[KING'S LANDING]
[ELLARIA, MAREI, a WHORE, OBERYN and OLYVAR are engaged in passionate sex.]
"Gods" Catelyn made a face in disgust. By now they had all become immune to something like seeing people fuck in the vision, with all the death they've had to see. Didn't mean that they all would watch it quietly.
[A door opens, TYWIN enters. OLYVAR, MAREI, the WHORE and ELLARIA exit. OBERYN dresses and pours some wine.]
"I'm sorry about your grandson."
"Are you?"
"I don't believe that a child is responsible for the sins of his father. Or his grandfather. An awful way to die."
"Which way is that?"
"Are you interrogating me, Lord Tywin?"
"Not a bad thing to do, considering my reputation" Oberyn shrugged. His proficiency with poison was well known, so it would draw attention and suspicion to him.
"Some believe the king choked."
"Some believe the sky is blue because we live inside the eye of a blue-eyed giant."
"Did you grow up with those stories too?" Bran asked the Prince of Dorne with curious wide eyes.
"Not exactly. I have heard of them on my travels" Oberyn explained with a smile.
Bran's eyes only widened further. Now he wanted to travel and hear more stories.
"The king was poisoned."
"I hear you studied poisons at the Citadel."
"I did. This is why I know."
"Your hatred for my family is rather well known. You arrive at the capital, an expert in poisoning, and some days later my grandson dies of poisoning."
"Too obvious for it to be him" Jon Arryn shook his head. "It's rarely the obvious ones, but rather the ones you least expect."
"So it couldn't be Baelish?" Arya asked.
"He pretty much confessed it was him" Jon pointed out.
"Could easily be taking credit to lure Sansa away" Arya shrugged.
"Why would he do that? It'd mean his death."
"He might have some plan. He's a ran, he'll have some plan for sure."
He was in the Vale, and nobody would suspect him of doing anything, so it was easy enough to do. But Sansa was not sure why; there was something she was missing.
"Rather suspicious. Why haven't you thrown me in a dungeon?"
"You spoke with Tyrion in this very brothel on the day that you arrived. What did you discuss?"
"You think we conspired together?"
"What did you discuss?"
"The death of my sister."
"For which you blame me."
"She was raped and murdered by the Mountain. The Mountain follows your orders. Of course, I blame you."
"Here I stand unarmed, unguarded. Should I be concerned?"
"Only a Lannister would attack an unarmed, unguarded man" Oberyn scoffed.
Present Lannister could not refute it. Tywin killed Robb Stark under Guest Rights, while Jaime pushed Bran out of a tower. Both times the victims were unarmed and unguarded.
"You are unarmed and unguarded because you know me better than that. I am a man of reason. If I cut your throat today, I will be drawn and quartered tomorrow."
"Men at war commit all kinds of crimes without their superiors' knowledge."
"So you deny involvement in Elia's murder?"
"Categorically."
Oberyn snorted. That was as good as a confession itself.
"I would like to speak with the Mountain."
"I'm sure he would enjoy speaking with you."
"He might not enjoy it as much as he thinks he would."
"You will do no such thing" Elia hissed to her brother. "Promise me you'll do no such foolishness!"
"I already promised it, sister. I will not" Oberyn sighed. Even if he wanted to do it, he couldn't bear to upset his sister.
"I could arrange for this meeting."
"But you want something in return."
"There will be a trial for my son."
"A farce no doubt," Tyrion said darkly. No doubt his father would take this opportunity to have him killed. Brand his son the Kinslayer while he does not have to dirty himself with the same titled. Typical of the man, never getting his hands dirty.
"And as custom dictates, three judges will render a verdict. I will preside. Mace Tyrell will serve as the second judge. I would like you to be the third."
"Why?"
"Not long ago, the Tyrells sided with Renly Baratheon. Declared themselves enemies of the throne. Now they are our strongest allies."
"Well, you made the Tyrell girl a queen. Asking me to judge at your son's trial isn't quite as tempting."
"I will also invite you to sit on the small council to serve as one of the new king's principal advisors."
"I never realized you had such respect for Dorne, Lord Tywin."
"He doesn't. He is scrambling for alliances" Olenna snorted, recognizing the hint of desperation in the old Lannister.
"We are not the Seven Kingdoms until Dorne returns to the fold. The king is dead. The Greyjoys are in open rebellion. A wildling army marches on the Wall. And in the East, a Targaryen girl has three dragons. Before long, she will turn her eyes to Westeros. Only the Dornish managed to resist Aegon Targaryen and his dragons."
"We might just as easily align with her" Doran mused. "He takes a risk."
"In our favour" Oberyn smirked. "Let's see how this goes…"
[CASTLE BLACK, THE COURTYARD.]
[JON helps DOLOROUS EDD and GRENN to the courtyard.]
"They made it" Jon relaxed at seeing two people who would become friends of his in the future or were meant to be. He had forgotten about them, but the worry was perhaps deep inside him all along. The reason why he was relaxing.
[ALLISER THORN and JANOS SLYNT walk up]
"What took you so long?"
"We were held up."
"By what?"
"Chains."
"We were guests of the mutineers at Craster's Keep."
"And the mutineers stayed?"
"They're not going anywhere. They've got Craster's food and his wives. Poor girls. Never thought they'd miss their daddy."
"They won't survive the White Walkers" Robb muttered. "Craster survived because he gave those creatures his sons. These idiots did not. They'll all be dead."
"Good riddance then" Lyanna muttered. "They broke guests' rights too, and they should pay for it."
"Yes, but them dying would add to the White Walkers' numbers" Jon sighed.
"Oh… right" Lyanna muttered. She still believed that it was what they deserved, but now worried that their deaths would bite her son and the living in the ass.
"Karl's running things now. He's the one who put a knife through Craster's mouth."
"We need to ride north and kill them all."
"We just went over this, boy. -Justice can wait."
"It's not about justice. I told the wildlings we had over 1,000 men at Castle Black alone. Karl and the others know the truth as well as we do. How long do you think they'll keep that information to themselves when the wildlings are peeling their fingernails off? Mance has all he needs to crush us, he just doesn't know it yet. As soon as he gets his hands on them, he will. Then he'll throw his full strength at us. And even if every one of us kills 100 wildlings, there's still not a thing we can do to stop them."
"I don't think I can kill 100 wildlings."
"I don't think you have a choice in that" Brandon the elder whispered. "It's either that or die without doing any good."
"I think that's all they can do. They are grossly outnumbered. The Wildlings are going to cross without contest" Rickard frowned.
"Problem for the Boltons to deal with then" Brandon the Elder added with a shrug. "And whoever else turned their back on us when we needed them."
"We are the Starks of Winterfell, and we must protect the North… regardless of who is with or against us…" Ned muttered with a frown.
Rickard looked at his younger son and hid a smile.
[ESSOS]
[The unsullied march towards Meereen. DAENERYS, JORAH, SER BARRISTAN, MISSANDEI and DAARIO NAHARYS ride alongside. The riders dismount at the main gate while the unsullied stand at attention. The Meereen city folk watch from atop the walls murmuring. The main door opens. A single rider advances, and the crowd cheers. He halts the horse to the side of DAENERYS's band. He dismounts. The CHAMPION urinates towards DAENERYS. The crowd laughs and cheers.]
"He says that we're an army of men without man parts. He claims you are no woman at all, but a man who... hides his cock in his own asshole.
"What an odd picture to paint" Oberyn snorted, while Daenerys turned red from embarrassment and anger.
"I have something to say to the people of Meereen. First, I will need this one to be quiet. Do I have a champion?"
"Could send your dragon in and silence the lot" Oberyn suggested.
"I want the people to accept me and choose me. Sending a dragon will do no good" Daenerys shook her head. "Though I do think I'll send a dragon to the masters…"
[GREY WORM SPEAKING VALYRIAN]
"Allow me this honour, mother of dragons. I will not disappoint you."
[DAEYNERYS SPEAKING VALYRIAN]
"You are the commander of the Unsullied. I cannot risk you."
"Your Grace, I've won more single combats than any man alive."
"Which is why, Ser Barristan, you must remain by my side."
"I've been by your side longer than any of them, Khaleesi. Let me stand for you today as well."
"You are my most trusted advisor Ser Jorah, my most valued general, and my dearest friend. I will not gamble with your life."
"I was the last to join your army. I'm not your general or a member of your Queensguard or the commander of your Unsullied. My mother was a whore. I come from nothing. And before long, I will return to nothing. Let me kill this man for you."
"Very well, Daario. You have quite an audience. Make it worth their while."
"Your people love you. A sign that you are a good queen" Elia encouraged with a smile.
Daenerys beamed at the praise.
[A squire helps the mounted CHAMPION arm himself. DAENERYS walks up to DAARIO.]
"You sure you don't want a horse?"
"Why would I want a horse?
"Horses are faster than men."
"Horses are dumber than men."
[DAENERYS steps back and the CHAMPION charges. DAARIO turns to wink at DAENERYS. The CHAMPION closes in and DAARIO draws his dagger, holds it on his shoulder and kisses it. He then launches it at the charging CHAMPION, burying the blade in his horse's forehead. The horse falls in the sand, the CHAMPION rolling away. As he rises, DAARIO dispatches him with a single blow to the neck. He nods to DAENERYS.]
"I think this is the first time we're seeing him fight. He's good" Renly commented, omitting the part of him finding Daario attractive as well.
"He is a captain of a Sellsword Company for a reason" Robert grunted with a roll of his eyes. It was always the obvious things his brother missed.
Little did he notice that he too was missing the obvious things.
Must be a Baratheon trait.
[The Meeren crowd is shocked. An order is given, and scores of archers on the wall fire at DAENERYS's band.]
"Sore losers" Arya muttered with a roll of her eyes.
[The arrows plant in front of them. DAARIO urinates in response. DAENERYS paces and the Unsullied turn at attention.]
[DAENERYS announces herself in Valyrian and The crowd quiets.]
"Your Masters may have told you lies about me, or they may have told you nothing. It does not matter. I have nothing to say to them. Only to you. First I went to Astapor. Those who were slaves in Astapor now stand behind me, free. Next, I went to Yunkai. Those who were slaves in Yunkai now stand behind me, free. Now I have come to Meereen. I am not your enemy. Your enemy is beside you."
[The Meereen inhabitants start to move away from the wall, while the Meereen soldiers face outside the wall. The Meereen slaves listen carefully to DAENERYS, while their masters become uncomfortable.]
"Your enemy steals and murders your children. Your enemy has nothing for you but chains and suffering and commands. I do not bring commands. I bring you a choice. And I bring your enemies what they deserve. Forward!"
"That was a good speech" Rhaegar complimented with a smiling nod. "The people listened and you have won them over with that."
Daenerys smiled back and nodded. But she knew there was more left to do.
[The Unsullied move the siege weapons forward. The slaves are emboldened and the inhabitants are taken aback. The unsullied fire the catapults. Cylindrical logs spin through the air and shatter on the sides of buildings, raining down the empty manacles inside. Civilians and slaves duck as the contents fall among them. A SLAVE picks up an empty choker and looks back at his fearful master.]
"That should all but support your claims" Oberyn smirked. "Now they know you mean what you speak. No doubt you have won this battle."
"Without any losses on her side or any major losses on their side" Elia pointed out with a smile."
Daenerys preened at the praise. She had never gotten this much before, nor had she ever felt confidence in herself in this manner.