Ghiscar, 300 AC
Daenerys
.
The voices were growing louder and louder. Burnt bodies, putrid smell, charred bones- she could see and smell everything. The water itself turned into flames, consuming everything that floats, and the men screamed in unimaginable pain…
Dany woke up in the hour of the wolf, drenched in sweat. Ever since the battle, she had been plagued with this nightmare. It would not come every single time she slept but would invade her dreams when she least expected it. It was one thing to hear the tales of dragons and their exploits in battle, and another thing entirely to do the deed herself. In war stories, praises are sung of brave knights, but no bard ever sings of the pain, blood and mutilations. Or the burnings.
She could no longer see her children in the same light. They were still beloved to her, yes, but Dany would never forget how dangerous they could be. What would Viserys think? No doubt he would enjoy the carnage. When thinking of that, Dany remembered Ser Barristan's words. No matter how much she tried to pretend otherwise, they remained the truth. She could only pray that she never succumbs to madness like her father and her brothers did. Sleep eluding her, she decided to get out of her bed and go for a stroll. She wore some light robes and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was now longer, though not long enough to style it in a braid, as Dothraki custom dictated. She might just be the only Khaleesi in the world without a braid, Dany thought.
Her army had passed Old Ghis a fortnight ago, and reached the Worm River beyond the sandstone mountains, closer to Astapor. Her new surroundings were out in the open, with tents as far as the eye can see. Escorted by her guards, she went out and wandered for a moment.
"Something the matter, child?" she heard Dutch Van der Linde's voice.
"Nothing in particular." she replied. "What about you? Why are you awake at this hour?"
"Oh, I'm just finding a suitable spot to read this." he showed her a large tome, titled The End of the Tall Men. "Fascinating piece of history. Reminds me of the Romans. The resemblances are uncanny."
"Perhaps we can talk about it, seeing that we both cannot find sleep."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
After the attack on her city, the decision to push forward towards Slaver's Bay was inevitable. Hosea Matthews had been made a temporary 'Mayor', which according to the Americans was the head of a city, and he had stayed in Qarth along with the Council to oversee all affairs in her absence. Judging from the ravens they received, they were all doing a remarkable job.
Dany never had a maester to tutor her, therefore all her education came from her brother and Ser Willem Darry, whom she remembered fondly. After Ser Barristan's revelation, she was determined to never suffer from a lack of knowledge and took lessons with learned men and women. Dany learnt much about the world and how to rule, but she found Dutch's lessons to be to most interesting. She had read all of Evelyn Miller's books that he owned, but the man had much more to share.
"Who are these Romans you speak of?" she asked as they both took a seat.
"They were a people who conquered three continents and established a dynasty that lasted a thousand years."
"Three continents! Why, even my ancestors could not achieve such a feat!" Dany was intrigued, and the fact made her all the more curious. "Tell me more."
"Well, there is much more to it than someone like me would know." Dutch replied, trying to think of something. "The Romans had a republic, which means that the power was held by the people and not by a king or a monarch, so to speak. Nobility and commonfolk still existed, but the latter had rights that their fellow commoners in Westeros don't have."
"What kind of rights?"
"The people who made the laws and decisions would mostly come from nobility. As such, there was a risk of conflict among the classes. To remedy that, the common people had the right to choose a Tribune to represent their interests. If this Tribune felt that a decision was not in the interests of the commonfolk, he only had to say the word and it would not be carried out. No one could challenge this right."
"If there is such a conflict among those who rule, how can a decision even be made?" Dany asked. She had learnt about the Valyrian Freehold in her lessons. The Valyrians never had kings, but they did not have a way of ruling like the Romans either.
"I suppose you are right, but this inconvenience might actually be for the better, in some instances. A lot of time is spent discussing and debating an issue, which means that decisions are not made on a whim."
"What would be the harm in making a quick decision?" she argued. "When the enemy is at your gates, you crush him. You do not waste time with debates."
"Using force will crush your enemy, true. But by debating, you might understand why he attacked you in the first place." he replied. "Consider this. If you neglect your people's needs, they will rebel and try to challenge your rule. You can send your soldiers to deal with the threat and show that you are strong, but it will make them hate you even more. On the other hand, if you find out in what ways your rule is lacking, and do something about it, your people will not oppose you."
Dany considered his words. "Those are fine points you make, but did the Roman's never have any troubles with their way of ruling?"
"Troubles can arise everywhere, no matter which place you're talking about. In a republic, there are many opportunities for corruption, no less than any other way of ruling. I've heard that our honorable President MacAlister used his family's wealth in his election." Dutch said, showing a deep and clear contempt for the man he mentioned. "But the common people must have certain rights, or they would just be slaves and inferiors in everything but name, and inferiors rebel so that they might be equals."
Ser Jorah had once told Dany about the common people in Westeros. The very notion of binding people to their lords and taking wanton liberties with them did remind her of slavery. And the merchant princes of Essos? They would sooner spare more time for their horses than their slaves.
"But in my experience, the rule of the people has many problems." he continued. "If the population is ignorant or hates certain people, giving them power would mean misery for the ones they hate."
"I agree. I spent many moons trying to convince my khalasar to accept the Lhazareen in our midst." Dany said. The Dothraki hated the peaceful race, preferring to kill, enslave or rape them whenever they got the chance. She had put an end to the last two. "I want to do right by our people, but your counsel confuses me. Do I listen to them or do I not?"
"Most people are sheep, who need a shepherd to guide them." Dutch answered. "We need to reach a compromise. There should be no lords, but instead an honorable leader who walks the path of righteousness. You have it in you to be that leader. See your crown not as your right but as your burden, and let your people be safe from the corrupt rule of lords and opportunists. Guide them to an honorable path, but also give them freedom to choose their own destiny."
"Your words have moved me. I shall do everything I can to be that leader or perish in the attempt." Dany declared.
Dutch smiled. "I know you will, child. That being said, we need a new name for your new country. We can't just go on calling it the red waste or the like."
"What is the issue with the names we have?"
"In my opinion, they represent the vicious and ungodly past. Take this Slaver's Bay for example. Once we conquer it, we would get rid of the name anyway."
He was right, Dany thought. What name would she choose? New Valyria mayhaps? That ought to enrage the Volantenes even more. What else? What did the Americans call their realm…?
"United Cities."
"I beg your pardon?" said Dutch.
"It is a good name. The cities of Essos have always been in conflict with each other and made life miserable for their people and slaves. Gods willing, I will unite them and lead them away from darkness."
Dutch grinned, as if it was the most amusing thing he had ever heard, but not in a disrespectful manner. "I like the sound of that! United Cities it is then."
The following morning, Dany was met with an overwhelming number of messages. Most were regular reports of Qarth, while the rest were from other sources. With Missandei's help, she was able to go through all of them quickly.
While her city was prospering, the tidings from Westeros were less flattering. On the day of the new century, three hundred years since Aegon's Landing, the Usurper's son Joffrey Baratheon was murdered at his wedding. Dany might have cared about Westeros once but not anymore. Arthur Morgan's message was next. His men had run into the khalasar of Khal Pono, and Charles Smith had killed him in battle, winning the khalasar's warriors to their side. In this instance, Dany did care. Ever since Aggo's death, she had planned to avenge him, but after that talk with Arthur, she had put those plans aside. Revenge is a fool's game, he had said, and she did not want to waste precious men on a traitor like Pono, but he died anyway so mayhaps the gods did favor her. What she did not understand was that the man only attacked her army with a fraction of his khalasar. Did he lose them to another Khal, or was he planning an ambush?
"Write a message to mister Morgan, telling him to be wary of Pono's warriors." she instructed Missandei, and the girl immediately picked up her quill.
The Sealord's forces had reached Sarnor, so they might make it in time to reinforce Arthur's men. As Dany checked the last remaining letters, she noticed one with an unknown stamp. It was a hand with a circle around the palm, and she had never received a letter with that particular stamp. After reading its contents, her eyes opened wide, and her hands started shaking as the letter fell to the ground.
"Is something wrong, Your Grace?" Missandei asked. Dany did not reply, too shocked to hear what was said.
How could he?
"Your Grace?"
Soon you will face a difficult decision, Quaithe had said.
"Your Grace!" the girl cried, and Dany was shaken out of her stupor.
"Fetch mister Van der Linde and Captain Naharis." she said. How dire must things be if she had to ask Daario Naharis for assistance. The men soon entered her tent.
"How many I serve the Mother of Dragons?" Naharis said in his usual manner, and Dutch gave him a look of disapproval. She decided to get straight to the point.
"Captain Naharis, gather your men and arrest Ser Jorah. Take this warrant." she commanded, handing him a letter she had scribed in haste. Both men were shocked and confused with this unusual order.
"I will do as you command." the man smirked nevertheless and went to work.
"Mister Van der Linde, take a look at this." Dany handed him the letter.
"Well, we do have a big problem on our hands." Dutch was concerned. "Are you completely sure that this letter is legitimate? Not just a ploy by your enemies?"
"I want to believe that it is a trick, but I know it is not." she said. "It all makes sense now."
"What does?"
"How the Usurper got word of my whereabouts when I married." she remembered Drogo. "How he was able to send assassins in Vaes Dothrak."
"I'm afraid you'll have to elaborate, Your Majesty."
"My husband took me to Vaes Dothrak after our marriage, and I grew heavy with his child. One day, I came across a wine merchant who offered me a cask of Arbor gold, but Ser Jorah appeared out of nowhere and asked the man to drink it." Dany recalled the incident. "The merchant was an assassin, intent on poisoning me along with my child. At that time, I did not think much of it, but how could he have known, unless he was part of the scheme?"
"I still have my doubts. The man is completely devoted to you. One can almost be forgiven for thinking that he's in love with you."
"He has no right!" she snapped. "Not after all this."
"That he doesn't." Dutch replied. "What will you do now?"
She ought to take his head for his treachery, like anyone would in her place. "What will you advise me to do?"
Dutch thought for a while before answering. "Well, I would say that treason deserves punishment, especially when the life of a young girl and her child is involved. Though the fact remains that he saved your life, on more than one occasion. Being far from home can make a man desperate, but maybe he is now truly on your side. We can't know for sure unless we question him."
Dany could not bring herself to execute the man whom she trusted so much. This truly was a difficult decision. Would she be ruthless, or would she show mercy? There was a commotion outside her tent, and Daario Naharis brought Ser Jorah, restrained by a few men.
"Khaleesi! Why?" he asked, visibly afraid and confused.
"I have uncovered evidence of your treachery, Ser Jorah. Answer me truthfully, for your life depends on it." Dany said, her blood boiling with fury. She held up the pardon letter to his face.
"It is a lie, Khaleesi." he replied after reading, in a calm but fearful tone. "A trick by Tywin Lannister to pit us against each other."
"It is you who lie!" she yelled, then composed herself. "The pardon is signed by Robert Baratheon himself, in the year we met. I will give you a final chance and nothing more. Why were you pardoned?" Daario Naharis had his hand on his arakh, as if waiting for the order.
"I provided information. To Varys, the spymaster in King's Landing."
Dany could not breathe. It was true. "What manner of information?"
"Whereabouts of you and Viserys. Your marriage to Khal Drogo." he replied, and one could notice that he was close to crying.
"Did you tell them I was carrying Drogo's child?"
"Khaleesi…"
"Answer the question!" she interrupted, close to tears herself. "Did you or did you not?"
"Yes." Ser Jorah said and fell on his knees.
It hurt. More than anything else.
"Was that why you knew about that wine merchant?"
"I stopped you from drinking it."
"Because you knew it was poisoned." she snapped. "I trusted you, and you betrayed me."
"I loved you!"
"Love?" Dany could not believe his nerve.
"Please Khaleesi, allow me to explain."
She looked at Dutch, who was unusually silent. He nodded.
"Very well, what say you in your defense?"
"The spymaster promised me a way back to the North." he said. "But when the time came for the deed to be done, I just could not sit and watch. I had already dishonored myself once. It was then I realized that I loved you! I never sent him any letters from that day onwards."
Dany wanted to believe it, but what if he was lying again? "If you loved me, why did you not confess to your crime before? Why did I have to hear of it from this letter? I knew you fought against my father, but I forgave you long ago. Is this what you call love?"
It was at this moment that Dutch spoke. "I think Ser Mormont must be given a chance to redeem himself."
"How can you say that? After all he has done?"
"You are right. He has committed a terrible crime, but he is not an evil man. If he has a shred of honor still left, he will do as you command. I think he must be given a second chance, but not a third."
"I will do whatever you ask of me, Khaleesi." Ser Jorah bowed low. "I swear it on my honor."
Honor! He dares speak of honor.
"Anyone else in my position would have executed you, but I will not." she said calmly. "If you want my forgiveness, bring me the heads of your masters. Bring me the head of Varys, the murderer of children. Bring me the head of Tywin Lannister, the murderer of my nephew and niece. Bring me the head of Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer. Only then will you have my forgiveness and not before. Until then, you are banished."
Dany knew it was a fool's errand, but she wanted the man out of her sight.
"I am at your service, Your Grace." Ser Jorah said and left the tent.
"Leave me, all of you. Please."
Dutch, Captain Naharis and Missandei went after him, leaving Dany alone in the tent. For the first time in many moons, she wept.
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