(This chapter is not in chronological order).
Kings Landing 300 AC.
Varys.
Working in the shadows for years he had known his life was always at risk, he had been careful, considered in his actions, and even serving a king who got excited by burning people had managed to come out the other side unscathed. He had thought he came closest to losing his head when Rhaegar took the throne, there was no love lost between him and the prince, and yet for whatever reason he had kept his head and his position.
Now as he looked at the shadows move and as he felt the air in the room chill, he felt true fear. He had stupidly thought that Daemon would try and beat it out of him, try to torture him but prove to be inept at it. Had he fallen into Rhaella's or Bonifer's hands his worry would have come sooner, now though he could only wish he'd been so lucky. He closed his eyes and he prayed to his god to rescue him, to save him, to kill him, anything, but the prince's words came back to him and when he next opened his eyes he screamed.
"The night is dark and full of terrors and you have angered our god." the thing said and as he tried to close his eyes Varys was horrified he was unable to do so.
"I wish to hear you scream Lord Varys, so scream you must." the second thing said and Varys shook his head as the shadow removed his gag.
"Please." he gasped finally able to speak "Please."
"We don't bring mercy, we bring pain and it's time for yours." another shadow said and Varys found his eyes looking to the side as yet another shadow moved forward.
The knife that it held in his hand was long and dark and impossible, yet it cut through his robe as if it was nothing, he looked on as his chest was bared and then tried to shrink back when the shadowy finger traced where his heart would be. The feeling of it on his skin was like nothing he could describe, hot, cold, firm and yet not, it was everything and nothing and then the shadow's face or what served as it's face moved in closer.
"A strong heart, good, you'll last longer." the shadow said and he felt his piss as it rolled down his leg.
When the first strike came he screamed, the whip hitting him hard and he looked down as the mark appeared on his chest. The second strike was even more painful and on and on it went, the whips came from different angles making it clear it was more than one who was attacking him, more than one that was taking his flesh slowly from his body.
He felt grateful for the respite when they stopped but then as the shadow came forward he felt even more fear. Watching as it began to lick the blood from his chest, as it's shadowy tongue moved over him he began to cry, the tears only forcing another shadow to come forward and began to lick at them also.
"I can taste your corruption, it needs to be cleansed." he heard a voice say and he watched as the shadows moved back into the darkness.
Once again the respite was brief and the whips this time were coated in flame, the pain making the first whipping seem to have been naught but a tickle. He screamed for what felt like hours, begged for mercy, for death, for his god, and then finally for Daemon.
"I'll speak, please I'll speak on what I know, no more I beg of you." he cried out.
"Our time here is not yet done, speak truly Lord Varys, speak truly or what we've given you will be just a taste of the pain you'll soon feel" the shadow said.
"I will, please, mercy, I will."
Daemon and Thoros arrived a few moments later, both men laughing and japing and he found himself disturbed that neither seemed even bothered by his blood-covered form. He had not expected such a degree of ruthlessness in the young prince and while he had known of the Red Priests, Thoros had never seemed to be a true believer as far as he knew.
"You wished to speak to me Lord Varys?" Daemon said smiling at him.
"Anything, I'll tell you anything." he said beseechingly.
"My brother?"
"Essos, they took him to Essos."
"Who?"
"I don't know, I only know my own contacts."
"And they are?" Daemon asked.
"Mopatis, Illyrio Mopatis, he was the one who arranged for the men to come here." he said hoping the prince believed him.
"What men?"
"Stormcrows, Naharis." he said and Daemon just looked to Thoros as if he already knew this.
"Where are they taking my brother, Varys?" Daemon asked moving closer.
"I don't know, Volantis, Asshai, Norvos, Qohor, I don't know which."
"Who are you working with here?"
"No one." Varys said far too quickly and saw Daemon stand back, the whip moving and catching Varys just below the eye.
"Who?"
"Please, I can't you don't know what he'll do."
"Who?" Daemon said as the whip moved and caught Varys's other cheeks.
"Baelish." he said and felt himself deflate, Mopatis was expendable but he knew how important Littlefinger was to them and he knew now he'd now betrayed his god completely.
"Just Baelish?" Daemon asked moving closer again and he nodded once more, making it clear it was just Littlefinger that he was speaking of.
"Just Baelish."
"I thank you my lord for your honesty, now one last question, why was I shot?"
"You weren't the target, it was supposed to look as if you planned it, Aegon was to be taken, Rhaenys to be injured, it was to look like you planned it and then if that didn't work with Rhaenys and Quentyn surviving it would seem to be Dorne."
"Why?"
"Chaos is a ladder." Varys said and was surprised that both Daemon and Thoros didn't seem interested in any more of his answers.
"Very well my lord, I bid you farewell, I'm sure my god has more questions for you. I wish I could tell you it would be quick and painless but the shadows have been called and they will have their fun."
"No, please my prince, please." he said but Daemon and Thoros just walked outside and left him there.
The shadows came then and this time it wasn't whips they bore, he screamed as he felt the arrow hit his shoulder, the spear being driven into his knee almost made him pass out, then came the blades digging into his arms, his legs, every part of him feeling pain that he could never have imagined. When the end came he welcomed it, the sword was driven into his stomach and then twisted and he breathed his last.
The end was just the beginning though and he soon found himself in a room full of a flame, standing still and unable to move as the figure moved towards him.
"Welcome to my humble abode Lord Varys. let us speak on my brother." R'hllor said and Varys began to scream as he watched himself start to burn.
Kings Landing 300 AC.
Rhaegar.
When Elia and Rhaenys arrived back at the Red Keep he immediately made his way to meet them, Arthur leading them in to the Royal apartments. When he walked inside he found his wife drinking a glass of wine and Rhaenys pacing up and down though both turned to him when they saw him enter.
"Where's my brother?" Rhaenys asked.
"We've sent men to look and I'm ordering an expedition to Dorne." he said and Elia turned her head towards him.
"Rhaenys was speaking of Daemon and Aegon is not in Dorne, he's in Essos." Elia said.
"Essos?" he asked confused.
"That's where Daemon said they took him, where is my brother?" Rhaenys asked.
"He stormed into the council chambers and took Varys, we've not seen him since." he said as his wife and daughter looked to each other.
"It was Varys." Elia said emphatically and yet he shook his head.
"We don't know for certain, Daemon didn't offer any evidence he just took him, I can't, we can't allow that."
"Varys played a role in the attacks, if Daemon took him then he's finding out where Aegon is, what would you have him do, hold a damn trial?" Elia said angrily.
"We have laws Elia."
"Our son is missing, someone tried to kill our daughter and Daemon, were it not for him then Rhaenys would be dead. I don't care if he interrogates every man, woman, and child in this damn city, we need to get to the bottom of this, and we can't by doing nothing."
"I'm not doing nothing." he said his own anger rising.
"This isn't a fight you're capable of fighting, Father." Rhaenys said forcing his attention on her.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Daemon is the only one who can, what's out there, what's coming, we can't fight it, we're not equipped to do so." Rhaenys said.
"I don't understand?" he said.
"Daemon is the promised prince, the damn prophecy you were so obsessed with, even I can see that. You were wrong Rhaegar and thank the gods for it." Elia said.
"Elia?"
"No, go and do what you can, we'll speak later, for now, I'm tired and you cannot give either of us the answers we need."
He watched as both his wife and daughter moved to leave the room, grateful that Rhaenys at least stopped to come to him and kiss his cheek. Once they were gone he turned to Arthur to find out what had gone on with Daemon, what had happened at the manse, and why Daemon had come to take Varys.
The answers he got to all these things were unsatisfactory to say the least, his friend was still annoyed at him, still upset with him and he could understand that. He was surprised when Arthur didn't object to Tywin being his new Hand though he did at least see some pushback from Arthur about Daemon being able to just walk in and take Varys. Though it was not the action itself, it was more the method it seemed that concerned him.
"I will call the guard together, prince or no prince we can't have armed men walking through the keep." Arthur said.
"Arthur, Daemon…"
"Is what they say he is." Arthur said before he left him alone in the room.
He sat down and placed his head in his hands, Aegon, Rhaenys, Daemon were they the three heads of the dragon? Was there ever really three heads to begin with? The Prince that was Promised, he had thought it to be him, he had been sure of it before he was certain it was Aegon. Wrong on both occasions he could see clearly now, though it was the second which had led him to ignore Daemon.
What would he have done if he had known? Would he have embraced their son as he should have? And had he done so would he have somehow fucked things up even worse?. Had he not treated Daemon how he had would he have been able to do what he could now do? Would he have a dragon, the support of a former slave army, and could he have risen from the dead?.
Had his greatest failure turned out to be his greatest success? Or was he trying desperately to judge actions he knew to be terrible, to be unforgivable, to have been somewhat justified? He could do nothing about the past, and it seemed his son cared not about his vision for the future, was it too late to at least do something right for his boy? He got up and walked with Oswell and Jonathor to the Tower of the Hand, arriving to find Tywin was unsurprisingly busy working at his desk.
"Your grace." Tywin said rising to his feet and Rhaegar just bid him sit.
"My lord, I don't know when the circumstances we find ourselves in will be resolved, nor if my wife is right the time will come when we will be able to do what needs to be done, as I would imagine Daemon will soon be departing to Essos. But…"
"Why would the prince go to Essos your grace?" Tywin asked interrupting what he was about to say.
"My wife and daughter tell me that Daemon knows for certain that it was Varys behind the attacks and that he's at present finding out where Aegon is."
"We cannot allow anyone to just take a member of the small council, your grace, even if Daemon is right and I believe him to be so, the message this sends to the realm is not a good one." Tywin said.
"I know my lord, but that's a problem for another day, for today we must deal with the problems and issues in front of us."
"Of course your grace." Tywin said.
"To that end, your granddaughter my lord, she and Daemon are happy with the idea of a match I assume?"
"They are."
"And you, Lord Tywin?"
"My wife wished for a royal match your grace, it was her final wish and so it is mine, that Myrcella and Daemon are happy together makes me even keener for it to be that one."
"Then we shall arrange it so my lord, I beg your forgiveness for not just accepting it when you came to speak, all I can say in my defense is that I was mistaken."
"I accept both the match and your apology your grace, I look forward to seeing our houses joined." Tywin said.
"As do I, whenever that can be arranged."
"Of course."
"I had been in the process of organizing a ship to Dorne my lord, perhaps you can see it doesn't depart?"
"As you command your grace." Tywin said as Rhaegar got up and moved to the door.
"I look forward to working with you my lord, perhaps together we can fix some of my mistakes."
Kings Landing 300 AC.
Tywin.
Heading back to the manse he was glad his day was done with, he'd spent most of it going over the finances and knew he would soon have to both increase taxes and cut down expenses. Even with that he may need to offer a loan also, how Connington had mismanaged the funds so badly was beyond him. At first Tywin had thought it to be Mace's ineptitude and that he could understand, but the Master of Coin had actually been doing a surprisingly good job.
More than could be said for the former Hand and what he had no doubt would be by now the late Master of Whisperers, for Varys would surely not live long. Ser Arthur had gotten to the household guard before he had and as he left that night the keep was in an all too different setup. The knight being both furious at how easily Daemon had walked in and that also given the circumstances they now found themselves in, in the laxity he found in the guards when he went looking.
Tywin's own security at the Manse made the Red Keep look as if it was open to everyone, yet another reason he wasn't quite ready yet to move fully into the Tower of the Hand. Entering the grounds of the Manse he found Tyrion to be waiting for him and was pleased to find out that both Jaime and Myrcella had returned.
"Jaime?" he asked when he saw Myrcella and Tommen walk towards him.
"With Cersei." Tyrion said and he felt some relief at that, his son being far better equipped to comfort Cersei than he was himself.
"Myrcella, Tommen it's good to see you both."
"Grandfather." Tommen said smiling while Myrcella just walked to him and kissed his cheek softly.
"Come, I don't know about you all but I'm absolutely famished."
He was surprised to have Jaime and Cersei join them for dinner, but he could see that though still upset his daughter had moved onto the seeking vengeance stage, and he knew that once she got to see that done she would be far happier. He was about to tell them of things but it was Myrcella who spoke up first, and so he sat back and listened as did everyone else at the table.
"I..Daemon is going to Essos." his granddaughter said.
"Why?" Tyrion asked.
"Aegon, the people who took him he believes they brought him there."
"The people who killed Joffrey?" Cersei asked.
"I believe so yes." Myrcella said.
"He's going on the dragon?" Cersei asked and when Myrcella said he was Tywin saw his daughter's smile "Good."
"Mother, I don't wish him to go." Myrcella said.
"I know that, but I heard what happened in the Dragonpit so I doubt we have anything to fear in regards to Daemon's safety Cella, if he can come back from the dead, he'll come back from Essos." Cersei said and he found himself agreeing.
"You don't understand, it's not just men, what he has to face, none of you understand." Myrcella said angrily.
"What do you mean it's not just men?" he asked curiously.
His granddaughter explained, well she tried to and he found himself looking to Tyrion who seemed as lost as he, had he not seen Daemon rise himself then he'd have been shaking his head in disbelief. But as he looked to Tyrion he knew even more so now, that he must learn more about these Red Priests that Daemon was involved with.
"He took Varys." he said more to change the subject than for any other reason.
"It was Varys?" Tyrion asked his shock clear.
"What was Varys?" Cersei asked her own voice full of confusion.
"Prince Daemon believes that Varys was behind the attacks." he said and watched as Jaime put his hand on Cersei's arm stopping her from rising.
"Where did he take him?" Jaime asked.
"We don't know, he just took him and he left no room for argument." he said and caught the soft smile on Myrcella's face "Look we can discuss this and other things on the morrow, I do have some good news."
"Thank the gods." Tyrion said to chuckles.
"The king has agreed to the wedding, Myrcella and Daemon have his blessing and will be married as soon as it can be arranged. I'll let you organize it my dear." he looked to Cersei who seemed eager for the distraction.
"Very well, I'll speak to the High Septon and arrange for the Sept for as soon as we can, it'll take a couple of months though as we need everyone to arrive." Cersei said.
"No." Myrcella said shocking them all.
"I thought this was what you wished for Myrcella?" he asked confusedly.
"It is and Daemon and I will marry, but not in the Sept."
"Cella?" Cersei said.
"No, he doesn't worship the seven, and I'll not ask him to marry me in front of gods he doesn't believe in." Myrcella said determinedly.
"You can't be serious Cella?" Tyrion said and he then began to realize what it was his granddaughter was proposing.
"I am, Daemon and I will wed in front of his god."
He almost laughed at it, his granddaughter was so firm in it and he knew if Daemon demanded it they couldn't get him to change his mind, even should he wish to. He wondered about the faith's response, it was bad enough what Daemon had just done, but now added in that he would marry in front of the Red God this would cause even more trouble. Yet he found he cared not, the gods had never shown him any favor, so why should he show them any.
"We'll speak to Daemon and find out his wishes, is that acceptable Myrcella?" he asked.
"Most acceptable grandfather."
After a good night's sleep and a morning meal which he enjoyed in peace as it was only he and Tyrion who were up and awake that early, he once again reiterated to his son the need to speak to the red priests and then made his way to the Tower of the Hand. Arriving at the Red Keep he was no sooner in the keep itself when he was called to what had been Varys's chambers.
Standing outside was Ser Arthur and a number of guards and when he reached the door it was Ser Arthur who nodded before he accompanied him inside. He saw it then, the reason for the group of men outside the door, laying on the bed the eunuch looked as if he had slept peacefully, though the expression on his face was one of abject terror.
"Who found him?" he asked Ser Arthur.
"One of the servants, she came in to clean the room and found him like that."
"Did you check the body?"
"I did, there is not a mark on it and he looks as if he died in his sleep, were it not for the expression on his face I'd say it was peaceful too." Ser Arthur said.
"That's certainly not a peaceful expression." he said and Arthur nodded "Did anyone see how he was brought back in?"
"No, that worries me as much as what Daemon did yesterday."
"We've always known there were tunnels and secret entrances, Tyrion told me that Daemon used to hide in them, could he have known of one?" he asked looking to the knight.
"I'm sure he could, but still, we've nothing to fear from Daemon. Those with him though, how do we know we can trust them all?"
"What choice do we have Ser Arthur, I'll speak to the prince, I'm sure you will too but we both know he'll only comply if he wishes."
"I know." Arthur said as they left the room.
"You'll inform his grace?" he asked and Arthur nodded.
He was working in his solar when she came to see him and he was surprised that she did, though even more so by what she said when she got there. He had arranged to meet with Olenna later that day and was still not sure what it was he would use to bring them onside, completely unaware that it would fall right into his lap.
"Lord Tywin I wish to speak to you on the Tyrells." Rhaenys said as she took a seat.
Volantis 300 AC.
Oberyn.
The trip had seemed to take forever, he had stopped off in Sunspear and gathered more guards, more coin, and Ser Daemon, knowing what Essos was like he wished men he could trust at his back. While he had spoken to his brother it had been brief and he had learned nothing more of his plans, Doran saying he needn't be burdened with them since he was going on his own mission.
When he arrived in Volantis he had been amazed at the transformation, he had come to the city once years before, but now it seemed to be even more bustling than it had back then. Making their way through the city they finally found a tavern that seemed a good fit and he and his men rested up, ate, and drank and he enjoyed sleeping in a bed that didn't sway as the waves did.
Waking the next morning he broke his fast and he and Ser Daemon had a spar so he could work out the kinks in his muscles, feeling himself loosen up after the weeks on the ship was something he truly appreciated. He sent one of his men to arrange the meeting with Malaquo Maegyr, expecting it would take a few days for the Triarch to allow him to travel behind the Black Walls.
"Our destination my prince?" Ser Daemon said as they walked through the streets.
"There." Oberyn said pointing at the imposing Red Temple which loomed large in the distance.
"Can we trust the Red Priests, my prince?" Ser Daemon asked.
"No, but we may find some truth in their lies." Oberyn replied.
Walking through the city he was surprised at how the slaves looked at him, at first he thought them curious, given how he was dressed it was clear he was not Volantene or even Essosi and so he thought they'd realized that. More and more though he began to see something different in their eyes, it wasn't quite hatred, but it was at the very least distrust and it unnerved him some.
Ser Daemon on the other hand was exactly as Oberyn had been on his first visit to this city, his eyes were everywhere. Looking to the slaves with their tattoo's some of which he had explained to him on their journey, to the Palanquins, Hathays, and elephants as they carried the noble men and women of Volantis around. Only slaves, the poor, and visitors walked in Volantis, every step on the ground considered tainted in the eyes of the rich and powerful.
When they reached the temple he was even more surprised, R'hllor was the dominant religion in Volantis, but even Oberyn didn't expect to see the large crowds that were gathered outside the Red Temple. Believing it to be some sort of festival or day that meant something to those of the red faith, he turned to Ser Daemon and was about to tell him they should leave when they were approached by an acolyte.
"Prince Oberyn Martell, High Priestess Kinvara has been waiting for your arrival." the slim beautiful girl said.
"Then we shall have her wait no more, you can take us, yes?" he said smiling though the girl didn't return it.
"I can." she said simply and turned to bid them follow
"Is it a festival of some sort?" Ser Daemon asked and Oberyn was glad he did, so lost was he looking around at the inside of the temple as they walked that he'd not thought to do so himself.
"No, we are honoring the prince." the girl said once again simply and to the point.
"The prince?" Oberyn asked.
"If you'll wait here Prince Oberyn, the high priestess will be with you presently." the girl said before turning and walking from the room.
"Strange girl." Ser Daemon said and while he found himself agreeing he also felt the girl was purposely the one sent to bring them here, a girl who he had no doubt knew very little of Daemon or anything that would concern him.
They stood waiting for a few moments, and finally Kinvara and two other priests walked into the room. Rarely had he seen a woman as beautiful as the high priestess and he saw that Ser Daemon obviously felt it too. She smiled at them both before she spoke and it only enhanced her beauty when she did so, as he found her voice to be soft and lilting.
"You have come for answers Prince Oberyn, but you travel a dangerous path, my god has bid me warn you, turn back, turn back now for you will not like the destination this journey ends at."
"Answers, what answers do I seek?" he said with a half-smile on his face.
"You seek answers to things you cannot comprehend, so wrapped up are you in your own petty hatred that you are blind to what is right there in front of your face. The man who sent you here has now found that out, you do not wish to share his fate."
"Are you threatening us?" Ser Daemon said angrily.
"I am the servant of a god, I carry out his will, no more, no less. You have come on a Fool's Errand Oberyn Martell, only time will tell if you are to live a prince or a die a fool. Trust not in tigers my prince, for their bite is sharp and they cannot be contained by one such as you."
Watching as the woman left he began to chuckle, charlatans, just like the High Septon and the numerous Septa's and Septon's he had run into, just like the Maesters and their claimed knowledge of the higher mysteries. People who pretended they knew more than you, all to get you to bow and defer to them, he was Oberyn Martell and he was unbowed.
When they arrived back at the tavern he was surprised to see the guards and the palanquin there waiting for them, moving to his captain he found that Malaquo had arranged for them all to be housed behind the Black Walls. So after paying the tavern owner and gathering their things, they were then brought to see one of the Old Blood. In his visits to this city he had never been afforded this honor before and so he looked forward eagerly to finally see behind those walls.
The palace they were taken too put the Water Gardens to shame, the sheer lavishness and luxury on display shocked him, and upon their arrival they were met by slaves who showed them to their rooms. Oberyn finding his own to be even better than his rooms in the Red Keep, after bathing in a large sunken bath where he was washed by four slave girls who then applied perfume to his body as they dressed him, he was taken to meet Malaquo.
To say the man was a disappointment was an understatement, at least at first glance. Malaquo Maegyr was old, incredibly old, he was withered and toothless and his hair held no luster. But no more than a few moments talking to him he found that what he lacked up for in physical presence he more than made up for with the fire in how he spoke.
"My old friend sent you to me though he is no more." Malaquo said.
"He is not?" Oberyn asked surprised.
"He died at the hands of the man you came to speak to me on, Daemon Targaryen the bastard prince." Malaquo said.
"You know of him?"
"We of the Old Blood have had many run-ins with the prince, he and his dragon. Long has he thought himself above us, thought foolishly that his dragon provided him with superiority we could not match."
"It does not?" he asked.
"No longer, it seems Prince Oberyn we have a common enemy, let us see if that makes us friends?"
Kings Landing 300 AC.
Melisandre.
She had looked into the flames as Daemon had asked and she had been stunned by what she saw, knowing what was coming she knew they needed to be ready and so she and Ser Davos had begun to inquire about a larger place to stay. They had in the end not found one, but two, side by side and separated by a large wall the Manses were perfect for their needs.
The haggling for the sale she had left to Ser Davos and she had been surprised by how adeptly he had managed to purchase them both. Once that was done she, Ser Davos, and Grey Worm had walked the grounds and readied them for what was to come. Rather than take the wall down, Grey suggested they remove only part of it, a single gate between the two properties being easiest to manage.
She had left Grey Worm and his men to ready the layout, a small barracks for the unsullied, rooms for Daemon and his family and for Thoros, Davos, and the rest of their group, large open areas to eat in and finally the small at first temple. She had been surprised when Rhaella showed her where to buy furniture, bedding and which merchants to visit to buy food stocks.
"How many are coming?" Rhaella asked.
"I do not know, at least a hundred more, but I am not sure, and not all will stay here." Melisandre said.
"Why not?"
"Soon it will be time to go out to the people, to go and offer them the light." Melisandre said and Rhaella just nodded.
When Thoros and the prince arrived back that night she had taken them to the Manses, Daemon happy with the work she had done and knowing they would be living there by the time he returned.
"When do you leave my prince?" she asked as he walked around the second Manse beside her.
"I and my grandmother will speak to the small council and the king on the morrow, Thoros, and I will leave directly after."
"Your lady is not joining us tonight?"
"No, we've said our farewells for now and it would only be that much harder to do so again." he said and she nodded as she looked at him.
"Be careful my prince, the night is dark and full of terrors."
"It is my lady, but we walk in his light." Daemon said and she smiled as he hugged her.
She said her farewells to them both the next morning, watching as Daemon spoke to his grandmother in quiet whispers and then to Grey Worm and Ser Davos. When they left to head to the Red Keep she hoped she'd see them both once again. Closing her eyes she said a quiet prayer to R'hllor and asked him to keep them both safe and to return them soon.
The next week was spent making the Manses fully ready, Rhaella, Rhaenys, Dany, and Myrcella all helping out when they could. Finally after a few days both manses were not just ready but they had moved into them, the unsullied finding their living quarters to be far superior to the cramped ones at the other Manse. As the day approached her, Ser Davos and Grey Worm and ten of their men made their way to the docks.
Asher, Mathos, and Dale drove the carts behind them and she saw both the way the people looked at them and the way the City Watch, and men she assumed were part of the new Hand's own guard looked at them. Myrcella had arranged for her to meet with her uncle and so far she had put the man off, knowing exactly what it was he wished to discuss, now though was not the time for that.
"It seems we've attracted a crowd my lady." Ser Davos said and she found herself looking around to see that while it looked on the face of it that people were working, all eyes were actually on them.
"Then what they see should be of interest should it not?" she said and Davos chuckled.
When the ship arrived it was twenty men of the Fiery Hand who walked down first, the men fully armed, their spears unlit for now, behind them came the priests and priestess, all looking excited to be here. She had been right, there was close to a hundred and she found herself recognizing some of them, the best and the brightest had been sent, her god's meaning clear.
"Melisandre." Moqorro said and Melisandre smiled as she looked at the Black Flame.
"Moqorro, it seems our God has big plans indeed if he sent you." she said.
"I am here but temporarily, only to see the faithful are settled, it is to you our god entrusts this mission, not I." he said and she felt truly blessed then.
"Come, we have carts to carry our people and food awaits us at the Manses, they look in need of rest and our work is soon to begin." she said and he nodded, Melisandre looking to see more and more familiar faces.
Turning she knew she was smiling broadly, she only wished Daemon and Thoros were here to see it too, their god was expanding his reach, expanding his influence, his chosen should be here to watch it grow and she hoped to see him back soon.
Kings Landing 300 AC.
Olenna.
Growing strong seemed to be an almost distant dream, especially over the last few days. The appointment of Tywin Lannister as Hand yet another example of how far and how quickly they had fallen. While they were no longer confined or kept prisoner in all but name, they were not allowed to leave either, and she found herself at a loss of what move to make next.
Which was why when she received the note from Tywin it caused her distress, what exactly the old lion planned to do she found she could not discern. That he and his own family had risen high while she had watched what felt like years of work seem to come to an abrupt and unsuccessful end, was only making her thoughts that more clouded. Yet there was some relief there too, some bright sunlight through the dark clouds.
With Aegon missing, with him more than likely dead, even though it meant Margaery would likely not be queen. It both saved them from what could be an inevitable fight with a man who had risen from the dead, and it saved Margery from having to be married to such an unsuitable man. That very unsuitability was perhaps the reason why Loras still breathed while Joffrey Lannister and others did not, so even among the bad there was some good she thought.
"My lady, the Lord Hand is outside." her servant said and she nodded to the girl who let Tywin into her room.
"Forgive me if I don't rise, my lord, I'm not quite as nimble on my feet as I once was."
"Indeed, and my roar is not quite as loud as it once was, I think we can dispense with the games Olenna." Tywin said sitting down and she chuckled.
"Good, sometimes they are far too tiresome." she sighed
"Only sometimes." he said and she was surprised at his laugh.
"So what brings you to my now much humbler abode?"
"Really, the Maidenvault lost its appeal?"
"Circumstances notwithstanding, yes it has." she said.
"Then maybe I bring a way to make your circumstances better?" he said and she laughed for quite some time at the apparent joke only to see that he wasn't laughing with her.
"Why would you do that?" she said when his lack of humor raised her curiosity.
"For too long the realm has been mishandled, the Griffin was too caught up in his own ideas and far too stupid to be placed in a position of power. Doran and you were both far too keen to secure your own futures no matter the cost."
"You think me wrong to see my family secure?" she asked.
"I think you went wrongly about it. I may not have played the game here the same as both you and Doran, but don't think I haven't been playing." he said and she smirked.
"No, you've been winning." she said a moment later.
"Be that as it may, unlike Doran I don't need total victory, there is room at the table for more than just I. Would you like to sit there too?"
"Mace is already on the council." she said.
"He is, but we both know the council is not the prize you seek."
"A prize that is now out of my reach Tywin. I'm not a fool I know Margaery will not be queen, that honor will fall to your granddaughter now will it not?"
"It may, not that it was ever my goal." he said surprising her.
"What?"
"Let us be honest with one another for once Olenna, here today let us speak without lies for once?" he asked and she was surprised at the look on his face, he was never that good a mummer she thought.
"Very well."
"You wish royal blood in your line to secure your position amongst your bannermen, true?" he asked and she swallowed before nodding not sure if she should reveal such a truth "I seek it because I made a promise to my wife."
"She was a good woman." she said sincerely and he smiled as he nodded.
"She was. Her final request to me was to marry into the royal family, Daemon to Myrcella she asked and so I agreed. It was only after his disappearance that I switched focus to Aegon and were it not for the promise I made her, I'd have not let that boy anywhere near my granddaughter." he said looking her in the eye.
"Nor I with Margaery, had I felt our position secure then I would not have entertained the thought of a prince that unworthy."
"Fate, religion, the gods, whoever controls events have seen fit to provide us both with a second chance. Daemon has returned and I can now rest easy knowing I've fulfilled my promise." Tywin said.
"Whereas I cannot." she said a little bitterly as she reached and took a swallow of her water.
"Not a prince no, but what of a princess?" he asked and she almost choked, Tywin jumping to his feet but she waving him off.
"What?"
"It seems Prince Daemon is more adept at the game or that Rhaella is pulling strings and offering advice. He plans to make Rhaenys his Hand." Tywin said and she looked at him sure he was japing.
"She would accept this?" she asked knowing that Rhaenys had always planned for the crown.
"Gladly, she also wishes to help the realm and came to me with an interesting proposal. Willas is unmarried still is he not?" Tywin asked and Olenna felt her heart race.
"He is."
"So what say you, a princess for a goodgrandaughter, does that help you grow strong?"
"It does, it does indeed." she said and the relief she felt was instantaneous.
She almost ran to her rooms when he left, eager to speak to her son and goodaughter, Margaery, Loras, and Garlan too. She sat there impatiently while her men went to find them all, Mace the only one who didn't arrive, apparently because of a hastily called meeting of the small council. When she saw her granddaughter she felt a little upset that she would not see her queen, though she knew Margaery would welcome not being with Aegon, and perhaps there was another more suitable match she could make.
"Sit all of you, I have some news of great import to share." she said once they'd all arrived.
"What is it? Has something else happened?" Alerie asked.
"No, not that I'm aware. It would seem likely now that Daemon will be king and as we know he and Myrcella Lannister are soon to be wed." she said.
"I'm sorry grandmother, I tried." Margaery said softly and she got up from her seat and walked over whispering in the ear that it was for the best and that she'd find her a match to make her happy, relieved to see the smile on her granddaughter's face when she moved away.
"Where does that leave us?" Garlan asked.
"In a far better position than I had feared." she said as she began to tell them of the plans that she and Tywin had agreed to, the marriage that would soon take place.
Had Aegon taken the throne then she would have had to deal with Dorne and with Daemon if they went against her, had Rhaenys taken it then it would see them dealing with her. As it was Daemon now not only had a dragon, an army, and given what was being said in the streets the love of the smallfolk.
He also had the North, the West and with this marriage he would now have the Reach, the loyalists would flock to him and Doran would have no choice but to accept and embrace things. Given how things could have played out and how close her family could have actually come to ruin, this day had turned out far far better than she had thought it may.
Kings Landing 300 AC.
Daemon.
After using the tunnels and the secret entrance in Varys's own rooms to place his body back in his bed, Daemon went to speak to his grandmother to explain his plans. Both the ones in Essos and the ones he had for Westeros, knowing now that the Vale was a potential enemy made him consider flying to the Eyrie and taking Baelish out right now, rather than give him time to cause any damage.
"You can't." his grandmother said.
"I worry about letting him live grandmother, you saw what Varys was able to do, he almost succeeded. Littlefinger is in league with the same people, what if he tries something when I'm not here?"
"We take this to Rhaegar and Tywin, we take it to the council Daemon, we need to give them a chance, to let them in. Tywin is as invested in this as you, it was his grandson that was killed, do you think he'd allow a snake like Littlefinger to do anything?"
"I'm not just worried about the man alone, he has the Vale grandmother" he said.
"We have the West, if Rhaenys does what she said she intends then we shall have the Reach too, the North will come for you Daemon."
"Not if they think me dead." he said.
"They won't, I'm sure Tywin has sent them news of the truth, I've also sent them news both by raven and by letter."
"You have?" he asked surprised.
"What, did you think I've just been moping around here all day? I'm a very busy woman you know." she said with a chuckle.
"I know, will you arrange the meeting in the Red Keep, I need to go once we speak to them." he said and saw the frown appear on her face "I promise grandmother, I'll return safely."
"Swear it to me." she said looking into his eyes.
"I swear it."
As his grandmother organized the meeting, he had gone to see their new Manses, happy that Melisandre had things in hand and then meeting up with Thoros. He had said his goodbyes to everyone knowing they'd be leaving from the Red Keep and then the next morning he had done so again before they set out for the small council meeting. Daemon deciding to ride in the carriage alongside his grandmother, knowing that his appearance was bound to attract attention.
He knew R'hllor intended to use his resurrection to garner followers in Westeros and given he was sending them more priests and priestesses he knew his god would be successful. But he didn't have the time for those games just yet, and so he sat back, his grandmother sitting quietly beside him as they rode. Getting out of the carriage he was happy to see the number of guards on duty, even laughing at his grandmother's annoyance at being stopped.
It was Arthur himself who led them to the small council, Ser Barristan standing guard outside the door. At his grandmother's insistence Ser Barristan had stood in with the other Kingsguard, with the loss of Prince Lewyn, and with Ser Daemon not replaced the order was shorthanded. Nodding to the knight all four of them were allowed in, Thoros surprised at his inclusion though he said nothing.
"Daemon, mother." the king said as they entered and he found himself looking around, all were present apart from Oberyn and Varys, though both men were missing for far different reasons.
"Your Grace, I've come to explain my actions of yesterday and to tell the council of my future plans, will the queen not be joining us?"
"You wish my wife here?" Rhaegar asked and he nodded and so a squire was sent to fetch the queen.
He stood silently while waiting for Elia and gave her his warmest smile when she arrived, waiting until she was seated until he began.
"Lord Varys was a traitor your graces, my lords, he helped the men who attack me and my sister, the men who took my brother and killed those with him, including your grandson Lord Tywin and Prince Lewyn my queen. He helped those men move secretly about the city, housed them, and supplied them with all they needed. He helped them hide and helped to organize the attacks, though he didn't act alone." Daemon said.
"He had help, who?" Tywin asked.
"Petyr Baelish." Daemon said to gasps.
"How can you know this my prince?" Mace Tyrell asked.
"My god is powerful Lord Mace, he has given me as his chosen certain gifts, a dragon, this armor, my weapons among many other things. You all saw an example of his power in the Dragonpit, do you think a god who can do that cannot find the truth from a worm like Varys?" he asked and Mace nodded as did others in the room.
"Did you hurt him?" Elia asked.
"Not I, no, but he suffered yes." he said looking back to her.
"Good."
"Elia." Rhaegar said.
"No, he tried to kill my children, he took Aegon, it's good he suffered, or does anyone here disagree?"
"There must be law and order your grace." Tywin said.
"Had you known it was he who was behind Joffrey's death would you have thought the same Tywin?" his grandmother asked and Tywin said nothing.
"Your graces, my lords, I must soon depart for Essos. The people who have my brother I must deal with them and do so quickly and without delay, time is our enemy here." he said.
"Can you rescue him?" Rhaegar asked.
"I must." was his simple reply "My men will stay and help keep order if needed, they will offer protection if requested, you can speak to my grandmother or Ser Davos to organize it. As for Baelish and the Vale you need to be alert, to be watchful, Varys was able to do as he could while working alone, Baelish has the knights of the Vale to call upon."
"You think he plans more acts?" Tywin asked.
"I think had I not the need to go to Essos then I'd not be here, I'd be in the Eyrie and Petyr Baelish would be dead." he said and Elia and Rhaegar both looked to him.
"Daemon, you can't just go around killing lords." Rhaegar said "Not without trials, it is bad enough the faith is concerned by your actions, you'd soon have every lord and region at your back also."
"I don't care." he said "You have no idea of what these men are capable of, what their plans are, should I fail here, should they succeed, then the realm will fall. Mark my words and mark them well, you do not wish to know what I know, nor do you ever wish to see what I've seen."
"Daemon." Rhaegar said.
"No, I've danced among the shadows of Asshai and wept at the gates of Yin. I've beaten a Khal in the Great Grass Sea and walked among the ashes of the Valyrian empire. Have you? Have any of you? No, but I have, I did and I will do so again because my god wills it so. There are things out there you don't' ever wish to face, a war you never wish to have to fight in, I don't have that luxury, my war has already begun and it must be won."
The room was silent and he looked to see that Tywin was looking at him carefully while the king and queen looked at each other and then him.
"A ship will soon arrive with men and women sent by my god, I ask you to treat them with the respect they deserve and to allow them to go about their business. R'hllor doesn't seek to force anyone to join him, to force anyone to accept him but there are those we will seek to listen and seek to join of their own will, I ask that you let them."
"The faith?" Mace said.
"Needs to up their game my lord." he said as he turned to leave.
"Daemon, be safe." Rhaegar said as Elia got up and walked over to him hugging him and kissing his cheek.
"Comb back, bring my son back if you can, but come back." she whispered and he nodded.
He kissed his grandmother goodbye and shook Bonifer's hand, his grandmother would be staying in the meeting to smooth over his performance, and performance is what it was. He needed them to be scared and to think about what he said but he knew they'd question him and so he had gone full bore. He'd given them it all, let them think him mad or think him a savior, but let them do as he bid and he'd be happy.
"Too much?" he said to Thoros as they left the keep and walked to the courtyard.
"For once you were subdued and non-showy, Why I almost thought you a different person." Thoros said sarcastically before they both began to laugh.
"Come my friend, we've got a long way to go."
"That we do my prince." Thoros said as they watched Lyanax land, both men climbing on the dragon's back and soon they were leaving King's Landing far behind and Daemon hoped he had enough time.