Titus

It was the second morning of Aegon's reign. He had spent the previous day speaking with his great lords and their bannermen. Evidently, several matters had been settled, for half of the assembled councillors were either departing the city, or had already left.

The lords Manderly, Flint, and Locke had sailed for the North; according to Jena, they had told Aegon of the North's plight during this evil winter. In response, Aegon had immediately agreed to send vast shipments of food to alleviate the beleaguered smallfolk.

In that regard, Lord Rycherd Tyrell had already been approached to provide the bulk of those supplies. According to rumours, the rose lord had argued that giving up such a massive amount of winter stores might strain the Reach's ability to endure winter. Titus had learned from his sister that Tyrell's objections had been answered with a betrothal between his son, Luthor, and Aegon's daughter, Shaera.

Now, however, King Aegon and Queen Betha were dining in the Queen's Ballroom of Maegor's Holdfast. Titus and Jena were his guests, as were Titus' children, Princess Kiera, and her daughter, Vaella. Lord Commander Peleas Darry was elsewhere, guarding the king and queen's children, so it was Ser Duncan the Tall and Ser Niall Crane who stood on duty in the ballroom.

As the third course of the morning meal was set down on the table, King Aegon cleared his throat. "If I may," he began, "there is a matter I wish to discuss."

Titus took another bite of bacon as the others looked up. He alone knew what Aegon was going to say, and he felt a twinge of nervousness, despite his own part in bringing this about.

"I have many tasks before me," Aegon began, "one of them is the matter of ambassadors. My father began this when he appointed Lord Titus Dondarrion as his representative to Braavos. I wish to ."

She understood immediately, and she reacted before he could speak the words. "You cannot mean this." So surprised was she that she had forgotten to address the king as "Your Grace."

Despite that, Aegon smiled as his tone became more genial. "Why not? I see no reason why a woman cannot take up this task. Especially when that woman has been a princess of House Targaryen for nearly forty years."

As Miru attempted to distract Vaella, Kiera leaned forward and stared incredulously at Aegon. "Is this some plan to be rid of me?"

"Not at all," Aegon answered. "You are free to refuse this appointment if you wish. You are my kinswoman. You might have twice become Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, if the gods had been more generous."

Kiera's expression suddenly changed. She slowly leaned back into her chair, staring at Aegon with an expression that Titus could not define. "I believe you."

Titus reflexively gave Jena a glance; his sister's countenance looked as tense as his own felt. They both turned to the king, who seemed unsure of what to say.

"Your Grace," Kiera began again, "you need not compensate me for what might have been. I saw both my husbands languish in the shadow of that throne. My pursuit of the Iron Throne has cost me…" she trailed off, giving a shaky sigh. "I will not be sent away again."

"It is not my wish to send you away without your consent," Aegon replied. "I am offering you a choice. You may accept this position or you may refuse it."

"And I suppose I am expected to sail back to Tyrosh, then?" Kiera asked. "Back to a city which hasn't been my home since I was a little girl?"

"It need not be Tyrosh," Aegon interjected. "Lord Titus has told me that he intends to retire, but he will continue for another year to prepare his replacement.

Titus felt several pairs of eyes turn to him, including Jena, even as he pointedly looked at Aegon.

"Therefore," Aegon went on, "it is my wish to appoint his successor now, so that he may teach them what is expected."

Kiera turned to Titus, then back to Jena, who was still staring at Titus in surprise. As Titus had hoped, her eyes turned away from Jena, seemingly convinced by Jena's genuine astonishment at these revelations. Her expression wavered, and she appeared indecisive.

"If it matters," Aegon urged, "you may bring your daughter with you, wherever you go. It is traditional in Braavos and Tyrosh that they provide ambassadors with a considerable estate. You will also be granted your own garrison and household of Westerosi subjects."

Kiera looked down at Vaella, but she still did not seem fully convinced. After a moment, she addressed Titus. "And what would I be expected to do as ambassador?"

"You would represent the Iron Throne abroad," Titus answered readily. "You would send reports and letters to His Grace, informing him of any important news. You would protect those Westerosi who travel abroad, and provide them a haven should they get into trouble. You may negotiate trade deals, present them to the king for his decision. You might end a war before it begins. It is a considerable amount of power, and it is best wielded by one who knows the value of its price."

The princess was frowning now, but in thought rather than anger. Slowly, she turned back to Aegon. "I begin to see what you are offering."

Titus sensed Jena's gaze upon him. There was a knowing look in her eye, but he feigned ignorance of it and turned back to Kiera.

"Very well, then," declared the princess. "I shall accept this task." She turned to Titus. "I will become the ambassador to Braavos."

"Done." Aegon was greatly pleased, clasping his hands together and beaming at Kiera.

He might have said more, were it not for the sudden entrance of a guard in Targaryen livery. "Your Grace! Urgent news!" He glanced at the others as he faltered.

"Go on," Aegon replied as he rose to his feet. "Speak freely."

"There was a fire in Flea Bottom last night. Stables on Mulberry. We thought it a trivial matter, but when the gold cloaks examined the damage, they found a tunnel, with bodies in it. It was some kind of battle, Your Grace."

Aegon's countenance had become very grave. "A battle between whom?"

"We don't know, Your Grace. The dead men were ruffians, it looks like. Many of them had been imprisoned but escaped. But the worst was discovered beneath Lady Shiera Seastar's manse. It seems that she was experimenting with wildfire."

Titus shuddered. He resisted the urge to look at either Miru or Leroya, both of whom had confided in him what they'd done the night before.

"Gods be good," Aegon murmured as his face took on a sickly pallor. "Is she dead?"

"We don't know, Your Grace," came the hushed answer. "If she died down there, the wildfire left nothing for us to find."

Slowly, cautiously, Titus scanned the expressions of everyone at the table. Jena and Kiera were ashen-faced, frozen where they sat. Miru was determinedly focusing on Vaella, but Titus sensed that her pleasant demeanour was forced. Leroya was implacable, bereft of remorse or guilt. Sadog and Matthias, who both knew the truth as well as Titus did, kept their heads down for fear of betraying their sisters.

Nothing was said until after breakfast, and Titus had departed from the Queen's Ballroom, Jena by his side. Only after they had walked into the open air, and stood beneath the pale-white morning clouds, did she grip his hand in hers as a question softly left her mouth.

"Is she truly dead?"

"Yes," Titus answered. "She will never again harm us, or anyone else."

It seemed to him that five years were shrugged from his sister's countenance, but she did not smile or laugh. That was fitting, though; even the death of one so evil as Shiera was not something to revel in.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Thank my daughters," Titus replied. "It was their work, not mine."

"I will certainly thank them too," Jena assured him, "but I also wished to thank you for your part. Including your work this morning." The last was said with a knowing tone, and a half-grin appeared on her face. "Are you sure that you wish to retire?"

Titus smiled. "If coming back has taught me anything, it's that I'm weary of these games. I wish to spend what's left of my life with those whom I love."

Jena nodded silently, as if she were pondering his words. Titus said nothing more as his stomach became tense again. The quiet moment seemed to stretch for minutes as they faced each other.

Finally, Jena spoke again. "When shall we go back to them, then?"

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The voyage seemed agonizingly slow to Titus. Leroya assured him over and over that they were making good time, but every stop they made felt like an unnecessary delay.

Princess Kiera had not left with them. Aegon wanted her to set out with a proper escort from the royal fleet, and he wanted her staff and guards to accompany her. Rather than wait for all that to be arranged, Titus had suggested that he go and alert the Sealord of Kiera's impending arrival. It would allow Braavos to prepare a proper welcome for the new ambassador. Aegon had agreed to the suggestion, and bid Titus and his family a safe voyage.

It seemed that Aegon had command over the Narrow Sea, for the voyage was not beset by storms. Only once were they approached by a pirate ship, and it quickly withdrew after Baalun and the red archers under his command loosed three deadly volleys.

One day, a cry from Tidir brought Titus and several others to the deck. Slowly, a line of mountainous islands appeared on the horizon. A faint roar suddenly sounded out, echoing across the open water. The sound made Titus want to laugh aloud for joy.

"How far away are we?" Titus asked Leroya.

"Less than an hour, I'll warrant," came his daughter's reply.

"Go fetch your aunt," Titus told Baalun. "She will want to see this."

Privately, he wasn't sure of that. Jena had not taken to the voyage at all; in fact, she had spent most days in her cabin.

Soon, however, she made her way up to the deck, groaning and complaining to Baalun as they walked together with linked arms. "How does anyone grow accustomed to this infernal shaking?"

"Come now, sister," Titus called. "Our voyage is almost at an end."

"Thank the gods," Jena grumbled. As she walked across the deck, she raised her hand to shield her eyes from the sunlight. "What's that?"

"Sellagoro's Shield," Titus answered. "Braavos lies beyond those cliffs."

As the Black Bolt sailed towards Sellagoro's Shield, Leroya ordered that they move northward to get around the island. Eventually, Titus could see the black spruce and soldier pines which managed to cover those forbidding slopes and ridges. He could see the legions of birds which made those islands their home, soaring and wheeling through the sky. But more than that, he saw the great guardian of Braavos.

"Gods be good," Jena gasped, staring upwards in astonishment as she clung to Baalun.

Titus did not blame her shock. The Titan of Braavos never failed to take his breath away. The mighty colossus of stone and bronze rose up far above the waves, so high that its sword pierced the clouds. Its eyes were twin bonfires which seemed to be two guiding stars.

By the time the ship was approaching the Titan, most of its crew were standing on deck, gazing upwards in awe. Miru, Sadog, Matthias, and Lyman were among them. The latter was even more taken aback than Jena, if that was possible.

"How is it possible?" Lyman's eyes were wide as saucers, and his voice was hoarse. "What sort of men could build that?"

"Seeing it isn't enough," Leroya advised him. "You would do well to brace yourself."

"For what?" Jena had heard Leroya's words, and now she looked at her with an alarmed expression.

"The Titan is about to welcome us," she explained with a sly grin. "Just about… now."

Unfortunately, the Titan was late for its cue. Baalun snickered as Lyman and Jena looked puzzled. When the Titan finally let out its massive roar, Jena cried out in shock. She clung onto Baalun with both hands, as if she might faint.

"Titus," she cried, "where in the seven hells have you taken me?"

"Home," Titus replied.

Jena said little else as they passed beneath the Titan's legs and emerged on the other side. The ship glided to the Purple Harbour, even as those on board looked upon the mighty city.

"Gods," Lyman murmured. "This puts Oldtown itself to shame!"

Leroya began shouting orders as the ship pulled to their usual spot in the Purple Harbour. A gangplank was brought up and secured tightly so that it did not shake, with rope railings on either side.

As usual, an official was waiting for them to disembark. When Titus finally set foot upon solid ground, the well-dressed man gave him a flourishing bow. "Welcome back to Braavos, Lord Titus!"

Titus gave the official a formal nod. "It is a great relief to look upon the city again. If I may introduce my sister, Princess Jena Targaryen?"

The official delivered the same bow to an astonished Jena as she stepped off the gangplank. "The city is honoured by your presence, Princess."

"The honour is mine," Jena managed to reply as she allowed the official to kiss her hand.

As this exchange took place, Titus turned to Baalun. "Send word to the others. We'll give you as much time as we can." His son gave a nod before dashing off towards several barges which were lined up along the harbour.

Titus turned back to the official, who'd just finished welcoming Sadog, Miru, Matthias, and Leroya back to Braavos. "I bring word to the Sealord from King Aegon, the fifth of his name. He will also wish to hear my report."

"I shall inform the Sealord at once," answered the official. "Expect his invitation shortly." He paused to give Jena another small bow. "He will also wish for Princess Jena to visit his palace."

"Will he?" Jena seemed thoroughly flustered by the strangeness of Braavos.

"She'll be delighted," Titus reassured the puzzled official. "But first she will need to see more of the city."

"Speaking of that," Leroya interjected, gesturing to the same barges. Baalun was nowhere in sight, so Titus assumed that he was on one of several which were making their way down the city's canals.

While Titus arranged for a barge to take his family aboard, Leroya arranged for her crew to keep the ship safe and for Lwandle to sell off their cargo. Then, she and Lyman joined the others on the barge, just as it was untethered.

Rather than taking them straight to Titus' estate, the barge's crew embarked on a tour of the city's most memorable sights. Thus it came to pass that Jena and Lyman were shown the Sealord's Palace, the Arsenal, the Canal of Heroes, the Palace of Truth, the Isle of Gods, Ragman's Harbour, and the House of the Red Hands.

"What is this Sealord like?" Jena asked Titus at one point. "What should I expect?"

"You cannot prepare yourself," he assured her cheerfully. "The Braavosi have turned hospitality into an art form. You will eat well, be entertained, and you'll be invited to visit the Sealord's menagerie."

Eventually, the barge took them to the Dondarrion estate. A tear was in Titus' eye as he looked upon his home. There had been too many moments when he feared that he would not return to see it again.

As Titus and his family disembarked, they were greeted by Alexios the steward, as well as Baalun. Judging by the wide grin on his face, Titus surmised that he'd taken care of everything.

Jena was slower than usual getting out of the barge. As Titus followed her, she gave him a long look. "This is where you have been all these years?"

Titus was not sure how she meant it. "It is difficult to put such things into words," he admitted apologetically. "And I should have returned sooner."

"Oh that wouldn't have changed anything," Jena replied, sounding like her old self. "Don't be a fool."

"Come along, Aunt Jena," Miru urged. She held out her arm to link with Jena's and escorted her indoors.

Bellaria, Chatali, Belakka, Lotho, Lozyn, and the grandchildren stood together in the hall, muttering excitedly amongst themselves.

The twins were the first to notice the newcomers' arrival. With a loud squeal, they ran for Titus, who knelt down and held out his arms. "Choyal! Lobelia! How you've grown!"

The others stepped forward, even as Titus stood up and turned the girls to Jena. "This is my sister from Westeros. Your great aunt Jena."

For her part, Jena was staring at the two girls, looking unsure of what to say or do. The girls were also shy, until Choyal stepped forward. Then, with all the clumsiness of one who has only recently practiced the action, Choyal curtsied before Jena.

"Princess," she lisped in her attempt at a respectful tone.

Jena suddenly burst into tears, startling everyone.

"Oh gods," she sobbed. "None of that, you sweet child. Come here." She leaned forward and opened her arms.

Titus brushed away a tear of his own as the twins shyly walked into Jena's arms and returned her embrace. Another went down his cheek as he was fiercely embraced by a tearful Bellaria.

Meanwhile, whether it was due to her emotions or by design, Jena slowly fell to her knees as she clung onto her grandnieces. "You are so beautiful," she told the girls as she stroked their wild black hair and kissed their nut-brown cheeks. "Baelor and I always hoped our third child would be a daughter."

Leroya silently approached to help Jena back to her feet. Nearby, Titus could see Miru and Lozyn standing together, watching the others.

Bellaria was the next to approach Jena as she stood on her feet once again. She was dressed in refined simplicity, as always. No jewelry adorned her body, but her raiment was elaborately dyed so that she wore a mixture of greens, blues, and purples.

"I am very grateful to see you again," Bellaria told her goodsister.

Jena sighed as she accepted Bellaria's kisses upon her cheeks. "It's been far too long."

In contrast to her mother, Belakka was bedecked in finery; gold and silver reflected against her brown skin. She approached Jena as if she herself were a young princess. Jena played along without showing any sign of surprise. Mayhaps she read my letters more thoroughly than I thought.

Chatali and Lotho stood together with their youngest calling out a stream of half-words and gurgling sounds. Jena kissed them all, and doted upon the infant in Chatali's arms. "So this is little Titanus?"

"The very same," Lotho confirmed, pleased that Jena knew his son's name.

"A beautiful baby boy," Jena whispered. With a shaking hand, she patted Chatali's forearm. "Forgive me, but it has just been… so long since I had any hope for a better future." She wept afresh as she leaned forward and kissed Titanus' little forehead.

Titus noticed Miru turn to one of the servants and give them something small. Titus could not hear what she told them either, but the servants seemed perplexed. As they went to the fireplace, Titus approached Miru.

"What was that about?" he asked her.

"A gift," she answered softly, "from a son you thought was lost forever."

Titus frowned, even as he watched the servants go to the empty fireplace and set two small objects upon its shelf. They looked to be two dragon carvings, nearly identical to each other.

His gaze did not linger on them for long, for he was soon swept up in the reunion playing out all around him. After that, they sat down to a large dinner, where Titus regaled his relatives with his account of what had happened. He only told his story in parts, due to the presence of his grandchildren. And besides, the bitterest parts could wait for later.

But all throughout those events, and for several days afterwards, Miru's words remained with him, as did his memories of Cayn. He did not doubt that Cayn would spend the rest of life convinced that he'd done the right thing, no matter how vile his actions had been. Now he was going to spend the rest of his life at the Wall.

After he and Bellaria had made love in their chambers, they'd gone out to the balcony amid the warm evening air. There, Titus confided in her everything else that had occurred, along with his thoughts on Cayn.

"There was nothing to be done, then," Bellaria observed. "Cayn's only consolation is that he is not quite as monstrous as those whom he served." She spoke bitterly, for she had been deeply affected by Titus' full account of what had transpired.

"True," Titus agreed. "All the same, I cannot hate him for his actions against me."

"Then you are a better man than he is," Bellaria observed.

"Nay," Titus replied. "Not better than Cayn. But mayhaps I am a better man than I would credit myself."

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It felt like a full year had passed since Titus was last in the Blue Lantern playhouse.

His family sat amongst him: Jena and Bellaria were on either side of him. Leroya sat directly in front of him between Miru and Baalun. Chatali and Lotho sat beside Bellaria, and Belakka sat beside Jena. Baalun sat with Sadog and Lozyn sat with Miru.

Princess Kiera had not yet arrived, but a letter from Westeros had affirmed that she'd set sail. In preparation, the Sealord had already chosen a residence for her and her household, standing not to far from his palace.

Meanwhile, Leroya had already made it clear that she would take the Black Bolt south, along with Baalun, Lyman, and the rest of her crew. She had burned Xalonyay's body on a pyre, and now she was determined to bring her lover's ashes back to Ebonhead. She was also of a mind to find new healing, as well as Aenys Blackfyre's orphaned children in Tyrosh. Before her voyage, however, she and the others had remained in Braavos to watch this new play.

The curtains pulled back to reveal a feast underway on stage. Tables of food were arranged, and several men were sitting about, pretending to gorge themselves on what Titus realised were painted props posing as genuine victuals.

Other men arrived, asking for a man called Timon of Pentos. They had wares and artwork to sell him, hearing that he was rich and fond of patronising craftsmen. Others laughed and affirmed that Timon would gladly pay them for what they have to offer.

Suddenly, trumpets blared backstage, and Matthias appeared. He was gaily dressed, with his fashion being some midway point between Pentoshi and Westerosi. Behind him came several others, but Titus was focused on his son.

As Timon, Matthias was the spirit of ebullience and generosity. He cheerfully acquiesced to any request for gold that was offered, hailing everyone as his close friend. His words were hailed by the others, but Titus sensed that they were being highly disingenuous.

Several members of the audience laughed at Matthias' presence, and laughed harder as he was clearly being played for a fool by these false friends. Titus could sense how angry his family were by this mockery, but Matthias had already asked them not to make a scene, so they kept their peace.

"What was he thinking?" Bellaria whispered sadly as the first act went on. "It seems as if he is welcoming their ridicule."

"Aye," Titus answered. "Still, I sense there might be some method in his madness."

"That's the wrong play, Father," Miru quipped, glancing back at him with a smile on her face. Leroya nudged Miru playfully, even as she turned back to face the stage.

The play went on in a similar fashion, with Matthias' character being exploited for his carelessly generous nature, all while men mocked him behind his back. Then, when Timon of Pentos was revealed to be bankrupt, the sycophants disappeared, refusing to aid him.

Meanwhile, a sellsword captain called Alcibiades was embroiled in a legal case where one of his lieutenants slew a man in anger. Due to those circumstances, Alcibiades attempted to argue that a hot-blooded crime of passion did not deserve to be punished as harshly as a cold-blooded murder. When the Pentoshi magisters had the lieutenant sold into slavery and Alcibiades banished, the sellsword swore vengeance against the city.

For Titus, things truly took a turn at the halfway point, just before the intermission. As Timon, Matthias held a second feast for those who had turned their backs on him. Instead of food, however, he threw rocks at them and splashed beakers of tepid water in his wrath. Finally, he stood alone on the stage, before the closed gates of Pentos, bereft of all his false friends and his possessions. Wrothfully did he curse the city and all the inhabitants within. Such was the power of his feigned fury and grief that the laughter, which had continued ever since his first appearance, dissipated completely.

I see it now, Titus thought. By allowing the audience to laugh at his plight, he had made them complicit in his ruin. Now, as he wept and raged, the audience realised that he was cursing them as much as the characters in the play.

The rest of the play went on in this vein. Timon of Pentos became a recluse, hiding from all as he sustained himself on tubers, roots, and water. When he found a hidden cache of gold coins, and word of it reached his former associates, they sought him out. Timon furiously drove these sycophants away, even as he gave a great deal of gold to Alcibiades, who vowed to raise an army in Braavos and lead it against Pentos to avenge his enslaved lieutenant.

In the end, Alcibiades proved triumphant, and the play concluded with him reading out Timon's epitaph to the defeated Pentoshi, leaving them to rue their treatment of him.

Titus was greatly moved by the play, and marvelled at Matthias' choice in putting it on. It had given him a chance to admonish his audience while leaving them enthralled by his layered performance. Indeed, when it came time for him to bow, the entire playhouse erupted into appreciative applause.

None clapped louder than the Dondarrions. As one, Titus and his family arose and hailed their kinsman, who acknowledged them with a broad smile and a second bow. They continued to applaud even after Matthias and his fellow actors withdrew, and the curtains closed for the final time.

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End of "The Unlikely King" and the Titus Tetralogy

Thank you all for your interest in this story!