[MEEREEN]
[Ser Jorah is looking at a map by the water alone. Ser Barristan hands Ser Jorah the scroll]
"A royal pardon signed by Robert Baratheon. You spied on her."
"Oh, that is a good shot" Rhaegar muttered under his breath. With that secret out in the open, it would shake Daenerys' belief in Ser Jorah, effectively stripping her of one of the two seasoned veterans advising her.
Daenerys had admittedly forgotten about Ser Jorah's past, about how he came into her service as a spy for Robert Baratheon. But Ser Jorah was loyal to her now, she saw him prove it many times. But her future self had not seen the things she had, did not know the times Ser Jorah had defended her in secret. Daenerys was not confident that her future self would forgive this.
[Ser Jorah enters Dany's throne room, walking toward her]
"Why did the usurper pardon you?"
"If we could speak alone."
"No, speak to me here. Explain it to me."
"Who do you think sent this to Meereen? Who profits? This is the work of Tywin Lannister. He wants to divide us. If we're fighting each other, we're not fighting him."
"Just tell her the truth" Elia murmured. Daenerys would see reason if the knight spoke the truth instead of beating around and throwing theories at her, no matter how plausible those theories were. He just needed to speak the truth and that would be enough.
"The pardon was signed the year we met. Why were you pardoned? Unless you're saying this document was forged."
"It is not forged."
"Why, then?"
"I sent letters to Varys, the spymaster of King's Landing."
"What was the content of these letters?"
"Information."
"What information?"
"When you and Viserys arrived in Pentos. His plan to marry you to Khal Drogo. When you were married. When your brother died."
"You told him I was carrying Drogo's child?"
"Oh," the Dornish Princess muttered, she'd forgotten that had happened. No, there would be no forgiveness from Daenerys.
"Khaleesi."
"Don't call me that."
"Hard not to since it is her title" Tyrion jested, an attempt to break the tension. It did not work.
"Did you tell him I was carrying Drogo's child?"
"Yes."
"That wine merchant tried to poison me because of your information."
"I stopped you from drinking his wine."
"Because you knew it was poisoned."
"I suspected."
"You betrayed me from the first. You sold my secrets to the man who killed my father and stole my brother's throne..."
"Forgive me. I never meant...please, Khaleesi, forgive me. I have protected you. Fought for you. Killed for you."
"...and you want me to forgive you?"
"No. Ask her for another chance. Ask her to give you the chance to earn it" Jon Snow muttered. Such a thing can't be forgiven, not easily, not hastily. Ser Jorah needed to earn it.
"If he tells her about seeing her hatch her dragons swayed him" Robb added.
"It was not her dragons that swayed him" Lyanna added. She saw the signs and understood them well. Ser Jorah had fallen for the Princess and that was what swayed him.
Her son and nephew on the other hand had not, so they were giving Lyanna a questioning look.
"I have loved you."
"Oh," Robb nodded. That was a good reason to be swayed too, he supposed. He pretty much destroyed his army and the war in turn for love in the future he saw. He did not understand it, but it was a viable reason.
"Love? How can you say that to me? Any other man and I would have you executed. But you, I do not want you in my city dead or alive. Go back to your masters in King's Landing. Collect your pardon if you can."
"Daenerys, please."
[Ser Jorah goes for Dany's hand]
"Don't ever presume to touch me again or speak my name. You have until dusk to collect your things and leave this city. If you're found in Meereen past break of day, I'll have your head thrown into Slaver's Bay. Go. Now."
"And now there is just one" Oberyn muttered. "Ser Barristan is a seasoned warrior no doubt, but Ser Jorah knows Essos better. He was valuable, and Tywin Lannister hit him perfectly."
Daenerys' brows furrowed. Ser Jorah was a Knight loyal to her, knowledgeable about the dynamics of Essos more than her future self or Ser Barristan were. She feared what his exile meant for her cause.
[THE VALE]
[Sansa is seen sitting on her bed sewing. Petyr knocks on her door]
"The first time I saw you, you were just a child. A girl from the North come to the capital for the first time. Not a child any longer. Why did you help me?"
"It was all her" Arya muttered, the anger still boiling right under her skin. How could she?!
Lyanna placed a hand on Arya's hand, having heard the girl's muttering.
Arya did not react
"They would have thrown you through the Moon Door if they found you guilty."
"And you'd have been free" Arya muttered.
"That's not an answer."
"If they'd have executed you, what would they have done with me?"
"Nothing!" the girl exploded, gaining the attention of every Lord, Lady and others in the chambers. "All we've heard from father growing up was how the Eyrie held honour above all, how he knew every Lord and Lady there because of Lord Jon Arryn, how he'd befriended them, grew up around them and mingled with them. They would have saved you"
"You can't be sure they would" Catelyn defended her eldest, gently and kindly. She would not be strict, not when Arya wasn't being outright vicious to Sansa or unfair in her assumptions. "They could have supported the Lannisters."
"The Vale is Lord Arryn's domain. Lord Arryn cared deeply for Father. Aunt Lysa may have kept them back, but they would have defended Sansa!"
"You can't be certain" Jon Arryn himself spoke this time. "You never know who might be reaching out to gain the Lannister's favour. Baelish is from the vale as well," he reasoned. While he knew that his Lord and Ladies would have protected Sansa, he knew the kind of impossible challenge that Sansa faced at that moment. She knew none of those people, and she'd been burned once for simply believing in people from the stories she'd heard. His defence for the girl was purely so the one present here would not have to face the slack of anyone in the hall.
Arya was displeased, but with Jon Arryn coming out to defend Sansa, she had nothing more to say. So she sat down, fuming, and still believing that the men and women of the Vale would have stood up for Sansa.
[OUTSIDE THE VALE]
[Arya and the Hound approach the Vale]
"I thought it'd make me happy, but it doesn't. Not really."
"Nothing makes you happy."
"Lots of things make me happy."
"Like what?"
"Killing Polliver, killing Rorge."
Jon snorted.
Arya huffed, still angry but completely agreeing with her future self.
"So you're sad because you didn't get to kill Joffrey yourself. Is that it?"
"At least I could have been there to watch. I wanted to see the look in his eyes when he knew it was over."
"Aye, nothing in the world beats that look."
"Ned… I worry about Arya" Catelyn whispered, stealing glances at her younger daughter.
"It's war, Catelyn. War changes people. It won't happen this time" Ned assured her.
"After what she's seeing now? Can you honestly believe that?" she hissed in frustration.
He could not believe it, he himself was questioning it. But in the situation they were, what could he do?
"Let me rephrase" he took Catelyn's hand in his, " I will not allow it to happen" he paused, "but it's out of the question that Arya would follow her sister's footsteps anymore."
Catelyn snorted. She'd let go of that delusion long before.
"You protected him for most of his life. You think you could have saved him?"
"I wasn't the damn wine taster. Little shit deserved to die, but poison... poison's a woman's weapon. Men kill with steel."
Varys rolled his eyes. Such a barbaric thought, poisons were the swiftest, cleanest and the least likely to be traced back kind.
Oberyn snorted, thinking along the same lines.
"That's your stupid pride talking. It's why you'll never be a great killer. I'd have killed Joffrey with a chicken bone if I had to."
"I'd pay good money to see that."
[THE HOUND grunts and rubs his neck]
"You should have let me burn it."
"It's a fleabite."
"Doesn't look it" Gendry muttered. If anything that looked like it was getting infected.
"That fleabite's got you walking a lot slower than you used to."
"Well, we won't have to walk too much further."
"You really think my aunt will pay for me?"
"After what happened? Bloody unlikely" Tyrion muttered.
Jaime snorted.
"Stop. The woman just got murdered."
"Only answering questions," Tyrion said with a sly grin.
[They are stopped at the BLOODY GATE]
"Who would pass the Bloody Gate?"
"The bloody Hound, Sandor Clegane. And his... travelling companion Arya Stark, niece of your lady Lysa Arryn."
"Then I offer my condolences. Lady Arryn died. Three days ago."
[Arya bursts out laughing]
"Do you think it's funny that your aunt is dead?" Catelyn asked in outrage.
"No" Arya shrugged, "but I think my future self finds it funny that the House is not about to get paid for all that he'd gone through to get me there" the girl explained.
Catelyn eyed her daughter critically and Arya maintained eye contact almost boredly. In the end, Catelyn sighed and let the matter drop.
Arya smirked and looked away.
Yes, she was bloody glad her aunt was dead. She Is the reason everything happened! Her and her stupid lover.
[KING'S LANDING]
[Tyrion walks out toward the arena. The Lannisters are there, and Oberyn is there getting ready for the battle. Tyrion passes him in handcuffs]
"Looks like very light armour."
"I work best when I'm not weighed down Oberyn boasted with a smirk.
"I like to move around."
"And that" the Red Viper smiled.
"You could at least wear a helmet."
"You should" Elia muttered in worry, her hand on her brother's hand in a vice grip.
"I'll be alright" Oberyn assured her with a smile, gently patting the clinging hand.
"You shouldn't drink before a fight."
"You learn this during your years in the fighting pits? I always drink before a fight."
"It could get you killed. It could get me killed."
"Today is not the day I die."
"Gods… please" Elia whispered. Her eyes widened with further fear when the Mountain entered the ring. Large and imposing, Elia was reminded of that day. She begged but the brute smashed Aegon's head into the wall and then…
Her shaking hands were taken into firmer pairs of hands. On her right was Oberyn and on her left… Doran. When had her older brother come there? Where was Daenerys?
"I will be alright," Oberyn said firmly, his grip on her hand firm and comforting.
"We are here," Doran said softly, his grip equally firm and comforting.
Elia nodded softly in reply.
[PYCELLE steps forward on a platform]
"In the sight of gods and men, we gather to ascertain the guilt or innocence of this...man Tyrion Lannister. May the Mother grant them mercy. May the Father give them such justice as they deserve. And may the Warrior guide the hand of our champion...]
[Tywin speeds the process along in boredom. Horns sound to start the fight]
"Don't leave me alone in this world."
"Never."
[Oberyn kisses Ellaria before approaching his opponent. Oberyn is tossed his weapon.]
"Have they told you who I am?"
"Some dead man."
Oberyn snarled silently. He would come out of this victorious. And if not… he would not be the only one going down.
[The MOUNTAIN lunges forward as the battle begins]
"I am the brother of Elia Martell. Do you know why I have come all the way to this stinking shit-pile of a city? For you."
[OBERYN dances around while THE MOUNTAIN tries to land a hit.]
"I'm going to hear you confess before you die. You raped my sister. You murdered her. You killed her children. Say it now and we can make this quick."
[OBERYN dodges another blow]
"You're playing around with him," Doran said in distaste.
"I always do that with my opponents" Oberyn defended callously.
"This is not a normal opponent" Doran said coldly, "You need to finish him off fast."
Oberyn did not argue that… but at the same time, he wanted to hear the beast confess to the crime he'd committed.
"Say it. You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children."
Elia's grip on her brothers' hands tightened. The more Oberyn said those words, the more she remembered the things she refused to remember, and the more she remembered the less control she had over her emotions.
[OBERYN stabs THE MOUNTAIN in the gut]
"You raped her! You murdered her!"
"Finish him already" Elia whispered, her tone almost as if she was begging.
[OBERYN charges at THE MOUNTAIN to give him one final blow]
"You killed her children!"
[Everyone looks down, surprised. Oberyn pulls his weapon out of the Mountain and starts walking around his body]
"Wait. Are you dying? No, no, no. You can't die yet."
"Finish him you fool!" Tyrion exclaimed. His life was on the line and this Dornish idiot was trying to get a confession out of the Mountain!
Oberyn scowled at the imp. Here he was saving his life and the man had the gall to call him a fool!
"You haven't confessed. Say it. Say her name. Elia Martell. You raped her. You killed her children. Elia Martell. Who gave you the order? Who gave you the order?! Say her name! You raped her! You murdered her! You killed her children. Say it. Say her name. Say it!"
"Please… just end him" Elia whispered, tears now flowing from her eyes. She did not care about whether her brother got vengeance for her or not, she just wanted this to end, for her brother to walk out of this alive.
[The Mountain trips Oberyn and grabs him in his massive hands. He punches out his teeth and gets on top of Oberyn, squeezing his head]
Elia stiffened, as had Oberyn and Doran.
Tyrion groaned, face buried in his hands. He was dead! Oberyn Martell had a clear shot and he fumbled it!
"Elia Martell. I killed her children. Then I raped her. Then I smashed her head in like this!"
[OBERYN screams before his head is caved in by THE MOUNTAIN'S hands. Ellaria screams in agony. Tyrion looks dead inside]
A sob broke out through Elia's lips.