( Nymeria POV )
"This is great fun!" Nymeria laughed while Quentyn could hardly contain both his annoyance and relief.
"If I understand you correctly, Ser Davos." Quentyn sighed, brushing aside her remark. "You wish to meet King Aegon, for what purpose?"
"To pledge our swords to him," the bearded man replied simply. "We have long decided that bending the knee to a Targaryen king in exchange for his mercy is the best thing we could do."
Quentyn frowned at that, licking the bottom side of his lips.
"I see…" he finally let out, "and you think that we know where to find him?"
"Aye."
"Well, you are not wrong." Quentyn nodded in turn. "But how can we be sure that you mean well, Ser?"
"On my honor," the child-Queen spoke, with the confidence of a grown man, "we mean no harm to you or yours, Prince Quentyn."
Nymeria liked the little one. She had spirit, and more balls than many men. Although she did not have a weapon in hand, her wits were as sharp as any blade.
Quentyn seemed to have some affection for her, letting a small smile slip on his lips, before nodding.
"Very well, my lady, on your honor. I hope you take after your father in that regard."
This made some people wince, but neither Shireen Baratheon nor Davos Seaworth took offense, it seemed.
"If we are not friends, we are at least allies, I can consider that," Quentyn said, after a few moments thinking, "we have the same goal, to see King Aegon sit the throne. However, you must understand that Queen Daenerys is just as important to us."
"We see no reason not to agree." Ser Davos nodded.
"Then, we can have an agreement, we will lead you to King Aegon. Our fleet sets sail on the morrow, provided the winds are fair," Quentyn replied.
"For where?" Monford Velaryon, the silver-haired man, asked.
"Volantis," Nym let out, not leaving anyone to answer that.
"Daenerys Targaryen is converging on the city and it is there that King Aegon will meet us, as agreed upon." Quentyn nodded, confirming her answer.
"As allies." Ser Davos extended his arm, which Quentyn took, clasping it.
However, Quentyn did reach to whisper in the man's ear, which only she could hear,"don't get in my way, Onion Knight, or I'll see that you are scattered to the seven winds."
The old man made a face, but whispered something else in return,"we both want what is right, do we not? You have nothing to fear from me."
Quentyn nodded and the two of them unlocked their arms, taking back their respective seats.
"We found nothing about this girl you found at the dragonpit?" Quentyn asked in turn.
"Nothing, unfortunately, my prince." Ser Ryon shook his head. "No one knew her in the city, and she had nothing allowing us to identify her or her motives."
"She couldn't have done this alone." Lord Velaryon frowned. "Especially someone so young. There must be accomplices."
"I agree." Quentyn nodded. "Ser Ryon, make sure that we do not let down our guard during these last days in this death trap of a city."
"I will, my prince." Ser Ryon nodded.
With everyone filtering out of the room, from their interesting guests to the various Dornishmen, Quentyn went to lay a hand on Cletus Yronwood's shoulder.
"Good job out there." Quentyn smiled at him.
"Thank you," the Yronwood boy replied simply, "but I only did my duty."
"It doesn't matter why you did, it only matters that you did." Quentyn winked before heading towards the balcony, leaving the Yronwood boy to sulk for a bit.
Nymeria joined him outside, on a small balcony overlooking the city of Lys.
"It's a shame, I had hoped to at least visit a little of the city." Quentyn sighed.
"Visit Lys, you?" she laughed, looking in his brown-golden eyes.
"I meant, the mansions, the waterfront…" he blushed. "Although if you wanted to, I wouldn't mind…"
"Why would I want that?" Nym teased him whilst smelling the perfumed air of his hair, a smell of lavender from the Torentine valley. "I have you, I don't need more than that."
Quentyn smiled at her, his right eye twitching under the weight of his still visible scar. Both of them remained silent, looking at the city, before heading back to their rooms, a floor above.
Nymeria felt herself collapse on the bed, Quentyn following suit. It had been a long day, rich in emotions and discoveries, although not all of the mystery had been shed.
And then, there was Volantis. She just couldn't take her mind away from it. Excitement filled her, but also a deep fear.
Quentyn sensed that. He brought his hand towards her heart, bringing her head towards his.
"What's wrong?" he asked, worried, "you don't look well."
"I'm scared, Quent." Nymeria answered honestly. "About Volantis."
"Is it about…"
Nymeria nodded.
"Mother…" she let out, almost painfully. "I…hardly knew her. I've been to Volantis only two or three times, the last time almost ten years ago. I wonder what she thinks of me, and what will happen if Daenerys Targaryen takes that city. There have been rumors that…"
She preferred not to dwell on it, a lone tear going down her cheek.
"Shhh…" Quentyn wiped her tears, bringing her in his arms. "I won't let anything happen to your mother, even if it means facing down Queen Daenerys and her dragons."
"I…she's from the Old Blood, bastards are not well received…well not those born of the women of the Old Blood anyways," Nymeria confessed. "And besides, I was not born with silver hair. By all accounts, my mother should have refused to even acknowledge my existence, but…"
Nymeria took a deep breath.
"She's always been kind to me, even if her family was less so. They are one of the most important families of Volantis, and having a bastard even if it was with a prince of Dorne, was almost degrading for them.
They did not acknowledge me, except for my mother. But even then, her family forbade her from seeing me more often. I know she would have loved to escape Volantis if she could. She doesn't deserve whatever fate the Dragon Queen has reserved for the slavers of Volantis."
"I know," Quentyn kissed her lips, tenderly, "I made a vow to you, remember? I said I would never let you down, and that my family was yours. Your mother means as much to you as she does to me. I will not let her burn, do you understand me, Nym?"
Nymeria's tears were rolling now, but she just nodded, wiping them off of her face.
"I'll kill all the Queen's Unsullied if I have to get to her." Nymeria clenched her fists slightly.
"And I'll be right beside you when you do," Quentyn whispered.
Nymeria turned to him, her eyes beaming with hope, as she clasped his face between her hands, bringing his lips to hers.
"I won't abandon you; I swear," she said, breaking the kiss.
"And I promise I will never make you choose between ambition and family," Quentyn replied. "I love you more than life itself, Nym, I will not let you go."
Nymeria showed a broad smile at those words, and kissed him fiercely, hugging him tight as if he was in danger of escaping her grasp. Finally, she let out a few words before losing herself with him.
"Neither will I."
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