Daeron
With sore hands, Daeron continued his training session against Rhakaro, Kovarro, Barristan, and Jorah.
In his mind, however, he was contemplating another matter entirely which is why he is sore.
Arianne plagued his mind, not from an attraction, no, no woman can truly have him in such a way. Not after Missandei and Dany. It is from annoyance, from her persistence to sweet talk him into her bed which sends him the wrong signals.
Just the other night, after a lengthy period of space, she asked him to dine with her. Out of good manners, he accepted and rendezvoused with the Princess in her chambers...
Three Nights Ago
She was dressed splendidly, every inch of her clothing made her desirable, to more lustful men.
"Thank you for joining me, your grace." She said to him, he bowed in respect and she led him to a table that had juicy fruit, salted roasted meat, and cod caught from the nearby river.
It was all very appetizing, truly.
Since agreeing to marry her, he decided to give this a chance, for peace. He smiled and ate dinner with her, talked about things they like, people they knew and the places they have seen. It was all very grandiose, all, kind and sweet.
Nearing the end of the night, he assumed it was time for him to return to his chambers and rest.
"This was a pleasant evening, Princess. I hope to have more, just like this one." She smiled coyly at him, it made him a little uncomfortable, reminding him of Doreah.
"Oh, my King. I haven't given you a farewell." She got up from her seat and approached him, he backed up and she would follow step by step.
She backed him against a wall and pressed him, he could feel breast and breath as she brought her head closer to his own. It was a light kiss, a peck, even, but it soon turned passionate and wild. Barristan wouldn't approve, mainly because he was getting into it, the Princess's scent and perfume were intoxicating and it drew him.
She almost had his torso completely bare before he gathered enough strength to push her back, this was wrong and he knew it.
"I can't, Princess. It would dishonor you." He told her and she flustered in anger, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Why? Because if its a maid you wish to have, you will find I am not!" She said to him, heatedly and both stopped and stared at one another for a moment, the Princess looking at him in surprise and he was also in shock over what was just said.
He left a moment after, to find something to hit and found it the next day with training, then the next day after, and the one after that and avoided the Princess and refused to see her. Barristan and Jorah both have orders to turn her away if she so much as comes to his chambers.
The Present
That she is no maid makes him look like a fool, a pathetic fool being strung along by yet another old and prideful man. He won't forget this, he will never forget it.
He is not a pompous man, he knows what Missandei was forced to do for Kraznys and still fell for her. He might have even gotten over the fact Arianne isn't a maid if Doran was upfront with this knowledge, but now that he had to find out through a heated moment, he can't let this slide.
"You are Targaryen, come at us harder!" Jorah shouted to him, taking him out of his thoughts about Arianne and Doran Martell.
He heeded Jorah's advice and came at the five with the intent to take them down, the first target was Kovarro who swung his Arakh wildly and though it was hard o evade, he did so and tripped his friend into the dirt and kicked away his weapon.
Rhakaro, using his whip, slapped his sword out of his hand and sweep up as he'd done to Kovarro, he chuckled and hopped over and stomped on the end of the whip. Rolling as Barristan and Jorah struck at his rear, he got closer and hit Rhakaro in the stomach, apologizing before tipping his second friend on his back too.
He walked over and picked up Kovarro's Arakh and his sword too, staring intently at his two Kingsguard.
"I don't expect to beat you two, but let's do this." He spoke with excitement and both of his knights smiled and came at him.
Barristan, a man skilled with the blade was no slouch, even for his age. Jorah, a veteran of not one but two wars was a battle-tested knight. Both men were good at their trade, the trade of blood and glory.
Whereas he was still a whelp, he couldn't possibly be as they are right now. Dany would chastise me, saying that I shouldn't put myself down. Missandei would tell me to keep fighting, tooth and nail both. These two women gave him a strength and still aids him, even in death. Their memories and fondness kept him strong, even if others believe it makes him weak.
He winced when Jorah hit him with the flat surface of his sword, it took him out of his thoughts on ghosts and back to the present.
"Keep your mind open, watch your enemies movements or they will exploit you," Barristan said and came at him with six swings, four of them he barely blocked but two he caught before they struck half-way.
It was a clash of two on one, if he didn't have another weapon in his other hand, this would have been a lot more difficult. Now, now it's bearable, he can fight back.
Eventually, however, he was exhausted and disarmed after several minutes. He clearly isn't ready to duel-wield blades at this moment, but it was a good match.
"You are getting better, your Grace." Barristan praised him, he nodded sheepishly.
"I am glad to have individuals such as you and Ser Jorah to teach me." He said to them both, yet he noticed the tense look both men gave one another. It's probably nothing. He allowed a smile to grace his lips, especially since his heated argument with the Princess.
"You are lucky to have them, that was sloppy fighting, your Grace."
He, Jorah, and Ser Barristan turned around and saw Lady Obara and her sister, Lady Nymeria approaching, geared up for battle from the looks of it.
"I fought Battles in Slaver's Bay to Volantis, if I made it out alive there, I must be skilled with something." He defended himself, smirking at the two but they smirked back at him.
"Indeed, in Luck," Nymeria said snarkily and Obara chuckled, holding her spear.
He took a deep breath to rid himself of the flustered expression and cleared his throat, eyeing down the two eldest daughters of Prince Oberyn.
"Perhaps we will have to see, tomorrow... At dawn?" He offered the challenge, "Surely you women of such age aren't afraid of a Little Boy?" He jested and Obara narrowed her eyes at him, taking the bait. Lady Nymeria scoffed with a slight smile across her lips.
"Fine, but don't set your knights on us once we put you in the dirt," Obara said, accepting the challenge, and tomorrow he will test the Viper's teeth.
Later that evening, he got a creeping feeling crawling up his spine, it was as if something was going to happen and the last time he got a feeling like this, he was betrayed by Xaro.
Cersei
Cersei Lannister looked at herself in the mirror of her chambers, eyeing the way her hair has grown back in recent weeks.
More than that, she was in deep thought concerning her brother's campaign in the Riverlands. The remnants of the Northern Cause flocking behind Tully Rebels, they will be dealt with soon enough but the Blackfish isn't giving her sleepless nights.
Daeron Targaryen is in Westeros. The comment brings a certain fear in her that she has never felt, one of fire and blood.
Qyburn used some of Varys spies and found out the Little Dragon is in Dorne, with ten-thousand of the Golden Company, Elephants, nine-thousand Unsullied Slaves, two-thousand sellswords of the Stormcrows and Second Sons, even bolstered by conscripts from the Red God's temple. Now, he may well have the military might of Dorne, and then there are his three dragons.
This outsider even has a strong fleet, I don't know what to do. She is fearful for the future, fearful for her son and King, the ONLY King Westeros needs, not this Wyrm.
Her father said that he had a plan, that he dealt with the Mad King's son as he had dealt with the Young Wolf. It didn't work, clearly, one had one wolf and a few thousand men and one had a strong force, a strong name, and three dragons defending him.
Then there is her daughter, Myrcella is trapped between Vipers and Dragons, possibly upset and crying for help. She has to find a way to get her back, then defeat Daeron Targaryen and his allies.
The boy cannot be defeated how they defeated House Stark, the way that House Targaryen fell the last time was from the inside...
"That's it, a wall is strong, but brittle if those defending it are at one another's throats." She said with a smile and walked over to her desk to find paper and ink.
She remembered during one of the Small Council meetings, that her father had Varys send a pardon to one of his spies, an exiled Knight thrown from his lands by Eddard for selling to a slaver, it was this man who aided in finding out Daeron's bitch sister was pregnant, now the traitor will aid the realm in bringing an end to a mad litter of dragons.
"Ser Jorah of the House Mormont... "
An hour later she sent the raven on its way to Dorne, to deliver the Kings message to his most 'loyal' servant.
(A Week Later) Tyrion
"Your turn, Sellsword?" His mixed black and green eyes twinkled in delight, Daario sighed in exhaustion and moved his last and final piece in a futile battle.
He took his King with ease, causing the man to be defeated yet again.
"You filthy cheat, you. Let's play again." Daario cursed and began setting the table again.
"Fine. Let us make a wager then, the loser buys the other the most expensive wine." He offered and the Sellsword sniggered.
"Still thinking about that wine you want to make? A gamble, there are so many brands out there." Yes, that is true, but his gambles tend to land on the right spot.
The Imps Delight, the name of his very own wine. First, however, he needs to aid the King in taking the Seven Kingdoms from his nephew, but really his sister and uncle. Daeron has to go through them, and thousands of their soldiers.
Three United Kingdoms stand against them, the Reach, Crownlands, and the Westerlands. The Stormlands have all but succeeded from the Iron Throne, and is winnable if they think things through. The Riverlands and the North are broken, neither are a fan of House Targaryen and Lannister. The Vale is neutral, might be taken as Aegon's Sister-Wife had done, and the Iron Islands, well, they are as they've always been... A nuisance.
What he can be grateful is that he's won Daeron support, might have even saved his House from extinction, well, he hopes to have.
After that mess with the Triarchy, and the shape that Daeron left Volantis in, he supposed the young man was still grieving over his lost love.
He was unfortunate not to meet Missandei, Commander Grey Worm said she was a gentle soul, Daario said she had a beauty he hadn't seen in many, Barristan told him that she was devoted to the King, just as much as the King was to her.
It reminded him of Tysha, of when Jaime told him in his cell that she wasn't a boughten whore. Tysha loved him, and he loved her as much as he loved life itself. Both women were taken from them by his father. Tywin was always cruel and he doesn't blame Daeron for wanting him dead, he is happy to have taken the mans life for the both of them.
Hearing a shout he walked over to a window which gave a glimpse to the courtyard, he and Daario watched Daeron sparring with Obara and Nymeria.
The King and the Princess have distanced themselves for over a week, never saying anything more than a 'hello' or 'good morning' to one another at breakfast. As for the other two, he's grown a competitive relationship with Ladies Obara and Nymeria since their 'epic' duel.
In the previous spar against his Kingsguard, the King was outmatched, clearly. He struggled against Obara and Nymeria as well, but quickly drew them to a standstill, even besting Nymeria. Over the week after that, they'd spar two on one every day, he'd win one and they would too until today.
"The King is learning." He muttered with a smile, seeing Daeron finally best Obara after an hour, Nymeria was sitting on a bench with her cousin.
"Indeed- " Daario was telling him when the chamber doors opened, he turned and saw Prince Doran, his Maester and Princess Arianne enter the room.
"Prince Doran, a pleasure to see you, what is the matter?" He noticed the grim looks, a gift from his ability to be a good judge of character.
"We are gathering, I will send for the King," Doran said no more before leaving, Arianne lingered a moment but the look of scorn was on her face, and it wasn't a good one.
"What is happening?" He silently asked himself before he and Daario dropped what they were doing and followed Doran.
Jorah
He looked for everyone, they were nowhere to be found and he began to get worried.
It wasn't until he returned to the palace and asked the Steward, he told him that they were all gathered in the throne room.
His breathing became harder, he walked towards the doors and they opened for him by Kovarro and Rhakaro, both ignored his greeting them.
Forcing himself to keep walking, he noticed everyone was near the throne of Dorne, it was where the ruler of the Kingdom sat but right now, it was Daeron.
"Friend! Aye, that's what I called you, did I not?" He asked him loudly, on Daeron's left was Prince Doran and his two children, Lady Ellaria and her children.
Tyrion, Grey Worm, Daario, Harry, and many others stood on Daeron's right. Ser Barristan stood at the foot of the steps, Kovarro and Rhakaro joined him soon after. All around there were guards. Unsullied, Dornish, and Golden Company, over 500 men and all armed and ready to strike.
"Your Grace?" He started, hesitating before continuing, "I do not know what you- " Daeron cut him off and started reading a letter aloud, and with each word, his eyes widened.
"To Ser Jorah of the House Mormont, the Crown wishes to congratulate you on your loyal service. With your aid, we discovered the pregnancy of Princess Daenerys Targaryen. The Small Council and I would like to offer you a full pardon for the crime of slavery, you are hereby allowed to return to Bear Island and resume your duties as Lord of the Realm, signed by King Robert of the House Baratheon. First of my Name. King of the Andals, Rhoynar, and the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm." He was ashamed, his eyes would not meet Daeron's under any circumstance and when he did, only his fury greeted him.
Above all else, he cursed himself for not coming clean on his secret, he is in a bigger pit than he was already in.
Clearing his throat, he took a step toward the throne but Barristan and the other two stopped him.
"... Daeron." He said, and Daeron looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"Do not say my name, don't even think it. You betrayed me, you betrayed Dany." Daeron said, and he tried to intervene once more.
"I never meant... I loved your sister. You are my greatest friend." He tried to remind Daeron that he was still loyal to him, that he would still fight for him.
Daeron scoffed at his attempt, "Love, Is that what you call it? Was it love when you told Robert about my sister being heavy with my nephew." He shook his head no, "And aye, you were my greatest friend, greatest teacher, even. Yet, this? This makes it all too blurry from where I stand, care to clear it up for me, Friend?" The way Daeron said these words, it wasn't going towards anything good.
"I did those things before I met you and Dany, I- " Daeron cut him off, his friend's voice rising with each word spoken.
"That justifies it, right! Was Melaquo even working alone with Tywins dogs? Did you tell them where Missandei was going!?" He shook his head no, denying to have any such involvement with what happened to Missandei.
"Please, let me explain- " He stepped closer to Daeron, Rhakaro stopped him.
"I don't want to hear it!" Daeron roared at him, jumping up from Doran's throne and walking towards him. "Listen closely, Jorah the Andal: You will leave my sight, run back to your masters if you wish, forever how long you will be there before I come with my dragons. If you remain in Westeros after I've taken the Seven Kingdoms, there will be Fire and Blood." Daeron threatened him, he fearfully left not long after and prepared his things for travel.
Before he could leave, however, Daeron grabbed on to his shirt and gripped it.
"If you think I take pleasure in this, I don't. My sister would have turned in her grave if she knew... Now go!"
Daeron
"I apologize that this had to happen, your Grace." He didn't want to hear it right now, not from Doran of all people.
He watched Jorah leave the palace, on his horse.
A part of him wished he had pardoned and forgave Jorah, but he couldn't make the words manifest. He could only think of how angry he was, that the man who became his best friend was sending information to the Lannister's and Robert Baratheon.
Dany died because Jorah told them she was pregnant, even if they weren't entirely responsible but Jorah did set this in motion. Jorah didn't just betray him, didn't just turn traitor... He broke his heart with what he did.
"Your Grace, this war should be made, soon. This momentary peace must be broken for battle." Doran was right of course, but there are a few things that need to be dealt with.
"Agreed, but... " He thought for a moment before continuing, "There are things we need to speak of, and I want to renegotiate this alliance." He glared at Doran.
Doran, despite being in a chair glared right back at him.