The Narrow Sea: 283 AC: 4 Days Later
Arthur stood on the deck of the ship, watching the sailors go about their tedious work. The ship cut through the water as if it were a hot knife through butter. Arthur was thankful that Willem had chosen a fast ship, the Gods only knowing how long it would have taken them to get to Dragonstone had he taken a slow one. Moving to the port side of the ship he looked at the Westerosi coastline. All its rolling hills and cliffs painted a pretty picture for him. A shame it was full of traitors in his mind. Where he was exactly he wasn't so sure but Willem said something about being near Tarth already and that they should be nearing Dragonstone in a matter of days. Arthur more than once had brought up concerns about rebel fleets or ships attempting to intercept them but Willem assured him if there were any they wouldn't harm a merchant vessel. Besides, Willem promised him that Targaryen loyalists still protected the island with their own fleet and it would take something mighty for them to be defeated. Arthurs thoughts then turned to his King and he made his way back below deck to Willems quarters, where the child was being held. Entering the quarters, he saw Willem and the Midwife talking, with the baby Aemon asleep in the bed beside them. Willem motioned for Arthur to take a seat beside him and poured him some water.
"Glad you could join us, Arthur." Willem smiled.
"I am glad to be here, Willem. How fares the King?" He asked, his deep blue eyes on the Midwife.
"He sleeps soundly, Ser. He seems to have taken well to sea travel it seems." She chuckled.
"Good...Tell me Willem, how fares the Queen and the Prince." Arthur asked.
"They fare well, Arthur. The Queen is with child. One last gift from Aerys it seems." He smiled, his eyes showing a much sadder emotion.
Arthur almost shuddered at what Willem was implying, knowing himself that the baby was most likely not a consensual coupling. "It looks like we'll have two children to care for soon." Arthur sighed.
"What is the plan, Ser?" The Midwife suddenly asked.
"Once we get to Dragonstone? We secure the royal family and get them off of the island to Essos." Arthur replied, the Midwife seeming content with his answer.
"You mean to abandon Dragonstone? Leave it to the Usurper?" Willem accused, his eyes shocked.
"We cannot hold it, Willem. Even with our fleet there. The Usurper right now will be rebuilding a fleet to come and take it. Don't be so naive to believe that man so content with the killing of children will happily allow us to sit on Dragonstone whilst he does nothing. Robert is not like that. I imagine my killing of Eddard Stark has made him furious and now he may stop at nothing to kill us all."
Willem sighed at Arthur, unable to argue with his logic. "Very well, Arthur. I'll follow your lead."
All three of them then turned their conversation to lighter matters such as their homes and childhoods. Arthur spoke of the Kingsguard to them and how glorious it was to be a part of it. Arthur wondered how many of his former brethren still lived. He doubted if any that were with Rhaegar on the Trident still lived. If their Prince had fallen so too must they. The only one of his former brothers he knew lived was Jamie Lannister. Arthur became quietly enraged with the thought of him. How easily he betrayed his King and broke his oath. He served well and served faithfully to Aerys. When serving was easy. Rather than die doing what he was sworn to do, he stabbed the King in the back and gave the throne to that Usurper. Arthur swore that if he ever saw the young Lannister again, he would bring down his justice upon him.
"Something troubling you, Arthur?" Willem asked, his concern showing.
"It's nothing, Willem. I am tired is all." Arthur smirked, standing up and making his way over to the bed.
"Get some rest, Arthur. We've still a ways to go." Willem said, leaving the room.
Arthurs sleep was restless that night. His dreams full of the men he had killed and the family he had failed. He saw the young Rhaenys Targaryen running around the Red Keep with her cat, Balerion. He saw Princess Elia's smile as she held the new born Aegon in her arms. He saw the Battle on the Trident and his silver Prince cutting men down with his lance and sword. Before he himself was cut down by a mighty warhammer being wielded by a giant shadow. Arthur stood and watched helpless to stop it and as he tried to scream to his Prince to warn him about the incoming danger, no words came from his mouth. His dreams then turned to see a young man who couldn't have been older than ten and eight years old, his black curly hair blew in the wind as did the deep red cloak behind him. In his hand he held he held a thin sword, its winged cross guard marking it to be Dark Sister. The armor he wore was made of a deep night black plate and his face held a sneer of command. His deep grey eyes surveyed the land before him before they turned to face Arthur.
"Ser Arthur." The man pronounced.
"Who are you? Where am I?" Arthur asked confused.
"I am Aemon Targaryen. Son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Targaryen."
Arthur almost fell to his knees at the announcement of who he was. "Impossible. You're not even a moon old yet."
"For now, yes. But I will grow, Ser Arthur. You can be assured of that." Aemon smiled. "I would ask something of you, Ser Arthur."
An unknown force made Arthur drop to his knees in front of his King. "Anything, my King. Ask of me anything."
"My family. I need you to save them. They will not last on Dragonstone. The dragon must have three heads and I cannot do what must be done alone."
"I will do what you ask, my King. I will save them, as is my duty."
"Thank you, Arthur. Now go. I will see you again when the time is right." Aemon smirked, as a black dragon flew overhead and began to lay fire on the land before them. "Now it begins."
Arthur awoke in a cold sweat, his tunic soaked. He looked up to see Willem standing over him, his features showing concern for the drenched man before him.
"You often talk in your sleep, Arthur?" Willem laughed.
"Bring me some water, please." Arthur asked, his voice hoarse.
Willem gave him the water he craved and watched as he drank it down greedily. "Must have been some dream." Willem said taking a seat beside the bed.
"I saw him, Willem. I saw the King." Arthur blubbered.
"Who? Aerys?"
"No...him, Aemon." Arthur said, pointing to the sleeping baby. "He was older, a man of a young age. He spoke to me of saving his family and getting them off of Dragonstone."
"Is that not we're doing anyway?" Willem snickered.
"Yes, but perhaps he wanted to make sure, I do not know. He spoke of the dragon having three heads and not being able to do what must be done alone. I am unsure of what that means." His deep blue eyes searching for answers in the man before him.
Willem shot a concerned look at Arthur. "When we get to Dragonstone, perhaps these things will become clearer, Arthur. The Queen may have the answers you seek." He said before placing a hand on the knights shoulder and leaving him.
Arthur lay back down in the bed, rubbing his eyes and face. Had a new born baby just spoken to him in a dream? He wondered if he may be going mad, the years of serving Aerys may be taking its toll on him. He couldn't get the words out of hos head though, 'the dragon must have three heads'. The words came over and over to him as he tried to decipher what they could mean. Arthur could not put his finger on it, but the conversation with his King or what he thought was his king had hardened his resolve. It had made him more sure of what he was doing and that the path he was taking had been the right one. He would not fail him. He will not.
Kings Landing: 283 AC: The Same Day:
Barristan's injuries had almost healed. He knew the time for his departure was coming soon. Despite his outward appearance, inside he was almost overjoyed, the thought of reuniting with Arthur was one that brought a smile to his face. To make it seem like he was doing what Robert had tasked him with, he felt it necessary to see The Spider seeing as the only thing Barristan knew of Arthurs whereabouts was that he was sent to the Tower of Joy by their Prince. Walking through the Red Keep once more, he noticed his leg had become stronger than it had been before. The physical memories of the Trident finally leaving him, however the mental ones still remained. Arriving at The Spiders quarters, he opened the door to find the bald man writing intensely on a piece of parchment.
"Lord Varys." Monotoned Barristan, the Eunuch turning in his chair to face him.
"Ser Barristan. A surprise to see one such as yourself in a place such as this." Varys smiled, making Barristan's skin crawl.
"I need some information. Someone's whereabouts."
"Oh, everyone needs information, Ser Barristan." Varys smirked. "Information is power, after all."
"Stop playing games with me, Varys. I seek Arthur Dayne."
Varys' smirk had disappeared and his eyes narrowed. "Interesting...Why do you seek the Sword of the Morning?"
"Robert has requested it of me." Barristan said with indifference, attempting to hide his true feelings.
"Very well. The last song my little birds have sung to me was that he was in Dorne. Ghost Hill to be precise. Where he killed five men of House Toland before boarding a ship which has sailed near Tarth."
Barristan began to look concerned as to why Arthur felt the need to kill five men. "Why would he kill five men? That is most unlike him."
"My little birds tell me he carries something most precious to those loyal to the late Prince Rhaegar. A child. A child so important that he is willing to kill to protect it." Varys smirked again.
Barristan hated the idea that this slimy man knew of the true Kings whereabouts and was watching him all the time. He tossed the idea of killing Varys right there, around in his head, to protect his King from his little birds. He thought better against it as there would be no gain in giving up his life now when he was so close to reuniting with his Sworn Brother. "Do you know where this ship is sailing to, Varys?" He eventually asked.
"An enemy of the Crown like him who is carrying the son of Rhaegar can only be going to two places, Ser. Essos or Dragonstone. My guess would be on the latter." Varys smirked. "How you will get there I do not know seeing as the island is defended by the remnants of Aerys' fleet."
"Hm...Thankyou, Lord Varys." Barristan said before walking out of the quarters.
"Before you go, Ser Barristan. I do know of one way you could enter Dragonstone." Varys smirked.
Barristan turned and eyed the Eunuch, wondering if he was playing a game with him. "How?"
"I have heard tales of the island receiving supplies from an unmarked vessel that docks at Gulltown. The man who is in charge of the vessel was a close friend of Rhaegar's. If I was a betting man, I would say that is your way in."
Barristan narrowed his eyes at The Spider, still unsure if this was a trick to get him killed as it sounded too good to be true. "If this is some trick, Varys..."
"I assure you there is no trick, Ser Barristan. We both seek the same goals." Varys interrupted.
Barristan drew a confused look across his face, unsure of what Varys' goals were and if they truly aligned with his own. "Very well." Barristan said before leaving the chamber.
Varys watched the knight walk from his chambers before he turned back to his writing. He knew that the Targaryens couldn't hold on to Dragonstone and he hoped that Arthur knew that too. However, he held the thought that he was doing the right thing by the young King. Sending one of the best knights to him and having another with him already only increased his chances of making it off of Dragonstone. It also increased his chances of making it to his friend in Essos who would see him right until his time came to return.
Barristan couldn't believe it. How Arthur had some how managed to make it out of Dorne with a new born baby was impressive to him. It almost reminded him of himself in his younger days when he rescued King Aerys at Duskendale. Barristan smiled at the thought of Arthur protecting their King. However, a small sense of unease overcame him when he thought of Varys. Was he truly helping him? Why was he helping him? Did he know where his loyalties truly lay? The questions came to Barristan but found no answer. It seemed he had no choice but to trust The Spider. Something that he found difficult to do. He eventually found his way to the Tower of the Hand, where he found Jon Arryn sitting at the desk, writing some on some parchments. Once Barristan entered, the Old Falcon removed the parchments from his desk with haste. Something that Barristan found most suspicious.
"Ah, Ser Barristan. A pleasant surprise, I must say." Jon croaked.
"I need to ask a favor of you, my Lord." Barristan said, taking the offered seat in front of him.
"Speak it and I will see what I can do for you, Ser."
"I'll be departing on the morrow in my search for Ser Arthur and I will need arms and armor. It seems in Roberts infinite wisdom, he has taken to disarming me." Barristan laughed.
Jon did not reciprocate the jest and narrowed his eyes at the knight. "Very well, Ser Barristan. I will have some arms and armor delivered to your chambers by the morrow."
"Thank you, my Lord." Barristan said before leaving the room.
Jon watched him leave and waited a few moments before he himself got up and left the Tower. Walking through the Red Keep, he smiled at what they had achieved. Although Ned couldn't be there with them to share in the spoils of war, he smiled all the same. Finally someone had put the dragons in their rightful place and now an even greater dynasty than the Targaryens can rise. One that he will preside over. Jon walked to Roberts chambers and nodded to the guard at the door who let him in. Inside, Robert was deep in his cups which drew a disapproving look from the Old Falcon.
"He is leaving on the morrow, Robert." Jon said as he sat down.
"Who...is?" Robert hiccupped, his drunkenness clear.
"Barristan Selmy. He's leaving to search for Arthur Dayne on the morrow."
"Arthur Dayne...Arthur Dayne...I'll see his fucking head on a spike for what he did to Ned."
Jon smiled at Robert. "We will get him, Robert. I'll have riders shadow Barristan wherever he goes."
"If Barristan doesn't...kill him...I'll have him gutted." Robert croaked.
"We cannot lose here, Robert. Either he kills him for us or we kill them both for disloyalty. Either way you get what you want."
"Good...good...I'll see Ned avenged. Just as I saw Lyanna avenged when I killed that Dragonspawn on that Trident." Robert seethed, gulping down the last of his wine and pouring himself another.
Jon thought of saying something about Roberts drinking, however a thought came to him. He could allow Robert to stew in his bitterness and anger whilst he himself held the real power. He had already convinced Robert to appoint him as his Hand once he was coronated. Besides, a drunken King was much easier to manipulate than a righteous King. He could see the Realm ran the way he wanted it to be ran, kill the enemies he wanted to kill. The only obstacle that remained to him was that island that he could see across the Blackwater Bay and those who inhabited it. Once he finished the remaining Targaryens he felt that there was nothing left to stand in his way.
A/N: Many thanks to those who've read and reviewed. This chapter is mostly just set up for the next chapter I am working on which is much larger, however I still hope you enjoyed it.