[Chapter Size: 3200 Words.]
Third Person POV.
Harrenhal.
...
...
"We will prepare our forces to depart tomorrow.", Daemon spoke loud and clear to the entire hall that night, while they had been stationed at Harrenhal for a few days already since he had arrived with his dragon and Val.
Daemon had been gaining the loyalty of the lords of the Riverlands in recent days, as they had been gathering their forces together with the North and the free folk, coming to the castle.
For them, the choice was between a Targaryen and the Lannisters. Obviously, they would choose Daemon, even if he had caused a certain amount of chaos some time ago, affecting even House Tully with the theft.
Even so, they hated the Lannisters far more and, above all, wanted that war to end. They would never accept being ruled by the lions and were enthusiastic about the idea of eradicating the Lannister family as Daemon desired, a vengeance filled with fury for what the lions had done to the riverlands and also for the Red Wedding.
Daemon accepted their loyalties without hesitation. As long as they did not question his authority, he would take care of those people now that they had knelt and sworn to his cause.
He promised the reconstruction of the Riverlands and also rewards coming directly from the western lands, as compensation for those devastated territories. Many lords already wanted the Twins; some even suggested to Daemon that he could grant them as a reward. On some occasions, the requests bordered on mockery, but Daemon made it clear that he would give no certainty until the end of the war.
There was still much to be done with the lands and castles where entire families had been destroyed. Even Harrenhal was free. Obviously, he would want that fortress for himself. They said that the towers themselves were cursed, but nothing he could not deal with.
The Gods Eye certainly provided an advantage on the maps, being an excellent strategic point in which Daemon was interested. The Riverlands would be reduced; he had already made it very clear that he would carve off a portion for Brynden Tully, and that would pass into the direct possession of the crown, or rather, of House Targaryen.
House Whent would officially administer those lands. Curiously, being the maternal family of Catelyn, or rather, of the zombie she had become. However, there had been no legitimate lord left there since Tywin's conquest. Very little had remained after the war, and no one could contest him taking Harrenhal for himself.
Now, he spoke more directly to everyone in that hall that night, delivering his final words beforehand.
They had stayed there for far too long. "The time has come to march on King's Landing." Daemon spoke again before all the lords and leaders of the free folk.
The lords ate, drank, and nodded.
"Well, we will finally finish off those damn Lannisters", someone roared.
"They devastated our lands. Now it is time for vengeance", said another river lord.
Brynden Tully, the Blackfish, remained silent. He said nothing, but hatred burned in his eyes. He desired Lannister blood as much as any other lord of his realm there. His silence said everything.
"Well, in any case, nothing else can stop us.", Daemon paused, seeing that everyone was silent to hear him, then he continued. "According to some information I obtained, the Ironborn are attacking Oldtown at this very moment." Jon delivered the news, making everyone look surprised.
"But… hadn't you already dealt with Pyke?", Robb, near Jon at the main table, questioned.
"The Ironborn had fled south before we reached Pyke, Theon's sister was with them... and there was already a group attacking the Reach, taking advantage of its beaches and coastline full of abundance. In any case, the Tyrells are not exactly our allies, so we will let them deal with their own problems, while we finish what we came to do in King's Landing. Once that is done and after we deal with the Lannisters, we will turn our eyes to the realms that still remain rebellious. There will be no peace in Westeros unless we put everyone to their knees, and I guarantee we will do that easily, my lords." He gave his small speech, paying attention to who might be displeased with the idea of more war, but most seemed to nod along with it.
"Shall we?" He looked at Val beside him and stood up.
"Now I will go to my rest. I suggest you do the same. Tomorrow we will begin the march and depart earlier", he said, as he led Val to the chamber.
Daemon entered, followed by his spearwife, as he grabbed a jug and filled a golden cup that sat on the bedside near the window. His eyes turned outward, to the fires burning below the castle throughout the vast camp. He had not chosen the highest floors, but he still had a good view of the surrounding terrain.
"For someone who told his men not to drink too much, you seem quite at ease", she commented, watching Daemon take a sip of wine while keeping his eyes fixed outside.
"I am more resilient than any of them", Daemon shrugged, as he watched Val begin to remove her dress.
"I've already told you that you look quite beautiful in these dresses worn by southern ladies", Daemon said, with a look of desire. The girl could not help but snort.
"You see what I'm wearing... damn it. I'm becoming one of them, aren't I?", she murmured, referring to being a southern lady.
"I know you like these dresses, Val. You may have been raised beyond the Wall and seem not to care much about it, but a woman is a woman, and there is nothing wrong with liking to wear beautiful clothes", Daemon replied, leaning against the window, watching Val remove string by string, still with some difficulty, since she was not used to wearing such things.
Val only turned away and continued untying the strings, not wanting to rise to Daemon's provocation.
"That woman... I don't know how you manage to deal with them", she murmured after a moment of silence.
Some daughters of a few lords had come with their parents to meet the king, and Daemon suggested that she keep those ladies company. Despite Val seeing it as torture and nearly vomiting at their chatter and the most ridiculous things imaginable.
Daemon told Val that it would be good for her to meet some noblewomen. And Val's origin would not be questioned, because they would respect her, especially with people knowing that the king held affection for the wild princess.
Val was confused when she heard some of those women nearly faint when she said she was one of Daemon's wives. When she asked him about it later, upon meeting him again, Daemon explained that lords of Westeros married only one woman... and people were frightened to learn that Daemon had four bed partners.
For those closer to him, the dynamic was clear, but those coming from outside were surprised to discover that Daemon had four women and that his wife accepted it.
In any case, Val managed to frighten the noblewomen when they asked about what it was like to live beyond the Wall and how she had met Daemon. Val did not deny that she wanted to steal him, with them understanding that, basically, as raping him.
"What is it? Today the young noble ladies aren't entertaining you much, my lady?", he asked, setting the cup aside and approaching her, while Val seemed increasingly irritated as she tried to get rid of that dress.
"I would rather be training in the yard", she said curtly.
"Relax, you'll survive. Wait until you're at court beside Dany, as her lady-in-waiting. You're going to love it."
"Will I have to obey everything she says?", Val asked, not stopping looking at Daemon with a certain displeasure. That did not appeal to her in the slightest.
"Turn around, let me help you", he said. She ended up positioning herself in front of him, while Daemon took hold of the last cords to free her from the dress.
"What do you think is going to happen?", he teased, returning to the subject of Dany.
"I know Daenerys, but I know people change. Especially someone who has a crown on her head... Won't she be your queen? Who guarantees that tomorrow she won't say: 'Val, do this. Val, do that. Val, don't get close to Daemon. Val, don't fuck him in the kitchen. Don't fuck him on the throne'… don't look at him anymore..." She began to mock, and jumped when Daemon squeezed her ribs, with him saying that she was exaggerating.
"Don't do that. You know I'm kind of sensitive", she murmured restlessly.
Daemon released the last cord, and the dress began to fall over her shoulders, sliding like a waterfall and revealing her bare skin. Still behind her, he held her shoulders and pulled her close, kissing her neck.
"I don't think it will be that boring. As for fucking in random places… well, we can even try, as long as we don't get caught", Daemon joked.
She turned to face him, looking at him with desire, pulling him closer.
"I think we could fuck right now", she said, as if he were not already more than ready.
Right there, he put her on the bed, removing her clothes, and they stayed together throughout the entire night.
Daemon woke before the sun rose, even before his men began to prepare themselves. He let Val sleep and went to the Gods Eye, mounting Winter as he flew to the small island in the middle of the waters, landing there.
It was not the first time he had set foot in that place. He knew the land and the Green Men who lived there, and it did not take long for him to find them.
"The Dragon King has returned", said their elder.
"It's a bit early. Are you going to try to guess what I came to do? Go to the Heart Tree, like I've done every day for the last three days, I bet... A great seer, I see.", Daemon replied mockingly.
"These are our gods, Dragon King. Do you have no respect for them?", the man questioned, with a certain courage in the face of Daemon speaking that way; just yesterday he had been mocking the old gods to this very elder.
"I do not serve the gods. I owe favors to some, I admit, but they are not the old gods, I assure you.", Daemon shrugged. After all, he served neither the old gods nor anyone else; he only owed a favor to Meridia. Still, he liked the abilities of the old gods, and that was why he always went to a Heart Tree to increase his capacity to use his multiple eyes...
After leaving the unpleasant Green Man behind, Daemon reached the Heart Tree. When he stood before it and touched it, he had to admit that the gods had done a fine job in creating those trees, greatly amplifying certain powers.
He mirrored his vision not only over King's Landing, but also checked the Stormlands, where there were already some birds positioned. There were always meetings happening there. It was then that he heard something that made him laugh: Blackfyre.
Daemon was genuinely surprised when he heard from the mouths of Varys and Aegon that the man he had killed in Pentos, Illyrio — merely for condemning his own family to a tragic fate by selling Daenerys to a Dothraki with an impossible request to fulfill — was, in fact, the true father of that Blackfyre.
And that Varys's sister was also a Blackfyre, the mother of that Aegon, making Varys himself a Blackfyre as well.
Daemon kept that information to himself.
He learned that Aegon had departed for Highgarden. Unfortunately, there was no way to get there in time with his birds; dragons were much faster. Besides, he had no birds in Oldtown, so he did not know exactly what was happening there or how the negotiations with the Tyrells and Aegon had gone. But that did not matter at the moment.
He also spread his vision through other birds in the Riverlands and found something interesting. After that, he left the Gods Eye and headed toward a small town built right in the middle of the region that had not been so affected by the conflict.
Daemon landed near the town without drawing attention and proceeded on foot, using his illusion abilities to go unnoticed as he entered the town with the sun still rising.
He entered a tavern without attracting any looks and went up to a large man sitting in a corner; it was very early, so there were few people there.
That man was the first to truly notice him coming to sit at his table, his ability not being strong enough to make him invisible, only unnoticed by most.
Daemon pulled the chair in front of him and sat down without asking permission, staring at Sandor Clegane.
Sandor immediately frowned while drinking something hot and eating what had been brought from the kitchen. Daemon assessed the man in front of him. After all, Daemon had killed his brother and destroyed any living relative in that castle he had razed. He only wanted to know whether he would have to leave the job half done.
Sandor glared at him with a far from friendly look at the hooded stranger before him.
"Get out of here. Now", the big man growled.
A smile formed on Daemon's face, while everyone around looked surprised at the threatening tone Sandor used against the stranger who had just arrived.
"Come on, Sandor, don't be so unpleasant. You are the last member of your family that I left alive", Daemon said calmly.
Sandor frowned even more. Then Daemon removed his hood, helping him recognize who stood before him, while his eyes settled on Sandor as if he were completely insignificant.
Sandor now looked frightened upon seeing his face. He stood up and took a step back, knowing very well who was in front of him. Sandor had been in King's Landing when Daemon simply played with everyone — all those proud players and manipulators, so sure of their power. He destroyed their reputations, drove them mad by revealing their filthiest secrets and, before leaving the city, he stole and killed, while everyone tried to hunt him down. But Daemon only seemed to enjoy it, as if all of it were nothing more than a fun game to him.
He was the man who killed his brother, the man Sandor hated the most.
"Come on, Sandor, you don't need to be so scared", Daemon said, assessing the man. He had known him in King's Landing, and because of that he was making a real decision about whether to kill him or not.
Daemon looked at the barmaid and gestured for her to come closer. She was afraid of him and of how he frightened that man; no one there knew him as the king, nor would they imagine that a king would appear like that.
"Bring me a good drink", was all Daemon said.
She swallowed hard, knowing very well that that kind of man always brought trouble when he showed up in a tavern. Sandor remained standing in place. Daemon lost his patience and raised his hand.
"You're taking too long." That was all he said before making Sandor be pulled forward by an invisible force. The knight tried to react, but his body was dragged to the chair and left there, to do the obvious.
Sandor looked at Daemon with caution. He was afraid.
Some people saw that and looked frightened, murmuring prayers to the Seven as they stared at Daemon, and some ran out of the tavern.
Sandor seemed torn, but this was not an invitation. Cautiously, he sat down across from Daemon.
"Well, I'm glad you accepted", Daemon said.
"You talk as if I had a choice", Sandor murmured.
Daemon gave a faint smile. He remembered his companions in Skyrim well. Sandor had the personality of one of them: gruff, but potentially loyal. The question was, would Sandor be loyal?
"Do you feel anger toward me, Sandor? About your brother?", Daemon asked.
The woman brought the drink, visibly trembling. Daemon raised his hand and made the cup fly through the air to him. The barmaid ran away as soon as she could. Daemon took the drink and set it on the table.
Sandor barely reacted to the trick, despite the cautious look. He had already seen many things, but the people around were terrified, staring at Daemon as if he were a demon.
"You killed the man I wanted to kill. How would I not feel anger?", Sandor replied honestly. "I feel like my vengeance was taken from me. I have nothing left to lose." He drank and slammed the mug down on the table.
"I destroyed your home as well", Daemon added.
"That fortress isn't my home. It's just a shithole", Sandor muttered angrily.
"There was an uncle… I don't know…"
"My brother's dog. I'm glad he died too", Sandor said, and Daemon only nodded.
"I only feel sorry for the souls who were trapped in the dungeons. Those poor young women my brother kept there to force himself on them. Maybe your dragon brought them mercy", he added.
"You are very different from your brother. At least you are not a rapist", Daemon said, satisfied.
Sandor only made a guttural sound, staring at Daemon, making the king understand a bit better why his nickname was the Hound.
"So you came to kill me?", he finally asked.
"No. I did not come to kill you. I came to talk. I have a proposal", Daemon replied.
"And what would that be?", Sandor asked, still looking cautiously.
"As far as I know, you vanished after the Battle of the Blackwater. You abandoned your king and have been wandering the Riverlands trying to survive. But you cannot go North, nor West, nor South again, with the Lannisters having put a price on your head."
"You still haven't said what you want from me", Sandor growled.
"It's very simple. I want you to join me. If you prove yourself loyal, I will give you a place in the Kingsguard. But you will have to earn it", Daemon said, staring at him.
Sandor fell silent for a few seconds, before his eyes returned to Daemon.
"How did he die? Tell me everything. Tell me you killed him cruelly", that was all Sandor said after what he heard.
Daemon smiled and nodded, satisfied to be able to tell, with pleasure, the story of how the Mountain had perished before his act of vengeance. After all, he performed the blood eagle after carrying him from the Seven Kingdoms all the way beyond the Wall with one leg missing, on his dragon.
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