"Well, this is conundrum," I turned to Daario as he spoke, lounging on the rubble that was left of Yunkai's devastation. The man in question had a grimace on his face as he scanned the documents in his hand before looking at me.
"Apparently, the captain general Harry Strickland of the Golden Company was here with his troops as they were planning one final siege to take back Meereen for the grand masters...and it's a ridiculous amount they offered for it."
"THEN, GOLDEN COMPANY IS NOW LEADERLESS?", I asked and watched as Daario sighed and shook his head.
"Unfortunately, according to this document, the leadership is to be transferred to...a Jon Connington in the event of his death. Should that happen, all Golden Company forces are to leave for Pentos where they along with Jon Connington and Illyrio Mopatis are to help an...Aegon Targaryen take the Iron Throne after meeting with your mother."
'Right! I forgot about that blue-haired bastard,' I thought with a frown, standing up from where I was lying while shaking my body to get rid of most of the ash.
I remember that Aegon VI, the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell, was 'supposedly' not dead in the books as he had been saved by Varys, but most of the fandom seemed to think that he was actually the son of Illyrio and a woman descended from the female side of the Blackfyre family.
'In other words, this is a big problem,' Even if we can't prove that he's a Blackfyre, most of Westeros do not like following queens and would throw their support behind him instantly.
Therefore...
"WE MUST KILL HIM."
"Exactly what I was thinking. From this letter, this Jon Connington and this Aegon Targaryen are about to set sail from New Ghis to Tolos, where they are to then resupply before making their final trip to Volantis and then continue on foot to Pentos."
"ASTAPOR, HOME AND THEN TOROS," I responded and Daario raised an eyebrow before shaking his head.
"As much as I wish to agree to that, my friend, we already have our hands full with Astapor and the masters that want to take it back. That's not mentioning that New Ghis, Toros, Elyria and Mantarys are a stone throw's away and support slavery just as much as the three cities of the formerly known Slaver Bay.
If we make enemies of them, they can and will cut us off from supply routes on both land and sea while making sure to shoot down anything that is bigger than a horse and in the sky.
Therefore, strategy and subtlety is the weapons that are the sharpest for us now. If we slay the boy too soon, we risk turning him into a martyr for our enemies. If we wait too long, he becomes a rival with sellsword steel and Free Cities at his back. The timing is everything here."
"IF HE LANDS IN WESTEROS, HER FRIENDS WILL BECOME HIS," I was not a strategist at heart, but that was the one fact I was sure of as I knew that there were still a few Targaryen loyalties waiting for one to call their banners under.
"That is true, my friend, but if we burn half of Essos for one pretender, your mother will lose more than a throne. She'll lose her armies her ships and when the dragons are blamed for fire and death, the world will unite against her."
"WHAT ARE WE DOING THEN?", I asked and Daario smirked before folding up the documents and putting them back into his coat.
"We do two things, Drogon. We abandon our mission of burning down Astapor and instead, we head to Tolos. It's a small port town with overpriced taverns and lots of men with loose tongues.
We send a blade who can vanish in a crowd, who can bribe the harbourmaster, sleep with a tavern wench and someone who can buy a boat at midnight.
With those, we then shadow him and learn his stops. Once his group is relaxed and they move from ship to shore, that is when we take him. Quick, quiet, clean with no banners and no chance of martyrs."
"AND THAT SOMEONE IS YOU?", I asked, already knowing the answer as Daario chuckled and nodded.
"Exactly. I'll go first, feed them some rumours, hire a few bones for coin and see which way the wind blows. You on the other hand head back to Meereen and inform your mother of what's happened. Then, you bring back Grey Worm and Whitebeard. Those two are the most patient and the most subtle so they will help me capture him.
After which, you will meet us in the sea and then carry us back to Meereen, where your mother and this Aegon Targaryen are to have a little discussion over who actually becomes the ruler. How does that sound?"
"...A GOOD PLAN," I nodded, Daario grinning as I lowered my head and let him climb onto my back with a grunt.
"My plans are always good. Now, let us return, my friend."
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"This is troubling to say the least, Khaleesi. If this information is correct...", Jorah trailed off as I watched Mother closely, staring at the conflicted look in her eyes while she stared at the papers she had in hand.
"Is Daario in Tolos now, Drogon?"
"I TOOK HIM BEFORE I CAME BACK, MOTHER," I nodded, glancing at the documents I had carried between my claws before her council and I watched as she turned to Jorah.
"How sure can we be that Varys got this...Aegon out?"
"Very, Khaleesi. If it is the Spider himself that provided this information, then I am sure that he managed to get young Aegon out."
"You seem to know a lot about him, Whitebeard," Jorah spoke and I narrowed my eyes as I watched Whitebeard looking conflicted himself.
'Is he finally going to tell her?'
"That is...because I am not who I say I am, your Grace," Whitebeard spoke, Jorah's eyes widening before I snapped my tail against the ground to stop him from interrupting.
"WHITEBEARD SPEAKS. LET WHITEBEARD SPEAK," I growled, watching as he grimaced while Whitebeard gave a thankful nod before surprising Mother as he fell to a knee.
"When Robert waged his war against the throne, I was on the frontline fighting beside your brother as the Lord Commander of your father's Kingsguard.
When I should have accepted death to join your father and brother in the afterlife, I was too cowardly and chose servitude. During my years as Kingsguard to Robert and his son Joffrey, I learned that neither of them are fit to sit upon the Iron Throne.
After I was wrongfully dismissed from the Kingsguard and Joffrey hired assassins to take my life, I escaped and went east, hoping to serve the last remaining family of the prince that I served.
During my time with you, your Grace, I have come to learn that you are a true ruler, a queen that does not have the taint of madness just like how your brother was. Therefore I, Barristan Selmy, hereby plead to you to accept my sword once more, not as Whitebeard the exile but as the last of your father's Kingsguard so that I may rectify the mistakes that I have caused."
"Khaleesi, if you would please-"
"MOTHER WANTS TO TALK," I growled, feeling a bit irritated right now even as I enjoyed the taste of panic on Jorah.
"Barri...Barristan Selmy, the Lord Commander of my father's Kingsguard. You...you mean to tell me that you have been by my side, disguised? This whole time?"
"I wished to know you for who you were, your Grace, without the weight of crowns or bloodlines. I wished to see if you were fit for the struggles that lie ahead as Queen and I say now, with all the honour I still have left in this old body, you are worthy."
"All these years, I thought my father's guards had turned to ash and yet, now one kneels before me."
"Khaleesi, you cannot trust him so easily! He served the Usurper, was his shield and let Robert breathe while you suffered!"
"I DID!", Barristan snapped, surprising everyone while I grinned at the fire still burning in his eyes.
"It is a shame I have carried every day and it is why I stand here now. It is why I throw myself at her mercy. If she commands her death, I will not lift a hand to stop it, but if she is to command my sword, then by the old gods and the new, I will wield it until it breaks," He declared and my gaze flickered to Mother who stood with her hands trembling at our side.
I could see the decisions dancing in her eyes before they steeled, Mother walking closer as Barristan tensed before I rumbled with laughter as she reached forward and lifted his chin.
"You swear that you will do what you can to ensure that I get the throne of my family back?"
"I swear."
"You swear that you will no longer forsake your position as my guard should it be granted to you?"
"Should I do so, you are welcome to feed me to your dragons to be tortured for days until I pass, your Grace," Barristand said with a determined look and Mother smiled as she nodded.
"Then, rise and serve me, as you once swore to serve my house. The Kingsguard of Aerys is gone, but I will have you as the first of my Queensguard."
"It is an honour I will cherish until the end of my days, your Grace."
"JORAH, FRIEND OF MOTHER. WHY DID YOU NOT WANT WHITEBEARD TO SPEAK?", I finally spoke up, my gaze pinning the man in his place as everyone turned to him.
"I simply did not wish to have her be swayed by the words of one who was once a traitor."
"Is that so, Ser Jorah? And have you told her Grace of why you are here?"
"He has told me of the slavery, yes," Mother nodded, but I was not surprised when Barristan frowned and looked at the man.
"But not of the opportunity he received to be pardoned from his crimes?"
"What pardon?"
"Khaleesi-"
"What pardon, Ser Jorah?", Mother asked sternly and I let out a low rumble to remind him of my being here as he looked between Mother and I before his shoulders sagged in defeat.
"In...in exchange for a full pardon, I...needed to report of your comings and goings to the Small Council of Westeros."
"The Small Council?...The council to Robert Baratheon? The Usurper? That Small Council?", I knew that when she asked a lot of questions in rapid succession, that she was most definitely angry, but when I saw the smile of disbelief on her face...
'Oh, he is going to have to talk quick.'
"That very same council, Kha-"
"That is a title reserved only for my khalasar and my council. Now, how long have you been reporting my comings and goings to this council?"
"The earliest account of your actions in the past year that Lord Varys had told us was of you being married to Khal Drogo, your Grace," Barristan spoke when Jorah was too hesitant to do so and Mother didn't look away from the man even as I saw Grey Worm and the Unsullied stepping closer.
"So, that's how you knew of that poisoner and his wine? You knew that's when they would kill me and you felt guilty," I could feel her anger growing as she glared at Jorah, who couldn't dare to look her in the eyes before she took a deep breath.
"You betrayed me to the men who killed my family. You would have sold my safety for a chance to regain your own."
"I did not-"
"Ser Jorah Mormont," The name snapped like a whip from her tongue as she sneered, Jorah flinching back as she continued.
"I raised you from the ashes of your failures and called you a friend. You came to my brother and I when none else would accept you, but a friend does not keep a dagger aimed at their friend's back.
It is only because of our close friendship that I let you live, but I cannot stand to look you in the eyes anymore."
"Khaleesi, please co-"
"From this day forward and until such a time comes that I have changed my mind, you are hereby banished from my city and my kingdom.
You will not walk these halls nor breathe this air until a time may come where I decide to call you back. Leave now, Ser Jorah, and thank your gods I do not order Drogon to burn you where you stand," I didn't say anything as Jorah's gaze flickered to me before he nodded and walked away.
"Make sure he leaves the city," She spoke to Grey Worm, who saluted as he along with two more Unsullied moved forward and followed Jorah out the courtyard
Missandei glanced at Mother before she left as well, Belwas and Barristan following after her along with the Unsullied until it was only Mother and us, her three Children, left in the room.
"You said that Daario was waiting for Grey Worm and Barristan, yes?', She asked me and I saw her trying to push back what just happened before helping her with a nod.
"Well, that's not happening now with Jorah's betrayal. Instead...I will send Grey Worm with you. He and Daario should be enough, but should it come to a point where you have to choose between rescuing them and making sure that this Aegon is brought to me..."
"SAVE THEM?", I asked, Mother smiling before nodding as she rubbed my snout.
"Yes, please. I can't afford to lose any more close allies."
"UNDERSTOOD," I spoke, watching as she nodded before her gaze wavered as she let out a shaky sigh.
"MOTHER MISS JORAH?"
"I miss my friend that did not betray me, yes."
"JORAH DID WHAT WAS NEEDED FOR PRIDE. MOTHER SHOULDN'T FEEL BAD," I spoke and she giggled at that as she turned and nodded.
"I do not, Drogon. I simply wished that I did not learn of him doing so. Perhaps, then, I could have pretended, at least for a little longer, that I still had him as my friend."
"FRIENDS COME AND GO, BUT DRAGONS STAY."
"Is that your way of trying to look better in my eyes?", She asked with a smirk, rolling her eyes when I looked at her with an innocent look as she reached forward and leaned her forehead against my nose.
"You are a son that any mother would be overjoyed to have."
"MOTHER IS A MOTHER ANY SON WOULD WANT."
"Thank you, Drogon. Now, no more delays. When Grey Worm returns, you and him are to head to Daario immediately. Tell them to take their time even if it takes months, but you must make sure that this Aegon is brought to me AND that the three of you return safely. Am I understood?"
"YES," I nodded, to which she patted my snout with a smile before I looked to my sisters who looked mad at me.
"CANNOT GO."
"Yes, we can."
"NO."
"No, you two are to stay here. With Jorah gone, assassins may think this is the perfect time to attack," Mother spoke with a stern frown and I smirked as Visenya and Rhaenys glared at me even as they nodded begrudgingly in agreement.
Well, looks like I have my assignment.
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"Good work," Daario whispered as I touched down, hidden behind one of the many Black Cliffs near Tolos as Grey Worm hopped down.
"Wait, where's Whitebeard?"
"WHITEBEARD IS PROTECTING MOTHER. JORAH IS A TRAITOR."
"Yeah, he felt like one. I could never trust him," Daario murmured, rolling my eyes before Grey Worm spoke up.
"What is our plan?", he asked in High Valyrian and Daario smirked before he responded.
"Well, I have been able to successfully figure out several ways to safely and discreetly get in and out as well as numerous spots to find this Aegon Targaryen. However, since this is a long job and it will take a while to check those spots, Drogon, you are to go to the point between Elyria and Tolos within a month's time.
Once you get there, you will see either myself, Grey Worm and this Aegon captured or you will retrieve our dead bodies and return them to be buried. However, make sure you stay out of sight as I do not want to tip anyone off that we are here, okay?"
"OKAY."
"Okay. Grey Worm, can you keep up?", Daario asked and I watched as Grey Worm nodded before the two of them quickly began making their way through the cliffs towards the city.
'A month, huh?', I thought as I watched them leave, smirking as I flapped my wings and took off.
If it takes them a month at the very least, then that means I have enough time to go on my own little adventure and come back to save them.
'And if I need a spot for my own adventure, then it's time to visit the world of Old Valyria.'
A/N: I was going to do the Valyria part this chapter, but I decided to do the whole Jorah-Whitebeard reveal because next chapter is going to be wild.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
Anyway, as always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…
Ba-Bye~!!