Daeron's Ship
Daeron looked at what was in front of him, amazed that this was the first of many Westerosi cities that he'll be eyeing in the next several months.
"Sunspear? It looks magnificent." He murmured, looking to his right he saw the only other person who could have been there, Ser Barristan.
Ser Barristan and Jorah are his greatest friends, he knows that he might have died or was tricked by so many people. Yet even he's noticed the way the two knights have been getting more and more distant from one another, a divide was growing and he didn't like it.
"Indeed, this is where we will obtain our first allies. House Martell has been a staunch ally for your family, and their greatest adversary since Aegon invaded." And was beaten, as he learned from a Dornishman in the Golden Company, Aegon the Conqueror lost his sister-wife, Rhaenys and the dragon, Meraxes.
They arrived a day early, making it just as the dawn rose into the sky. So, Doran and his family must be scurrying for a greeting party.
Hearing rustling on the deck, he turned and saw Daegon waking from his slumber. Walking down at a steady pace and went and caressed the large creatures head, feeling the scales on his fingertips and hearing the loud breaths as he opened his red eyes to look into his violet ones.
He gulped as he remembered what happened three days before, as they were passing an island on the Summer Sea.
It was around midnight when Daegon was acting strange, rustling on the deck and making many of the soldiers and crew a little nauseous. He worried for his dragon and the other's was acting the same way; ravens sent from the two vessels confirmed it.
Daegon kept on leaning his head towards him, gesturing to his back when he lowered his wings for him. The dragon snarled and snapped at anyone else but him, he couldn't understand why, but in the end, he nervous climbed on top of Daegon's back and ordered for everyone to back away, despite the nervous wreck he was being at the moment.
When he was first lifted, he shook with fright. When they were in the air, Vaeleris and Wildfyre joined in. He swore he gripped the horned scale so hard that he might have been glued to it.
He didn't know when, but hours later he began to ease into the rhythm. He relaxed as he felt the wind on his face, how his growing hair flowed in the breeze. He was flying, he was actually being a real dragon and his children were also happy for it as the other two chased one another around him and Daegon.
Eventually, the fun had to come to an end and they returned to the ships. But over the next few days after up until now, he flew all three of them and got used to how they rode, they certainly had their own ways to fly, Daegon flew slow and high, Vaeleris like to go fast, and Wildfyre liked to glide low and have his wings flap on the ocean water.
"Let's give our enemies a show, huh? One that the Lannister's, Baratheon's and Stark's will never forget." He said and Daegon gave a resounding groan in agreement, then raised his head up to roar and was followed by Vaeleris and Wildfyre.
Sunspear
Within Sunspear, the Old Palace, Ser Manfrey Martell, and Princess Arianne are putting together a quickly rounded up party, to greet the King when he arrives at the gates.
She, her father, Ellaria, her brother, Myrcella, and her three cousins who were released from their rooms after the attempted kidnapping of the Princess arrived back in Sunspear three days ago, thinking they had time to prepare for the Father of Dragons and his fleet to arrive in Dorne.
Suffice to say, the man is punctually early rather than on time. A merchant's vessel saw them and her father demanded the castle to be ready, for a secure street to be cleared for the King and his retinue to come when they get off their ships.
She herself, with the aid of her favorite cousin, Tyene prepared to look her best when they meet her intended. She has to look like an unwed maiden, and unused woman to claim the King's eyes.
Obviously, things had to change. Such as putting things aside with Arys, and her father sending Daemon Sand away.
Arys was so saddened by this, her forcing him away. He said that his heart, his sword is her's as well as his duty to the Princess Myrcella, after a moment he began to beg him to keep him. She put a stop there, threatening that if he persists once more in any time, she will inform her father and have his name tarnished for forsaking his Kingsguard vows.
"I can't believe how nervous I am. And he's what? Four years younger than me? And I'm the one with no nerve." She said as Tyene helped her with her hair, Tyene chuckled humorously, she huffed heatedly, "I am glad my distress in meeting my first husband is amusing you." Tyene responded with a scoff.
"I hear from sailors coming from the east that he is a handsome man, with gleaming silver hair and eyes like amethyst," Tyene said and she was reminded of another man with such features, a dangerous man whom she wouldn't be able to resist if not for her being the first choice for Queen.
Gerold Dayne. The Darkstar as many call him. Looks like what she pictured a Targaryen to be, except with one distinct feature, a single black streak on the side of his head. She did almost sleep with him once, but they only got so far before she was called back to the Water Gardens.
"I hope he approves of Dornish heat." She whispered, hinting towards herself and Tyene decided to play the game with her.
"You better be quick, cousin. Or else snakes will sink their fangs in before the heat gets him." She wanted to growl in response, to tell her favorite cousin and the others to sod off and that the dragon is hers.
But, where is the fun in that?
"Alright, cousin. Game on." She accepted the challenge. This was going to be a fun few days.
Daeron
The Dornish are a strange people, like a mixture of both Westerosi and Essosi cultures, Rhoynish to be correct but strange all the same.
It isn't terrible, not really. He is actually enjoying the sights as it reminds him of when he, Viserys, and Dany would travel the Free Cities, or at least when they still had some comfort and coin. What was sad is that those were the final four years before Viserys became the cruel man they knew, right after giving away their mother's crown.
"They look at us strangely, especially me." He muttered and Jorah scoffed humorously, "Is something funny, Ser? Or am I the target of more naive teasing." He inquired and Jorah smiled lightly and explained it to him.
"It's been almost twenty years since a Targaryen was seen in Westeros, let alone the banner of your House. They are simply curious as to what this means for their homeland, whether it bodes ill or good." Jorah explained and it seemed a little clearer for him, now.
These people were afraid. Afraid of the sons, fathers, and brother's that will be putting their lives forward in the coming months. Well, he'll swear this, he will try to save as many comrades as he can, to ensure these fighting men will return to their families with the look of glory in their eyes, he swears this.
"If they are afraid, let's give them a reason to not be." He said and got down from his horse.
He spent the latter of an hour talking to so many people, the guards, bakers, and merchants, gave some gold to the homeless and offered them food from his own provisions. Nearing the end and before he continued his journey to the Old Palace, he had changed a great many of the fearful looks into smiles and praise. Jorah, Barristan, Daario, and even Tyrion all had wide smirks, Jon Connington even commented that he knows how to reach the hearts of the people, like his late older brother.
He doesn't know how to think about that, of course from what Barristan told him, his brother was as honorable and just as any Prince would be. Yet, then why did he start a war that would turn five of the Seven Kingdoms against his family? Why would an honorable and just Prince leave his wife for another woman? Yes, maybe he was kind, kingly even, but the fact remains that Rhaegar left his mistakes for him to fix. Before that was Viserys, then Daenerys before him.
Rhaegar Targaryen isn't the man he wants to be, he wants to be his own person, his own King, to be remembered far better than the Mad King, or his Careless Heir, or the Obsessed Viserys.
"My King, are you well?" Daario asked, seeing him dazed as he stared into his horse's white coat.
"I'm fine. Let's get to the Old Palace, I am weary of sea travel." He said lowly, hopping onto his horse and pushing onward.
Arianne
A guard rode into the castle moments ago, warning them of the King's arrival.
Her father ordered for everyone to stan in attendance, to welcome their sovereign within the Old Palace. She stood on her father's right, Trystane and Princess Myrcella were on the left, Areo Hotah stood behind Doran along with Maester Myles, and Uncle Manfrey. Her eldest cousins stood by her right, then Ellaria and her four children on her right.
Then there is her brother's sworn sword, Ser Gascoyne of the Greenblood, who stood behind Trystane and on the left, behind Princess Myrcella is Ser Arys. He is standing on the side of her future good-sister's companions, Rosamund Lannister and Septa Eglantine.
The poor girl is all but shaking with fright, praying to the Seven for Daeron to spare her life. She had to comfort the child, telling her that the man isn't his father, she hopes he isn't, anyway. Her words still didn't seem to have an impact, but at least the tears Myrcella had shed has ceased for the moment.
A darker thought suddenly comes to mind, what if- What if this man is like his father, what if-
Taken from her worries, she heard the gates being raised and in rode thirty men, waving the banners of the Golden Company, and House Targaryen.
Leading the convoy is her future husband, and she was left speechless.
He was very handsome. Like the stories told about House Targaryen's men, and women, an almost mythical beauty. He was tall, not too thin, his hair was a nice shade of silver and went to his shoulder's, it was difficult but the most perfect piece of him was his eyes, a bright lilac, and an even brighter smile on his lips. She was in a state of shock, really, she hadn't expected him to be this beautiful.
With him were two men, a man with white armor, and another with a green bear on his chest, Mormont and Kingsguard, She thought and eyed the others behind them. Two Dothraki, a young warrior in black, Unsullied, a mercenary with blue hair, and three men wearing Golden Company gear.
King Daeron hopped off his horse, hading the reins to a stableboy, the others followed in doing so. The silver-haired man then turned to her father and approached, a fast-paced force in his step. Daeron stopped and stared at her father, a man who can't do the same because of his gout.
"Prince Doran Nymeros Martell. Lord of Sunspear. And Prince of Dorne. I thank you for welcoming me and my people to your door." His voice was like fine silk but was also sharp and forward. Her father, ever stoic, smiled back at the Young Dragon reborn and held out his hand to which the King took without hesitation.
"I welcome you into my home, my Kingdom in the hope for a prosperous future. Now may I introduce to you, my daughter and son." She and Trystane stepped forward, to introduce themselves to their new allies.
Daeron
First to approach him, was the son. He was olive-skinned with straight black hair. On his left side was a small sword he remembered was used by the Water Dancers in Braavos.
"My King. I am Trystane, of the House Martell." He shook the man's hand and looked left and saw a golden-haired girl, a lion pendant around her neck.
A Lannister, He thought with distaste in his words. He knew of the betrothal between House Lannister and Martell from Varys, but he never expected to have to meet the girl himself. He shook away the thought's right now, it wouldn't be right to cause a scene here at the moment.
She looked like a Lannister, the Baratheon Princess has golden curls, emerald eyes, and full lips. Dressed in a green Myrish gown with a Lioness stitched into it.
"Daeron, of the House Targaryen. It is my hope that we become fast and good friends." He stated and got a look of gratefulness and acceptance from Trystane. He turned right to look at the eldest and was surprised at the exotic beauty, that she reminded him of Missandei.
"Greetings, your grace. My name is Princess Arianne Martell." She said, he noticed she had a husky voice, but it was a welcome voice.
Arianne, from a glance, noticed she was short, despite her being older than himself. Olive-skinned like her brother, full lips that were shaped into a smile, her hair was also thick and black, falling in ringlets down to the middle of her back. Her dark, large eyes made him assume a man could get lost in them if he wasn't careful enough. Like her family, she was dressed in flowing silks and jeweled ornaments, necklaces, and rings.
"Hello, Princess, it is a pleasure to meet you."
And so he was introduced to the rest of the Martell Household. The Red Vipers daughters being the first, and he'll be honest, the eldest even scares him.
Obara Sand looks the warrior, she wore no dresses like her two other sisters. Obara is a big-boned woman near to thirty, long-legged, with close-set eyes and with rat-brown hair. Instead of a gown, she wore men's breeches, a calf-length linen tunic, and a belt of copper suns.
Nymeria Sand, the second eldest of the four is slim and slender as a willow, with straight black hair worn in a long braid. She has dark eyes, which are large and lustrous. Her full lips are wine red and curve in a silken smile, and she has high cheekbones. She's dressed gracefully in a shimmering lilac robe with a silk cape of cream and copper.
Tyene was rather different than the others, didn't look Dornish at all. Tyene is fair, with golden hair and deep blue eyes. Dimples bloom in her cheeks, and when she introduced herself, he noticed she has a gentle, sweet voice. Tyene is dressed in a cream and green gown with long lace sleeves.
Their mother figure and the paramour of Oberyn Martell wasn't a beauty, but was eye-catching and attractive, with an exotic and sensuous flair. Her hair was long and black and held a gentle and welcoming smile when she introduced her and her four children by the late Red Viper of Dorne.
The eldest was Elia Sand, named after his late good-sister. Elia wore her hair in a black braid, she quickly asked if she could ride one of his dragons to which her mother told her to behave, it caused a fit of laughter with the entire courtyard.
The other three was fitting with their own questions. About how they fly, or if they breath hot fire or to man-made weapons affect them. He was close to answering the last before Doran called for a halt.
"Now, now. That's quite enough, girls. My King, may we get you and your advisers settled in?" He took the chance and said yes.
"That would be excellent, Prince Doran."
Later on, a feast was prepared as his army began getting the camps set up, it will be quite a few days before they march and he would have them all relaxed and ready before they go to war.
He was sitting up by the dais with the Martell family, sitting on Doran's right. Trystane and Myrcella were on the left, Myrcella was currently catching up with Tyrion, her uncle who cried tears upon seeing her when they arrived. The Princess Arianne was on the right of him, with her cousin, Tyene Sand.
Daario was making himself comfortable, talking with Lady Nymeria and Obara. Tyene was conversing with her cousin. Elia Sand and her sisters were pestering Jorah on his adventures and asking questions about the Dragons who have taken a nice spot at the center of the encampment.
Looking to the far left, he saw Ser Barristan talking to another, the younger man was wearing similar white armor as Ser Barristan. This meant that the knight was a member of Robert's Kingsguard.
"So, my Daeron. I did not see Lord Varys with you." Doran caught on and he grimaced, then nodded.
"Yes. He departed shortly after we landed, said he had business to finish up north." Doran nodded, grabbing his cup and drinking from it.
He will say this, the man sure is patient. Over the last few hours, it seemed like every sentence they've exchanged were almost like a game. A game the man seems to win and makes him feel little despite the older being ill but that didn't seem to daunt Doran, no, it looks like it empowered him more than weaken him.
"The Spider still has his webs to spin. I know the feeling." Doran responded, then turned to him again, this time he looked more serious, "King Daeron? The last one that was in Dorne lost sixty-thousand men. Do you know why that is?" He pondered the question, thinking of a dozen responses before giving one.
"I would say arrogance, really. It was in the years after the Dance, and my family grew arrogant about the power of fire." He started and then added to the response, "When the Conqueror invaded Westeros, he laid claim to all Seven Kingdoms. He took the Riverlands, Westerlands, Vale, The Reach, The North, and the Stormlands. He aimed for Dorne and was beaten back, Dorne would do so twice more before agreeing to join through marriage." Once he uttered the words, he caught on to what was being played right now.
"You know your history. The men in your life taught you much. Yes, arrogance caused much strife, but it's that Daeron didn't think of other possibilities, other ways to get what he wanted. What will you think up to get what you want?" Doran asked him, and the old him would have been upset or angry at being played like this.
But after Daenerys and Missandei. He stopped looking for love, he won't be the lovesick fool he was, because that got the ones he cared about most killed. He swore that the next time he took a woman, it would be for his own advantages in retaking the Seven Kingdoms from the Baratheon's and Lannister's.
"You want me to marry your daughter." It wasn't a question. He looked right and saw Tyene point at him for Arianne, the Princess turned and offered him a shy smile.
"Yes. I do." A moment of silence, "If you agree to marry Arianne, to tie Dorne to House Targaryen once more. I will lend you 40,000 Dornish Spears for your campaign, with my veteran warriors to command them for you in the field of battle, all for the price of two heads." A marriage, and the promise of two lives.
"Which two lives are you asking for?" He inquired and though his face was calm, Doran's eyes held within much anger.
"Amory Lorch and Gregor Clegane."
The men who murdered his niece and nephew, though he didn't know them, they were still his kin. He nodded in agreement and turned back toward the feast.
"Done."
Arianne
Hours passed and everyone was retiring for the night, not her, though.
She walked the halls of her many homes and down to the King's temporary chambers. A midnight visit would have been immoral, in another Kingdom but this was Dorne, and the Dornish have always been more tolerant of things such as this.
That, and he is to be her husband, so shouldn't they get used to one another's company? She smiled as she made her way past the last corner and saw Ser Barristan and one of the Dothraki standing guard.
"Princess Arianne, It's a bit late to be wandering the halls at this hour?" Barristan the Bold asked her, and his companion, Rakharo was it? She smiled sweetly and folded her hands together.
"I mean to converse with the King, I am Dorne's next ruler and would like to be friends with his Grace." She responded and Barristan was suspicious, probably was going to deny her entry until the door opened, and she was face to face with Daeron, King of Westeros and Father of Dragons.
He wasn't fully dressed, a loose white shirt, a pair of pants and didn't even have his sword belt off. His hair looked wet, meaning he had just got done taking a bath.
"Princess Arianne, Isn't it a bit late for a visit? Did Prince Doran need something?" He asked her and she shook her head, holding her smile as she spoke.
"No. Your Grace, I mean to speak to you, we are to be allies, correct? Shouldn't we get to know one another?" She asked and the younger man seemed hesitant, yet she held fast and kept her eyes on him.
"... Of course, please come in. I do have something to discuss as well." She walked past Daeron's Kingsguard, and into his room where she got a look at his armor. It looked like it was freshly forged, never once used in battle. Hearing the door click shut, she turned back to Daeron with a sly smile across her lips.
Before she could utter a word, he started for her.
"I assume you know we are to be engaged, Doran possibly told you before midnight." He pointed out and she was actually stunned for a moment, but she wouldn't let it daunt her, taking a deep breath and a step forward, she responded to him.
"Yes. Do I displease you? I know I am quite older, twenty and five, I kept count because my father never worked to get me married, at least not anyone the same age as I, more or less those old enough to be my father and grandfather." She asked and explained, though the age difference, is quite different.
"Nonsense. A month ago I turned eighteen, celebrated with my people on my ship. Age isn't a required choice for me." She still got the sense that he didn't want her and that both infuriated her and made him more desirable, this will prove a difficult task to acquire him. "I am sorry if I seem distant, Princess." He added and she nodded.
"You certainly, hold fast to a Kingly stereotype." She pointed out from all the stories, Daeron chuckled at the comment, a good sign. "If I may, why are you so distant? Towards me? Did another woman break your heart?" His smile fell at that and she feared she had ruined everything, "Forget I asked, it isn't my place- " She stopped when his face expressed sorrow, a terrible sorrow and that made him seem like the tragic Kings from some of the stories.
"It. It is fine, Princess." He started, stopping for a long moment and looked to be shrinking, in an emotional way, "Let just say, that my relations with women have often ended in tragedy, that's all I will speak of it if you don't mind?" He asked her and she was left confused.
Whatever it is that happened to him on his journey to coming here, it must have been painful, and that made her questions seem even more inappropriate than they already were. She suddenly felt like the old girl she was as a child, getting caught for stealing food from the kitchens after midnight.
"It is late. I should be going." He didn't notice her, too lost in his own world at the moment to say farewell.
Leaving, she's learned a bit about her King. He put up the face of strength, a strong and proud man, yet it is fleeting at the mention of his former lovers. It reminds her of when her brother, Quentyn died and her mother followed soon after, and her father never truly recovered from it. It had almost broken the Prince when news came of her aunt and cousins, and uncle Lewyn's deaths at the Trident and King's Landing.
She'll have to work hard to stop her betrothed from breaking, she'll make sure she stays with him and doesn't leave him. He is vulnerable right now, will be whenever he is reminded of dead loves. She won't bring it up, not in his presence, anyway.
"Bed him, already?" She turned and smirked at Tyene, leaning against one of the many walls, "Seeing that you are to be Queen and all, I assume it's only right." Her cousin added, with a tone of disappointment in her voice.
"No. No, I didn't. But I do know a bit about him, now." She let on, getting Tyene interested, "Let's leave him be for a bit, no moves until then." She added and Tyene frowned with a pout.
"That's fine, anyway. I came to say goodbye." Now she was confused, why is she saying this. "This High Sparrow. Uncle Doran wants someone to watch him, to corrupt him and make him allies to us." Tyene finished and hugged her. She embraced her cousin back, worry filling her.
"You be careful, now. From what we have heard, this man is as pious as those eunuchs in Essos." She warned and Tyene gave her a sweet smile.
"Who am I? No one will suspect me, I am a sweet and unbesmirched young girl." She laughed as Tyene began walking away, and she waited until her cousin was out of sight before leaving for her own room.
After tonight, a good rest is needed.