[Edric's POV]
As we entered the city, Daenerys was greatly celebrated. They crowded the streets, making it difficult to pass, which was more annoying than anything else. And... considering the spread of the Pale Mare, it's a sure-fire way to catch it. Daenerys, however, was a little too immersed to think of that.
'I want a Krispy Kreme doughnut right about now... where's the multiversal trader when you need him?'
What did you smoke today?
'Bloody flux... the cure is a sugar rush, trust me.'
Yeah, let me make a doughnut real quick. Do I look like a baker?
'Damn, we should be, think of all the foods we're missing out on... pancakes, waffles, croissants, muffins... It's a crime how backwater this world is.'
I think we have different priorities.
'Right, Night King, Night King, Night King... I got it.'
I nudged Daenerys so that she'd move with more urgency, making the ride to the Great Pyramid quicker. When we reached the Great Hall, Dorian was waiting like a criminal who was about to be sentenced. He had nothing to worry about.
"Well, I take it Edric has spoken about it?"
"You have nothing to worry about," Daenerys replied. "What's done is done, I... or, rather, Edric has retrieved my dragons and all is well. You can thank him for convincing me against punishing you."
"Well, aren't you a convincing lad?" Dorian chuckled.
"And you can thank the queen's great mercy and wisdom for changing her mind," I added, glancing at Daenerys.
She smiled, shaking her head lightly.
"The queen's? How intriguing, indeed..." Dorian stroked his beard.
"Has Arthur returned yet?"
"No, but I've heard news that his crusade is going well. You returned sooner than expected..."
"Many sleepless nights," I replied, turning to Arya, who had been eying me silently. "How have you been?"
"A little restless... and for good reason, it seems."
"I think it's best we talk in private."
"... If that's what you want, Your Grace."
I couldn't imagine this going well, but... it had to be done. I'd have to bear the consequences of my actions.
I took her to the temporary chamber I had claimed as my own. It was a wordless walk. It didn't surprise me that Arya saw the writing on the wall. She was more than clever enough... and, well, she had almost always doubted our 'relationship'. She was right to do so, of course.
I saw her more as a little sister than anything. Someone to protect and take care of, rather than someone I'd be with. How could I see otherwise? She was simply far younger than I was. It would take far too long to bridge that gap, and by then... it would be far too strange.
I never should've dragged it to this point, yet I wanted to do the 'right' and 'honourable' thing... when every choice was wrong in some form or another. I should've done what I always believed was right.
It was my mistake.
I should have broken the betrothal right after becoming king.
I sighed... better late than never.
Opening the door, I led her in before entering myself and leaning against it.
"It's something related to Daenerys, isn't it?" Arya questioned, her grey eyes reminding me of a stalking wolf. There was not much of an expression behind them... only a narrow focus. "And nothing good..."
"My future lies uncertain... and I seek to bring some sort of certainty to it, should the worst happen. This means breaking our betrothal."
"... Of course, how could I have expected otherwise? Mayhaps because you made me believe that..."
"I'm sorry for everything leading up to this point."
"I... what am I supposed to say to that? We've known each other for over two years, and you've known Daenerys for what, two weeks?" Arya said, growing teary-eyed. "Did I always mean so little to you? Did you never truly take me seriously? Did you plan all of this from the beginning... with Ser Barristan, Dorian-"
"It's... complicated. My perspective has changed several times over during this time."
It was one of the few times I couldn't find the right words or ways to express myself. She had her tears... I only felt guilt.
"Did it also change when you saw her face-to-face?"
"None of this is in personal interest; you can rest assured. I decided what was best for the Realm."
"The Realm... so that's your excuse. It always is. You sailed all this way, lost twenty thousand men - for the Realm? The Realm is half a world away."
"You'll understand someday," I replied, shaking my head. "I don't harbour any feelings for Daenerys."
"I should've stayed home, at Winterfell..."
"This... is entirely my fault. I'm sorry."
"I don't think... sorry is enough..." If I didn't feel bad enough already, well, she started crying.
"If there's anything you need..."
"I don't need anything from you. I want to go home..."
"A ship, then. I'll arrange a safe escort as soon as I can."
"So you can get rid of me? Right..." Arya wiped her tears with her sleeve, shaking her head. "I'm the biggest fool in the world. Just... get out of my way. I don't want to see you ever again."
I stepped aside and she stormed through the door, running off.
'Poor girl. You are an awful person.'
I know. You don't have to beat the dead horse.
'Think of your so-called would-be brothers-in-law... the ones you lied to. Robb, Jon... oh and the mother. You betrayed an entire House, a kingdom. Even your own House and all that it fought for. Do you think you can make any decision you wish without consequence?'
I'll face them when they come.
...
I spent the rest of the day working out outside the city. For over twenty days, I had been mostly riding, which had slightly imbalanced my body. Riding was a decent enough exercise, but not quite the same as what I'd usually do. Hours would go by quite swiftly. It was always a good feeling, to narrow your focus and just... work out. No distractions, no outside thoughts, just whatever was in front of you.
It was almost like battle... almost. Nothing could match that feeling.
As night came, someone rode out to see me. It was Dorian.
"Taking a few runs around Meereen?"
"... You could say that," I nodded. "What did you come here for? Surely you're not worried about me."
"Well, I assume you know of the Pale Mare's spread... it's not getting any better."
"Of course, how could I miss it? Half the city is bleeding."
"It struck... Daenerys."
"..." I clenched my fist. Those filthy, good-for-nothing, slaves who couldn't keep their fucking hands to themselves. "She's only been sick for a short while, right?"
"Yes... the Pale Mare takes a few days to turn sickness into death. It kills every three in four with no effective treatment known to anyone," Dorian sighed. "I can't believe it, just as everything comes together, this happens..."
"Daenerys won't die," I said as if it were a promise. "I'll do everything in my power to see her live through this."
"I can only hope for the best."
I rode back with Dorian to Meereen with haste, storming through all the endless stairs of the Great Pyramid and joining her by her bedside. She was surrounded by what I could assume were 'healers'. If there was no known cure, what fucking good were they?
"All of you, get out," I ordered.
Daenerys said something in valyrian and they complied. Dorian looked at me before closing the door shut.
"So, what did all of these healers conclude?"
"It's... not good. I have nearly every symptom."
"... Gods, did you have to parade through the city?" I sighed, shaking my head. "It doesn't matter, I'll find a way."
"I... need to go..."
Daenerys suddenly rose from her bed and went off. I followed, although I wish I hadn't. She had gone to defecate, staying in the shit room for ages. I stood outside and closed my eyes.
"Alysanne, you... know any ways to treat this Pale Mare? Anything you need, I'll find it."
"No... there wasn't ever a major outbreak in the Seven Kingdoms, so I never tried. Usually, my magic alone would be enough, but... I can't quite affect your world directly. I can try creating a cure, although I'm not certain how effective it would be."
"Anything you can do that helps would be wonderful."
"As for ingredients, I have everything I'd need here... I just need a glass container to store it."
"I'll get you plenty."
I opened my eyes and got straight to work. It didn't take long to find a couple unused small glass containers, which I stored away inside the Plane of Euthymia. Afterwards, I returned to the highest floor of the Great Pyramid and took a look at the results of Daenerys' bathroom break.
Shit, blood, vomit, and piss in disgusting harmony. It was like she was letting out everything in her body.
This Pale Mare...
A few days? It might only take a day at this rate.
I have to do something now.
With haste, I entered her bedchamber, and she already looked like she had lost a great amount of weight. She looked frail and weak, dying. There was a sad, hopeless look in her eyes. It was not the queen who would face him without fear. Just a girl... facing her looming death with reluctance.
"Edric... I'm afraid... what if this..."
"You'll be okay."
I took a deep breath. If Daenerys was so severely affected, why didn't I have so much as a need to take a shit? Either I was supremely lucky... or the Pale Mare had no effect on me.
I bet on the latter.
"I promise, you'll get through this, just like all the other difficult things you've overcome," I smiled slightly, grabbing her hand. "My magic revolves around killing and destruction... never have I used it to save a life. I don't know if it even can accomplish that, but I'll be damned if I don't put every bit of my energy into seeing you get better."
There is power in blood... if my blood makes the Pale Mare obsolete, then... it was worth a try.
"This is a bit of a gamble, but we don't exactly have many options, so bear with me."
I bit my tongue with great ferocity, tearing into the flesh with my teeth.
"You..." Daenerys' eyes widened as I leaned against her bed and grabbed her head.
I opened my mouth as I pressed my lips against hers. She didn't resist, opening wide to the spilling fountain of my blood and burning magic-infused saliva. It wasn't quite, fire... but very close. We 'kissed' for what was very likely over an hour as I released all of my magic into her, slowly but surely. My greater regeneration meant that I recovered almost as swiftly as I released it. I willed it to be soft, and 'healing' by nature, yet that wasn't exactly my expertise...
It was far easier to create a wind-fire-lightning nuke.
When I finished, I spat out the remains and wiped my mouth.
The tear in my tongue had mended itself, leaving a tough and scaly mark. It didn't taste good.
"So... you feel any better?" I stepped back, crossing my arms.
"Despite your very unconventional methods... I am feeling better," Daenerys admitted, smiling slightly. "And not only because your tongue was glued to mine for an hour."
"Don't take it the wrong way. If I wanted to just kiss you, I'd have done it ages ago."
'Someone is a tsundere...'
Shut up.
"Right..." Daenerys gave a doubtful look.
"The base of my theory was that despite us riding together, you were laying here dying while I was entirely unaffected. Blood is a powerful source of sorcery, and my blood is naturally very... magical. With a mix of my resistant blood, fire and magic-infused saliva, I believed that I could possibly get rid of whatever was plaguing your body by purifying it with all of these elements emerging at once."
"It seems to have worked..." Daenerys nodded lightly. "Have you ever thought about becoming a healer?"
"I'm not doing that for anyone else," I shook my head.
'Not even Arthur?'
I genuinely hope you burn.
'Will I get a strawberry Krispy Kreme doughnut in the afterlife, at least? Maybe a biscoff one...'
You'll get whatever Daenerys shit out in that bucket.
'Even better.'
Daenerys managed a chuckle. "Who would've thought that the cure to the Pale Mare was one, albeit lengthy, kiss from my King? I suppose I should repay you when I am better..."
"You worry about recovering first and foremost. I'm not even sure you're cured yet... it could simply be my magic granting you a burst of vitality."
"As long as you're here... I should be well in time."
She reached out her hand, and I took it.
"Yes, you will be," I nodded. "I'll be here as long as I need to be."
She smiled as she looked at me, her violet eyes lighting up.
"My sweet hero."
It was almost... alluring.
~
(For funzies)
Meanwhile, in the Plane of Euthymia.
Alysanne was watching the livestream with popcorn, and great embarrassment. Despite it, her curiosity wouldn't leave her.
"Aren't you supposed to be making a cure?" Garth questioned.
"Well... it looks like father is the cure. It's rather fascinating, at first it was rather sloppy, but he's steadily improving..."
"..." Garth raised a judging eyebrow. "You perv."
"What? I'm observing the transfer of his magic... he's getting better, gentler. More efficient. Father is truly the progenitor of greater magic."
"Right. The transfer of magic... and not the kissing."
"Get your mind out of the gutter," Alysanne rolled her eyes.