Prince Hidden in the Sands
One more chapter until the Children of Rhaegar meet.
—
Sunspear
—
He had planned for everything when he sent out those letters, telling the other Targaryen loyalists of Daemon's identity and who he was. Doran expected much but the things he never expected were what happened, and it began with an earth-shattering roar that sent everything in his room to the ground.
Hand on his leg and limping to the window the Prince of Dorne was amazed at the sight that came towards his home and his palace. In the distance coming straight towards Sunspear, two massive figures could be seen, and the only thing going through the man's mind was one thing.
'Dragons.' Turning around he shouted for his loyal guard. "Aero!" Picking up his cane he looked to find that the man was waiting for his orders. "Let the men know that we will be having a guest and that they are not our enemies. They are to lead them to the great hall immediately once he lands." He said as he walked past the man, who nodded to his orders. "Also have Quentyn sent for he's going to be needed in the Grand Hall."
"Yes, My Prince." The copper-cladded man said with a bow as he left, two dornish spearmen taking the captain of the guard's place behind the prince.
Entering the grand hall he went to the throne, where he will wait for his liege to arrive, and the distant sounds of screaming could signify anything his grace was close, any time now Daemon Targaryen will be here, to pass judgment onto him.
Sitting down upon the throne, Doran placed his cane so it was leaning against his leg, and he waited, watching as his son arrived with his captain, and with a simple nod from the Prince of Dorne, Quentyn went to stand to his left.
With the feelings of the earth shaking and a growl that shook the walls. Within minutes the grand doors to the great hall flew open, revealing to Doran the king he helped raise, and with him a beauty of unmatched charm and power. He tried to get to his feet but was stopped when Daemon drew his sword.
Immediately he raised his hand, stopping everyone from drawing upon their own. "Doran Nymeros Martell." The voice was firm and held power, and if the mentioned man wasn't already held at sword point, he would have let out a smile. "Treason. Breaking an Oath of Secrecy. Disobeying your Prince's orders. What do you say for yourself?"
"I did everything I felt was needed for you, Your Grace." He said without hesitation, grabbing his cane and pushing himself up. "I know we had plans and I wanted to stick with them. However you know just as well as I do, that you are the most capable person to sit on that throne."
Taking a step forward and down a few stairs, Doran stopped himself as he stood before the boy. "Anyone who doesn't seek a seat of power is some of the best rulers, for they don't thirst for power and they care about people. For example, my bannerman, your aunt, Lady Allyria Dayne was placed in her seat of power too early and she never wanted it. But since she took the seat the people of the Torentine haven't been happier."
A long silence followed and the Dornish Prince knew that his nephew already knew that. He was also certain that Daemon knew it would be what he said. Brown sharp eyes examined consuming amethyst, and Doran knew what his grace was about to do.
"Prince Doran Martell, for your crimes against me and my family, I revoke your titles and sentence you to live in the Water Gardens, where you will live out your life in peace," Daemon ordered as he sheathed the sword, which Doran noticed was Blackfyre but another. "Taking your place will be Quentyn, in a week he will take your seat and become the Prince of Dorne where the other Dornish Lords and Ladies will pledge allegiance to him and then him to the king."
Mid-sentence Doran watched as Daemon looked behind him, and his aged eyes followed and looked to his heir. His son nodded to the Stark-Targaryen Prince. "Of course Your Grace. I'll send out the ravens immediately."
Daemon nodded and returned his attention to Doran. "You can stay here for the remaining time until Quentyn is made Prince. But once it has happened you are to leave for the Garden."
"Yes, my Prince." The former Prince said with a slight bow, and he watched as his nephew went to leave the unknown beauty following. "Before you go," he said, gaining Daemon's attention. "May I have a moment of your time, preferably in my solar?"
He wasn't expecting him to answer or to approve, but he was grateful when Daemon nodded. With a grateful nod and smile, he turned to make for his office. His son already has left to do his bidding and Aero has left with his new liege.
It didn't take long for the young king to catch up with the older man, and Doran was amazed at how the young lad grew. He remembered when the boy was but a babe, wrapped in clothes and a face full of fatness. But now that babe was no more and instead was boy grown and a worthy king.
Entering the room Doran made for a shelf, one that held a very specific scroll that he saw fit to show the man with him. Grabbing the paper he turned to his desk, finding Daemon and the woman he brought with him standing by. Holding the scroll out to the lad, he spoke.
"I received that almost a sennight ago from Storm's End." Sitting down in his chair, Doran placed his cane against the table and continued. "I also don't believe that I don't have to tell you who it's from." He watched as the candidate nodded and looked at him. "I don't want to place all my cards onto him being legitimate, however, I do believe he's who he says he says."
Daemon nodded to his words. "I've sent Rhaenys and Oberyn to Storm's End already, hopefully, to confirm who he is or if he's a fake."
Doran nodded and looked out the floor-to-ceiling window behind his desk, and he was amazed when 2 smaller dragons flew by. "Well, I answered his call to arms and sent a portion of my men under the command of the Darkstar and Daemon Sand, to Storm's End. I also sent a response to tell him that Jon Connington isn't one to trust. What he does with that information is up to him." Looking back he watched as the lad nodded once more. "However if Aegon is proven fake and not my niece, they have orders to help you in any way shape or form."
"Thank you, uncle," Daemon said with another nod as he sat back in the chair. "I never wanted to do this but you forced my hand." Doran only smiled at what he said. "I do believe that you did it for the best but I also presumed that you had another reason. May I ask why?"
The former Prince of Dorne chuckled, noticing the traits he taught the young king. "That I do." He pulled open a drawer and tossed a scroll onto the desk. "I received that the other day from a sellsword named Bronn, a friend of Oberyn's." His brown eyes watched as Daemon opened the scroll to read the contents. "He's bringing your aunt Daenerys to Storm's End under orders of Illyrio Mopatis, who I've learned is an ally and friend to the Master of Whispers, Varys."
The prince looked up to him at that and Doran could see the cogs working behind those eyes. "Your Grace, something fishy is going on and I don't like it." He continued as he looked out the window, once again seeing dragons. "I don't know what Varys is planning nor do I know him, but one thing I know is that it's not for the best of Westeros."
Silence filled the room as the former Prince and his king sat in peace, one of them watching young dragons fly about and the other taking in the news he was just given. "Do they have names? Your dragons?" Doran asked as he watched a red and black dragon fly by.
"The one you just saw is unnamed." A feminine voice answered, Doran, looked to the owner and found her standing behind Daemon. "The other is named Veraxes, he is bonded to his Grace." A smile dawned on her face. "The first to ever be bonded with more than 2 dragons. Vermithor and Veraxes."
"That is enough Witch." The royal finally spoke as he got to his feet, placing the scroll down on the table and his free hand on the hilt of his sword. "Doran, thank you for telling me, and I promise you that this will not be forgotten." Doran all but gave a nod with a smile. "Now I must be going."
The former head of Dorne watched as the boy turned around, and as he watched Doran placed a hand on the dagger at his belt. "Sorry, but before you go, Your Grace." Grabbing his can he pushed himself up, and limped to the boy-made king. "I want you to give something to Oberyn for me."
—
Kings Road
—
Robert Baratheon, the man who won the rebellion and overthrew 200 plus years of a Targaryen dynasty, wasn't happy… not one fuckingbit. It all started a moon ago when the North rose in rebellion, all under the man he saw as a brother. With the north taking up arms so did the Dornish, two fronts both opposite sides of the continent. Then the news of the Reach withdrawing their support and their daughter making her way up to the rebellious kingdom. And the cherry on top, the one that added the most rage to the whoremonger. The fall is his ancestral home to a presumed dead dragon spawn. This news made Robert do one of the stupidest things he's ever done, leave in the middle of peace talks without even signing it.
So when news of the Twins' fall and the advancement of the Northern Army, he was in a fit cursing the existence of Eddard Stark. Afterwards, Robert sent a messenger north in hopes that the advancing army would cease their movements but specifically to tell the newly named Winter King that he so rudely left the peace talks. Days went by without the messenger coming back and the fat king's rage only grew ever more.
However, with King's Landing coming into view and what would seem to be a simple talk with his Hand Jon Arryn, all that anger and frustration vanished at what his hand just told him.
"I'm sorry Your Grace, but I wish to resign." The aged man said as he entered the tent they had set up. "I… I cannot keep moving with you Robert, I cannot watch the boys I helped raise fight each other. I am getting older and this war, I am not suitable to be Hand of the King during it." Jon said as he placed the necklace on the table. "I suggest you find a person worthy of the position, your brother Stannis or maybe even your father-in-law Tywin."
Robert's world started clasping, first the betrayal of the man he saw as a brother, then the fall of his birth father's castle to the fucking spawn of the man who took his love and now the man the man who raised him was leaving. Throughout the whole ordeal, the King had a face of stone, not an emotion was shown.
"Thank… Thank you for your support at court and your loyalty to my hand." Robert said as he brought his eyes to the table before him. "I'll have your wife and son sent to you, and I hope you enjoy your time at home." Standing to his feet he looked to his surrogate father. "Your duty here is over, Jon. And when you leave can you have Tywin summoned."
Through it all Robert held a small smile, not allowing his anger to get a hold of him. At his request, the aged lord nodded and left and behind the flaps of his tent he heard the order be given. Not long after Robert watched as his good father entered.
"You summoned me." Tywin Lannister said as he stood before the table, but the King knew that the aged lord knew why he was summoned. His eyes have never left the necklace.
"My 'predecessor'," Robert started through gritted teeth. "Spoke highly of you during your term as Hand." Bright blue looked into the experienced aged green. "So I wish to offer you the position again. You will do the shitting and breathing while I do the fucking and whoring." He finished with a twitch of a smile at the end.
The man without hesitation accepted, acting as if he was tired of waiting. This placed a frown on the King's fat face, and it only grew when the man offered to protect the capital while he went to retake Storm's End from the dragon spawn.
"I think not." He said simply as he stared down the man. "You will take half the army and go take back my father's home, while I stay in King's Landing so that if you fail at killing the spawn again and lose, I am still the king." Tywin glared at him at that but Robert only enhanced the heat of his own. "Now leave, I have better things to do."
—
Shipbreaker Bay
—
Daenerys was amazed when the sight of Storms End came into view. It was exactly like the books said, with tall walls and dark stones making up the walls. But what amazed her, even more, was the sight of the flying creatures. She thought she was the only one who had one but there were more, and it only made her want to ask who they belong to.
"Aegon." She said loudly as she rocked back and forth on the waving seas. But as she looked at them she was confused as she counted them once more. No one has ever had a bond with more than one dragon, so why were there 2? 'Don't tell me… there's more of us?'
Behind her Daenerys heard the cursing and cussing of the Sellsword, Bronn, who has been her guide since entering the former home of the Prince of Pentos. He was an interesting man if she were to be honest. "Oi, Princess!" He called out in the storm. "Why don't you place you holy then thought ass down, before you go topside and I lose my gold!"
She looked back to the sellsword and saw him struggling and she chuckled but sat down anyway. She was soon joined by her dragon, who she named Rharrax. Looking back to the flying dragons, her eyes widened when she spotted them making their way to them. Within seconds Daenerys felt someone grab her shoulder and push back, opening her eyes she found her hired bodyguard drawing his sword at the incoming dragons.
"Don't you even try it you fire-breathing fucks!" The man said as he stood in the way of the dragons and her. Daenerys looked past the man and found the dragons, both fairly close in size but one with scales of pale white and eyes of blood red, the other had burnt brown scales and bronze eyes.
Daenerys kept her violet eyes on them as they flapped their wings and eyed everyone on the boat, only stopping when the little roars of Rharrax. Both dragons looked at the infant, and immediately she was filled with the need to protect him. But thankfully it wasn't needed for the 2 older and larger dragons only let out a loudish roar, and flew away.
"That's what I fucking thought you breathing for fucks." Bronn said as he sheathed his sword, turned around and offered her a hand. "Sorry about that princess, but until you are in those walls, you are my priority. So you've got to forgive me for some bruising or bumps."
Daenerys only smiled as she accepted the offer. "It's fine, Ser Bronn. You were only doing so to protect me and I've had worse." She said missing the fall of one of his brows. "But we should be going. It's only by the gods that we haven't turned topside." Bronn nodded and went back to what he was doing.
However before they could get back on their way, they both shot to look behind them when they heard 2 massive and roars. Daenerys looked up to the sky and to her utter amazement she saw 2 dragons, who she'll soon learn were of the old. Soon Daenerys will think only one thing and that would be her family is strong once more.
—
TBC
—