiled children, who think that the swords and toys and the people dolls!" she began to shout louder, "And you'll join him too! Burning the the seven hells for the mon-"
"MATA!"

Mata stopped, a new voice cutting into the dungeon. She looked to the cell next to her, and saw Sheera's eyes filled with the same hate in Viserys' eyes. Tears were pouring down from hers and it looked like if she could have the chance, she'd have struck Mata. For a second, Mata's heart sank at the girl, the little one who she'd raised, raging at her so totally.

"Don't you dare say his name," Sheera hissed, clenching her fists, "You have no right to say anything about him," Mata could see small droplets of blood fall from her fists, "You, you liar. You thief. You took…you took him from me-but I won't let you dare insult him!"

"Shee-"

"I'm not Sheera!" the girl screamed.

"What is this about?" Mata and the girl she raised turned their heads back outside their cages, toward Viserys. He was just staring at them, eyes wide, and frown deeply etched into his face, "Girl, while I appreciate you have more sense than your whore of a mother," Mata wished to return to her attempt to strangle the "king", "Do understand it won't get you out of here unless I find you worthy."

"Your grace," Mairu cut back in, "I believe…well, my next gift lies in that cell right there," he pointed at Sheera, and Mata felt her heart sink beneath her stomach, "That girl, your bride is here."

For a second, the whole room became quiet. Mata scanned the room, and saw a bewilderment on the face of her son as he slowly regained his bearings, but it was a look of near hope on Sheera that caused Mata pain to her own heart. Only Illyrio, himself still completely covered in bruises, seemed to share her abject befuddlement.

'How does he know?' Mata asked.

"HA!" and yet, the shriek of Viserys' laughter cut through the stun, and he shook his head at Mairu, "My dear Mairu, I thank you for many things, but," he waved his hands at Sheera, his usual sneer having been returned, "Why would I sully my cock with this serving girl at all. Even to use her for a bit of refreshment would be a disgrace, but to make her my brid-"

However, just as the disappointment came over Sheera once more, Mairu coughed, "Well your grace, I must remind you that this Mata was the sister of the wife of your brother," suddenly, a blue energy came over the stranger's hand, and the whole room watched, as he motioned for Sheera to come.

Sheera stopped for a second, clearly not trusting the man. However, she gave a glance towards Mata…and her eyes narrowed. Mata was about to call to her not to go near this magician, but the girl had clearly made up her mind. Soon the glowing hand of the man was over the girl's head, and Mata could only watch in horror as it began to flow down her hair.

"You knew that Mata herself never had any children," Mairu continued, as suddenly, all of Sheera's hair began to glow, "But these children here are clearly too old to have not been born before you last saw her," and then he smiled, "So Your Grace, one must ask, who might these two children be-"

"Wait," Viserys blinked, the gears clearly beginning to turn, "Yo-"

"Why yes," at that, Mairu released his hand. For a moment, it appeared that Sheera was the same as she ever was. Yet suddenly, black flakes began to descend from her head. Yet, as the flakes began to sprinkle the floor beneath her, the girl's hair remained. Only it was not black hair, as had always been her appearance.

No, it was the silver hair that defined the true blooded Targaryen.

"May I reintroduce to the world," Mairu laughed, as suddenly Viserys stared directly into his niece's hopeful eyes, "Rhaenys Targaryen."

"...," Aegon continued to stare from behind the bars of his cell at Mata. It could only be her, what with his sister being released from her cell a half day before and sent to be "Returned to her station" as Viserys had declared. Mairu had left as well, and had managed to leave Mata alone with her son, and her original captor.

Of course, none of them wished to speak to each other. Illyrio and her had never been friendly with one another, not really. To anyone who passed by, they maintained their friendly demeanors, and did not seek to reveal the disdain they held for each other, but to Mata, Illyrio would always be the fat jailor, and to Illyrio, Mata would always be Varys's little game. So really, at the moment, they had nothing to say to one another, with both of their plans up in smoke.

'But I always was able to speak with my son,' Mata did all she could to keep from crying as she saw Baelon continue to stare at the ceiling. She wanted to talk to Baelon, to tell him how much he mattered to her. But, 'What would I even say.'

Mata had hoped beyond hope she'd never have to tell Baelon that she wasn't the woman who had given birth to him. But she had supposed that eventually that Baelon's sister would force her hand, but still, she would have been able to reveal on her own time, not have the boy's whole world pulled out from beneath him.

However, before Mata could finally come up with something to say to Baelon, the door to the cells opened. She pushed herself up to her feet, and for a second, thought that Danaerys had come into the cells. Yet the illusion was only for a moment, as the girl was too tall, and the structure of her face still had too much of Elia to be the fully Valyrian Dany. Of course, the one who'd just come in only made things worse.

Honestly, if Mata hadn't known the girl's history, she would have believed that Rhaenys had always kept that name. She held her head as a princess should, walking upright. The silk dress around her shoulders, an aquamarine fabric that seemed to slip down her body, seemed to fit her in ways her clothes as Sheera never had. There was an ease on her face as well, as though a great weight had been pulled from her shoulders, and she was finally able to stand and walk as she was born.

'She walks like Elia did, back in the Gardens,' She thought. Before the red keep had so thoroughly smashed down Elia's spirit, Mata's true born sister had been a woman of uncommon confidence. And that part of Elia was clear in her daughter. What wasn't, was the sneer that was covering Rhaenys face as she slid up to the bars of Mata's cell, and glared down at her.

"What do you think?" Rhaneys moved her hand to show off the rich clothing, and to complete the outfit, a set of white gloves. They were pale as milk, and clugn to her hands tightly, so much so that if it were not for the tan that the girl had gained over the years, Mata might have thought it was her skin. Rhaenys waved the hands in front of her, and then smiled as she asked, "Do you think these suit me, Mata?"

Mata pulled in a full breath, and then gave a curt nod, "Yes, they look lovely," Rhaenys remained silent, and Mata felt the need to continue, "Were the already here, or-"

"Oh, why no, they aren't from this place," Rhaenys smiled looking down at them, "They are from down along the southern causeway, at that shop with that incredibly tall woman of Leng, the one with special silk worms," Mata felt an eyebrow raised. That was halfway across Pentos, "I'd been by there many times," Rhaenys continued, twisting her fingers to show how dexterous the gloves allowed her to be, "Over the last two years, I'd go by there on the way to pick up some of the soaps for cleaning linens," her smile seemed to crack, "I'd wanted these since I first saw them. But I couldn't of course, not as a servant," her eyes, once brown like her mother now seemed somehow slightly purple, "Not as Sheera Seas."

"Wa-"

"But Rhaenys Targaryen," the girl continued, her smile reforming, "Why, she can have gloves she wants," she twisted the gloves towards Illyrio, "Why, all it took was trading a few of the trinkets from the Cheesemonger's room-"

"You witch," Mata turned her head, and saw Illyrio's jowls shake. He finally seemed to be regaining his head and his body, as he stood and grabbed at his bars, "You blasted little bitch. How dare you steal my wealth for look for mere trin-"

"Quiet or I'll have you dragged out and gutted like a fish," Rhaenys's voice caused the Pentosi to stop, and merely glare at her with a rage, "Consider it payment for all the years I wasted in this place as your little servant," Mata could see Rhaenys teeth begin to grind together, "Do you remember, how you struck me when I was four," at that, Illyrio seemed to pale, "I had taken to long to bring you that lemon you wanted, and you nearly knocked me to the ground for having to wait for the cook to open the kitchen," Mata blinked, trying to remember that, "Twas a while ago. I was only a few days past my fifth name day-"

"He hit you when you were that you-"

"Now you care," Rhaenys turned her head back to Mata, her body shaking as some kind of mad laughter burst from the young woman's chest, "Oh, now you care," she continued to cackle. Rhaenys had to reach out to the bar in front of her face and catch herself before falling forward. As she pulled her head up again, Mata suddenly saw the tears beginning to flow down his face, "You wouldn't have cared when it happened had you known, not if it kept our little secrets safe."

"Of course I wou-"

"No you wouldn't!" Rhaenys screamed, and Mata then fell backwards at the girl's rage. She could only stare up at the girl glaring at her through the bars, "No. You see, my dear aunt," Mata winced, "You see, I spent fifteen years being treated like a slave. Never a moment's real rest, always shackles placed around my neck. I am the daughter of Rhaegar Targayen," she said viciously through her teeth, "and I was forced to live as a servant. To not only have to shovel shit and rub lime on dirty sheets and take every abuse that that man," she pointed at Illyrio, "Could come up with, but to know that by my birth, I was a princess. To know that this indignity was the result of your cowardice-"

Mata could only stare up in shock. However, just as she was about to speak up, the girl continued, "When we were in that tunnel, Mama ran back. If she had survived, she would have been able to protect us from being made servants, she was the wife of the prince," she pointed down at Mata, "It should have been you who ran back to go be smashed to pieces by the Mountain."

"Sheera!"

Rhaenys stopped, and turned her head. Mata only now managed to regain her footing, and saw Baelon gripping the bars of his cage in a fury. For a second, the princess just looked at him, but still Mata could see a bit of shock on the girl's face. Suddenly, Rhaenys held up her hands, and began to approach her brother.

"You musn't call me that anymore," the girl began, "Sheera was a mummer's farce," Mata couldn't help but wince, "A lie that we were forced to tell. Please listen to me Aegon-"

"Baelon."

"...Aegon."

"No," Mata felt her heart, once retreating into her chest, slowly reemerge, "I am Baelon," he said firmly, "It was the only name I remember attached to me. It was a good name for everyone before, so why not keep it."

"Aegon," Rhaenys insisted, "Please stop this foolishness," the rage that had so clearly defined the girl wasn't there now. Instead, it seemed like the little girl had returned, attempting to be consoling in her speech, "You are a prince of the Seven Kingdoms. There is no need anymore to maintain this little trick. Take your name and we can put this woman and her cowardly trick behind-"

"That woman is our mother!"

Mata's world stopped. She looked at the boy, who was glaring with such rage into his sister, and felt her heart swell even more. Part of her desperately wished to reach out and embrace her son, but the iron and his sister stood in her way.

"She is a bastard sister of our mother!" Rhaenys shrieked, anger returning to her, "Do you not understand! All that we were, all that we are, that woman let it be stolen from us," she gave a point toward Mata, "We don't have to keep this up anymore. Take up Rhaegar and Elia Targaryen as your father and mother, and become a prince once more," Mata could see Rhaenys reach through the bars and grab Baelon's shoulder, "Please, we can all be a family again."

"Family?" Baelon gave his sister a look, "If I am family, why am I locked down here, while you get to go buy rich jewels and dress like a noble."

"We-"

"That should be obvious if you at all paid attention to the Targaryen line," suddenly, Mata and the two Targaryen's turned their heads toward Illyrio, who had regained his composure and sat contentedly in front of the show, resting his head against the wall next to his bed, "Why Rhaegar was the heir and Crown Prince of the Seven Kingdoms," he raised his finger, "Previously, it was believed that none of his children had survived, so the next rightful claim to the throne went to his younger brother, Viserys," he then gave a smile toward them all, "But, it seems there has been a massive misunderstanding, as suddenly the son of Rhaegar has returned to the scene."

"...wait," Baelon blinked, "I don't-"

"You always did have to have everything explained," Illyrio groaned, rolling his eyes at the younger man. Rhaenys gripped her hand tightly at the insinuation, as the cheesemonger continued, "Well, by right, the children of the first born should always come first in a line of succession," he then smiled, "So, the very fact that you are alive invalidates Viserys' right of kingship," he smiled, "For it is you who is now the rightful claimant of the Iron Throne for the Targaryen dynasty. It is you who by all rights should be made king."

"King?" Baelon stopped, and just stared at Illyrio for a moment. He then turned his head towards Rhaenys, who looked away from his gaze. Then he looked at Mata, and asked again, "King?" and Mata could only bring herself to nod. Baelon then took a step back, and finally sat down on the bed at the back of his cell. He then placed his hand along his cheek, and repeated once more, "King…," and he remained like that for the nonce.

"Well," Rhaenys finally spoke up, "That obviously would not be required unless of an obvious emergency," she coughed for a moment, "Viserys has been recognized as the rightful king, so you needn't worry-"

"Oh, he must worry," Illyrio cut in, and the were looks able to kill, the fat man would be among the seven hells, "After all, if Viserys is able to become king, than you, dear Baelon, would be a horrific threat to his line."

"Well, he can have the fucking throne," Baelon said quickly, "Tis an ugly-"

"Don't speak about the conqueror's throne like that," Rhaenys seethed.

"It won't matter," Illyrio continued, "Your place in the line of succession would mean that any child of yours would have a possibly greater claim to the throne than Viserys and his line," he twisted his neck, in an attempt to push out the exhaustion from his body, "Leaving you alive…why, it might be the sort fo thing that would spawn a new set of Blackfyre rebellions."

"But-"

"Do not worry," Rhaenys raised her hands, "I will see to it that you are not put in danger, and that Viserys does not view you as any kind of threat," she sighed, before a small smile covered her face, "I am to become his queen, so that should be eno-"
"Your marrying Viserys!" and now Baelon's words were naught but rage once more, "That monstrous, self-conceited prick!" he then stopped, and considered something, "The man who is our fucking uncle?"

"Uh," Rhaenys blanked, somewhat uncomfortable at that statement, but she shook her head, and then said, "Has been a feature of the Targaryen Dynasty and Valyrians since our height. Only the marriage of within our line may maintain the blood of our ancestors," Mata felt a shiver up her spine, "Tis an honor to be considered, to become one of King Viserys two new wives-"

"Two new-wait no," Mata felt a horror in her stomach, "He intends to have Danaerys be his wife too?"

"...yes," Rhaenys seemed to clench her shoulders. The girl had been so jealous of Dany ever since the two royals had come, so it was no surprise that the thought of sharing a husband only seemed to infuriate Rhaenys on some level, "But it is no matter. For if Viserys is to reconquer our home, he shall need to be like the conqueror himsel-"
"That only proves that the whole thing is rotten," Baelon spoke up, "Polygamy, incest, those are crimes against the gods-"
"Yet it is where our family comes from-"

"And look where we arrived," Baelon waved his hand out to the cell. Mata looked around at the slowly rotting wood, the dark corners, and the general lack of any comfort. Rhaenys looked at the surroundings, before growling at her brother, before stopping, and sighing.

"I will be wed to Viserys tomorrow, alongside Daenerys," Mata blinked at the shocking quickness of the wedding, "There is to be a ritual that strange sorcerer will need to complete if we are to regain our rightful place, and it must happen soon. Once it is over, I shall come for you again Aegon-"
"Bae-"

"Aegon," she stated, before continuing, "And I will ensure you are with us when we retake our home," Mata could almost see a smile return to the princess's face, "Once you are back in the Red Keep, and are being treated like the prince you are," she began to turn away, back towards the surface and her new place as the princess, "You will see that I am right, and that this life and name you cling to are chains, keeping you from flying to the heights you must reach."

At that, she marched towards the door. Before Mata could speak up to continue to speak to her, to at least try and convince her that Viserys was being a fool, especially if he thought he could pull back on his deal with Khal Drago to marry his sister, she was already gone. For the next few moments, all that was in the room was silence, before she heard an audible sigh from her son.

"Mother," he finally said, now that they were mostly alone, "...am I really not…are you not my…"

"Baelon," she said, causing him to almost flinch, but calm himself and nod, "She is right that I never carried you as a babe in my belly," she saw a look of disappointment come over the boy's face, "But I carried you in my arms across the sea, held you while you screamed in sickness, fed you from by own breast," she smiled to herself, remembering the boy as he clung to her, "And I would not trade you for all the gold and jewels in this bloody city."

"...thank you," he finally said, before laying back down upon his bed, "I…I suppose you are my real mother then, even if not fully from blood"

"Baelon," Mata could feel tears begin to well up beneath her eye, "You are my son, but you are Elia's son as well," she could imagine the tall, beautiful woman rubbing her hand along the boy's cheek, "She died to protect you and your sister, so don't have any anger toward her. Just know," she nearly chocked for a second, before finishing up, "Just know, that you have had two mother that love you with all their hearts.

Baelon looked over at her, before smiling, and then turning onto his side. Mata could only continue to stare at her son, as slowly, the exhaustion of the day began to wear her down in defeat as well.

Mata fell backward, splaying along the cobblestone road, her cheek a flame from the strike. Still, she forced her head back upward, as she stared into the eyes of a viper. She quickly pushed her way to her feet, and she could only watch as her brother had to be held back from striking her once more. Still, the woman holding her attacker back did not give her any pity, more than likely only doing so to keep protect the man himself.

"You left her to di-"

Mata felt her eyes flutter. She pushed herself up from the wooden bench that had served as her bed, and placed her fingers beneath her eye, and sighed as she felt the hot tears pooling there.

'Everything I went through,' Mata seethed, 'Even losing my family…all to have it snatched away in the last days of my capture.'

It had been five or so years ago, when Elia's children were grown enough for them to be able to do simple tasks, but not so grown that they could be allowed out into Pentos on their own. Mata, with strict instructions that she was being watched by the Spider's "Little Birds", was sent off for whatever task the Manse needed to be completed. She had completed those sorts of trips dozens if not hundreds of times…but that time, she had run into Oberyn Martell, her brother.

Or more importantly, Elia Martell's brother.

Well, being watched, and knowing what would have happened to Elia's children had she revealed that they were alive…she had been forced to lie and say she had fled on her own. That had led to the strike from her brother, and the permanent banishment from Dorne. She knew she would never be able to go home, but to have that door officially closed had been crushing. Yet it was not even close to as damaging as the pain she'd felt from her brother, fierce and brave and more than a little brash, shouting that should he ever see her again he'd gut her. That she would forever be known as a traitor to her sister, and unworthy of the blood of House Martell.

'Maybe he was right,' she groaned, 'Elia's daughter hates me now, and I can not blame dismiss her resentment at her life,' the only reason she had been able to maintain her face when Rhaenys had shrieked at her the day before had been because of her experience with Oberyn. She then looked over at the other cell, 'And of course, there is Baelo-'

The cell she had last seen her son in was empty.

"BAELON!" she screamed, rushing from her bed, and throwing herself up against the bars. She kept looking into the cell across from her, and yet she could only see an empty little cage. She began to turn her head a dozen times around, "Illyrio, wha-," she then felt her jaw fall, as the other cell was empty too.

"Dislike being alone then," another voice caused Mata's mind to temporarily stop in a blank spot, before she recognized it. She let out a growl, as she turned towards the door, and saw Mairu, slowly rubbing his jaw in contemplation. She felt the need to reach out and grab him, but once again she was constrained by her status. The sorcerer shook his head, as he slowly stalked towards Mata, and she steeled herself as she spoke again, "Oh, it must be quite awful, feeling as though your purpose has been stolen right away from you," Mairu then barked out a laugh, "Oh, I think that is a feeling you and share."

"Where is my son?" Mata asked, fighting through tears. She then felt her teeth clench more tightly at the sudden raised eyebrow on her captor's face.

"Your son," he said, "Well, your son is dea-oh," Mata fell to her knees, but did not let out a cry, as the man continued, "You mean Aegon. No, he's still alive," at that, she sucked in a huge breath, and tried to calm herself, "At least…at least for the rest of the day, Mata Hari."

"...what did you say about my son?" she asked, ignoring the addition to her name.

"Aegon," Mairu continued, "Is a…loose end that must be dealt with, and luckily, cutting that loose end fits nicely with several goals, for several members of our group," he smiled, "Though, if you are willing to help me, then I shall be glad to do what I can to save him."

Mata felt herself shake as her hands gripped her knees, feeling her nails dig into the skin. She knew on some level she had been lucky to not end up as a whore for one of Illyrio's businesses, certainly with her appearance. THe thought of having to service a man as wretched and foul as Mairu nearly caused her to vomit, yet she knew such action might cause him to reject her work and end the life of Baelon. She nodded, and got up, slowly reaching her hands up to loosen her clothes.

"Oh, not yet," the man laughed, and Mata stopped. She stared at him, and nearly fell backward at his leer, particularly toward her chest, "I shall, pick that fruit soon enough, but I first, we must establish the contract that was denied me," at that, Mairu held out his hand, and smirked as a great blue energy began to dance around his hand, all the way up to the elbow of his arm, illuminating the sorcerer in lighting.

"Let silver and steel be the essence," he began, as the energy seemed to dance around him, "Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation. Let my great master," a name that was indescribable came past his lips,"be the ancestor. Raise a wall, against the wind that shall fall," and now, it seemed as thought the wind itself flowed through the small cell, and the whole of the dungeon itself, despite being so far down into the hill, "Close the four cardinal gates. Come out from the crown. Rotate the three-branched road reaching the Kingdom," and then the lighting reached out, and encircled Mata's arm, "I shall declare here. Your body shall serve under me. My fate shall be with your sword. Submit to the beckoning of the Holy Grail. If you will submit to this will and this reason… then answer!"

"I…what are you talking about?" she asked in horror as the lighting continued to surround her. It wasn't as though it hurt, but the strangeness of it all was nearly enough to drive her mad.

"From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three great words of power," he continued, a mad cackle on his lips, as he finally shouted at the end, "come forth from the ring of restraint, protector of the holy balance!"

And then the lighting stopped. Mairu continued to leer at her with great hunger, and Mata nearly felt the need to fall backwards. She had no idea what this strange man had done, but clearly it had been something mystic in origin. She quickly looked down at her hand…only to see nothing on it. She blinked for a moment, before another sound cut through her thought.

"You have be fucking kidding me!"

Mairu was no longer leering at her. Rather, his eyes were glued to his wrist, which was as clear as Mata's own. For a second, he began to rub on it, as though perhaps something was hidden beneath his skin. Mata nearly let loose a laugh at the enraged visage the man outside her cell held, though she had enough control to keep it inside her. Doing so gave her a full moment, perhaps two, to watch as this magician was flummoxed at the failure of his little trick. Still, finally, the man growled, as he gave up the attempt to rub his arm down to the bone.

"FUJIMARU!" he screamed, and the hate in that voice told Mata that her captor was a man with a grudge she could not really comprehend. She was shocked at how the man's relatively handsome face stretched to an ugly plastic as he continued to whine and swear, "You've done it again you bastard. You've taken my servants away from me again!" he then looked at Mata, his hunger seeming now replaced by a spiteful hate, "You know that Fujimaru is here, don't you!?"

"Who are you talking about?" Mata asked, taking a step back. She hadn't ever met someone named Fujimaru.

"Oh, you know," Mairu nearly reached through to poke her in the head, "Somewhere, buried beneath these constructed memories, Fujimaru's little whore is still in there," he then bit his tongue, "Well, one of them anyway."

"I'm not a whore!"

"Of course, you can't remember it," he began to pace, "Just like that Pharaoh, your mind is still clouded by the fiction of the world," he then smirked, "So…perhaps we must break that fiction, set fire to this pathetic existence you have created for your new life," he began to tap his chin for a moment, "Which…actually will fit nicely with our plans for the evening."

"Fiction of the world?" Mata asked, to herself just as much to Mairu, who just shook his head.

"Your sister, and her pathetic spawn," Mairu spat, "We must sever your ties as much as we can, if I am to assume my place," he then smirked cruelly once more, "As your master," he then began to twist on his way out, "The ritual tonight needed royal blood anyway, fi we are to bring about the return of Aegon the Conquerer," he looked back at her, "Might as well kill two dragons with one stone."

"Wait!" Mata screamed, trying to reach through the bars, "I'll call you Master, I'll tell you everything I know about Illyrio and his contacts," she began to panic, imagining Baelon's eyes growing dim as blood poured out from his neck, "I'll do whatever you want," she pulled at her robe, attempting to show as much of her cleavage as possible, "You can have every bit of me if you want. Please just let my children go."

"Go…no," he smiled, "Again, the blood of a king if needed for other rituals, he was always doomed to die," he began to laugh, "Of course, so is Illyrio, once we pump what little information is left in his fat head, so I can assure you that there is nothing else you can offer," he smiled, "Even your body…we'll it'll be mine soon enough, once we break you, and show you that I am your Master."

At that, he finally turned away, and made his way towards the door. Mata couldn't help herself, and gripped at the door bars, and thrashed back and forth, as if she could pull the steel from the stone, "I'll rip your cock off you bloated cunt!" she shrieked, "I'll kill you in your sleep and then-"

"Yes, yes," he gave a short wave to her as he pushed open the door, letting Mata see up to a stairwell, "I must warn you though, once I am your master," he gave one last look back at her, his eyes focused completely on her breasts, "Well, you won't have much of a choice."

"RAAAGH!" she shouted as the man closed the door behind him. For the next few moments, she continued to rage in her cell, but as she did so, she knew that no one could hear her. After a while, her throat became raw, and she was forced to fall to her knees once more, tears that she'd been holding in flowing down her face. She could only sit there, as caged as she had ever been. Waiting for the moment when that mystic brought her the head of her son, and attempted to break her once more.

After a while, all she could bring herself to do was choke out sob after sob. Wallowing in defeat.

'Why?' she asked herself, 'why did you leave this to me Elia?' the image of her sister, charging back toward her rooms through the hideaway they'd taken, flashed through her mind, 'Why couldn't you be here. You'd know what to do.'

"Excuse me," Mata stopped chocking on her sobs, and looked up to see a young man in the middle of the room. She blinked at the strange boy, with his lightish skin tone and black hair, he almost looked like he was from Yi Ti, though not fully, with some Andal or First Men in him too. He was smiling sadly at her, and there was part of him that seemed familiar. Actually quite familiar, as though she had just seen him som-

"You!" she shouted, "You're the servant boy from that Onos-"

"SHHHH!" he placed his finger at his lips, and then raised a set of keys. Mata stopped, and blinked, as the boy leaned forward, "Listen, no one really knows who is who right now, and I can get you out of here."

"Wait, real-"

"SHUSH!"

Mata reached up, and cupped her hands around her mouth. For the next moment, the boy leaned forward, and began to unlock the door. After a moment, the door became unlocked, and the door swung wide open. Just as Mata, was about to walk through the door, she felt a huge mass of fabrics land on her face. She blinked as she held them up, realizing they were a rather large robe. She didn't need to be told to put them on, completely covering herself, and making sure the hood covered her face.

"Now come on," he waved to her, leading her up the stars of the room. She kept her eyes wide, and part of her wondered if she was being led into a trap…but then she was already captured, so what would even be the point.

They made it through the stairwell without meeting anyone else, and before long were out into the courtyard. Mata felt a panic as she entered the open space…but she quickly realized she needn't worry. Dozens were rushing to and fro across the courtyard, in all manner of dress and race, and all were focused on their own tasks. Honestly at times it seemed as though she was completely invisible, as a few would nod at her savior but completely ignore her. She could not see Mairu, or Viserys, or Dany, or Elia's children, or even anyone who might be able to recognize her, so it was no great task to slip out the main gate, and suddenly find herself following behind the strange boy. They would continue to walk further and further, passing at least one bazaar, before finally the boy would stop, sit down, and smirk at her.

He turned toward her, sweat pouring down his brow, "Well, a concealment charm and some enforcement powered up by Nitocris certainly worked for this one," he smiled at her, "Now then, I suppose I should introduce myself," he smiled at her, "My name is Ritsuka Fujimaru, and you and I are…old friends who just need to catch up a bit."

"Did you really have to dive in yourself Master?" the dark skinned woman groaned as she rested her head in her hands. There was a similar exasperation in the rest of the group of strangers, all of whom she somewhat recognized from the appraisal party from earlier. Even the Emiya from Asshai, the liar who had so threatened her sister, was there, though-

"Lunch is ready," the bronze man said, walking out from a kitchen with a large platter of some kind of pork platter, fresh cooked meat smelling quite good. Mata held her stomach, having not eaten anything for at least a full day at this point. The tall man then placed a slice of the pork directly in front of her, before saying, "Eat up."

"Oh," Mata blinked for a moment, before reaching out, and taking her knife and cutting some of it up, "Thank you."

"Glad to," he said, before stopping for a second. Mata followed his eyes, and saw Fujimaru, the man who Mairu had cursed, glaring at this Emiya. Emiya then sighed, before turning back to Mata, and saying, "I'm sorry about mentioning your children."

"Um," Mata then stopped, and nodded at him, which seemed to be enough for Emiya, who turned to hand out more food. The whole group, from the boy and his father, to the strange Yi-Ti Monk, to the Ash Valyrian… they all seemed to just sigh at the whole interaction, with the clearly older man being chastised so willingly. Of course, most of them just reached out to eat more of the food themselves. She stared down at it for a moment, and then forced some of it into her mouth. It was quite good, and she was, again, famished, so she proceeded to make quick work of her plate.

"So," just as she was finishing up her food, she heard the boy's voice, and raised her head to look him in the eye, "I am going to have a few questions for you," he stopped, clearly thinking of his next words as carefully as he could, "Mata?"

"Yes," Mata could only nod, wondering what was so strange, "I am Mata Sea-sands," she corrected, remembering at this point, it was probably better that she be as open as possible. The boy had risked his life to help her escape, after all, she owed it to him to be open, "Thank you so much for saving me."

"Wasn't too difficult," Ristuka laughed, rubbing the back of his head, all the while the dark skinned woman rubbed her temple and the Ash Valyrian rolled her eyes, "I had to bring some rags with a small suggestion of concealment spell from Nitocris here," he pointed at the dark skinned woman, who raised her hand in acknowledgement, "But really, it was mostly not a problem because they were looking for a much large magical signature when I snuck in," he stopped, and blinked, before shrugging at what must have been the question on Mata's face, "Right, you wouldn't know. With so many people going in and out for the wedding, they couldn't have an alarm that would alert them to any intruder, that would result in too many false alarms. So instead, they set up their system to catch heavily magic individuals crossing in," he threw out his arms toward the rest of the group, "So I had to go in and pull off the rescue considering how my magic was less obvious than theirs."

Mata just stared at the boy talking so openly of magical system, and then blinked, as a question formed in her mind.

"Do you know of a magician known as Mairu?"

Fujimaru stopped for a moment, and frowned. He brought his hand up and rubbed his chin, before slowly shaking his head at the question.

"Can't say I have," he shrugged, before looking at her, "Now, is that the name of the guy whose been throwing around strange spells all willy-nilly?"

"Willy-ni-never mind," Mata sighed, "Yes, that was the sorcerer who captured me," she saw him nod at that. Finally, her curiosity overcame her gratitude, and she leaned forward, and shouted, "Who are you people!?" she pointed back and forth, "You all just come into my life twice, question the love of my children, and then suddenly come and rescue me from a cell. I have no idea why you care so much about me, even if you know I was related to the Targaryens!"

"Because we are interested in you," Ritsuka sighed, "Listen, that magician back there…did he try and weird spell with you?"

"Why yes," Mata answered quite quickly, remembering the lighting climbing up her arm during the strange chant, "He spoke of making himself my Master, and," she then shivered to herself, "Using me as he saw fit."

"Perv," the Ash Valyrian snapped to herself.

"An unfortunate tendency of Masters of Servants," Emiya said as he began to pick up the plates and cutlery.

"Well, then this guy seems to be an asshole," Ritsuka wondered aloud, "I suppose that means he was trying to make you his servant then, but somehow your missing memories kept it from working."

"This is," quite boring, if Mata was being honest. But she had growing concerns, particularly as she could see the sun begin to set in the distance, and she knew that the time of the wedding was fast approaching, "But I must ask for leave," she began to push herself up, "My son is in danger of being killed by that sorcerer who so fascinates you, so I must do what I can to save-"

"Now hang on," the blue haired man stood up. He stood in front of her, "You don't think you are going to go in all on your own, missy?"

"Well, Ser Cu," she stood as tall as she could, recognizing the blue hair and the red eyes from the stories that had come from the Battle of the Bells, "I have my son to worry about," she stopped, as he just kept smirking at her, "So I don't care what you want of me, Baelon is the last important person to me in this world," even Sheera was gone, with a bitter Rhaenys in her place, "So if I must risk my life to save him-"

"Then we'll help you," Ritsuka said. Mata stopped, and stared at him, just as he waved at her, "I…I know you don't remember me right now, but you are my friend," he smiled at her, "So…we are here to help you however we can, and if that means saving Baelon, then we'll do our best," he turned to the rest of the crowd, "Right team?"

"Yeah."

"Sure."

"Whatever."

"That's the spirit!" the boy laughed, as Mata felt a large bead of sweat begin to condense on the back of her head. Still, she couldn't help but smile. This boy was…well he was strange. Peculiar even. But he seemed to actually be trying to help her, and at the moment, she could not deny that any help would be needed.

And…and there was a part of her that recognized his voice. Just as part of her recognized Emiya, even beyond the warnings that Elia had given her. It wasn't much, but it felt like…like there was something beneath her surface, just waiting to burst up.

'Well,' Mata thought to herself, 'I suppose I shall have to find that later,' she smiled as she saw the group begin to make their plan, 'Though…this does feel oddly familiar.'

AN: Thanks whoever did the TV Tropes Page. I really appreciate it.

/Fanfic/HeroesOfMan

Though if you all want to read ahead, this is actually several months behind the story on Spacebattles, so if you want to get ahead, I'd suggest reading there.