Traversing Perilous Waters

Daeron

The sun was beating on them, frying their skin from the lack of much water. What's left he had saved for the rest of his people he is leading through this waste, just yesterday they lost three from exhaustion and two of their horses. He turned left to the dragon on his shoulder, black and red-winged creature he brought back into the world with Dany.

There are two more, a dragon as green as emeralds and another the color of crimson. It took some time to name them, but he chose three good ones or at least he thought so. For the green one, he chose Wildfyre, a mix on the name of the flammable liquid his family had created. The crimson one he called Raeleris, an ancient term for red in Valyrian. The last he wanted to be a reminder of his beloved.

Daegon or storm in the Valyrian tongue.

"Dracarys... " He said hoarsely, holding up a piece of dried meat but Daegon didn't light it, he did eat it though. He heard someone approaching and saw Doreah, looking mesmerized by the creature. "Yes?" He asked her and she finally spoke.

"I am curious, what did Viserys say about them?" He only knows so much, but Viserys didn't know much either.

"Nothing really, we were born a long time after the deaths of the last dragons. Want to hold it?" He asked and she smiled, gently taking Daegon from him and perching it on her shoulders, attempting to feed it, "He only had stories, the thoughts of someone else in history books." He added and turned his head back to the road, or what a road looked like.

The conversation was cut short when a long whine sounded, he rushed to the front and saw Daenerys horse fallen to the ground. He would have cried his heart out but he couldn't, not in front of everyone. He rubbed the horse's neck and looked around, Jorah came up from the back with Rakharo. He knew it was over for the mount, but he didn't like it one bit.

"Other than the dragons, this is the last of Dany's things. The gift Drogo gave to her." He was frustrated, he wanted to lash out at this unseen enemy named starvation.

"I remember," Jorah answered his words.

"A King has a duty to protect his people, that I would see out enemies burn but how can I make Starvation burn!" He seethed with gritted teeth, this isn't right and not at all what he expected when he started this path. Jorah said something about not learning such a trick, he smirked and looked ahead, so much to go. "Does this ever end? These wastes... " He added in despair.

"This is further east than I've ever been, but it ends and even the Red Wastes." He wondered if there was another way and knew the answer, for he asked this when they lost their first two people.

If they head south to the lands of the Lhazareen, they will kill them and take his dragons for what Drogo did a couple months back. If they are to head back west then the first Khalasaar they meet will kill them and take his dragons, and for Dany letting Mirri treat Drogo's wounds that ended up killing the man. Heading east is the only option for them.

Nightfall was coming and with it some cool air. He told his people to cut up his sisters horse and feed them all, but to save bits for the rest of their journey. He was watching the moon and surprisingly a comet passing over them when he heard someone approaching, he turned and saw Jorah coming with some more food and one of ten sacks of water they have.

"You need to eat, not just everyone else." He was told but he sighed and turned away.

"My people need it more, to keep up their strength to fight at a moments notice." He tried to dissuade the Knight but Jorah wasn't having it, by the end he took the food and ate it, only drinking what he needed to wash it down with. Silence flooded in sometime after, "We are going to die, aren't we?" He asked his guardian, standing ever vigilant. Jorah shook his head no before answering him.

"You are our King, a King has to make decisions that are hard to get to his goal and keep his people alive."

Right. The dawn came and he sent Rakharo and two others eastwards and northwards, to search for cities, water or food. While telling them they will continue heading west, leaving painted symbols to make a path to them. Three days would pass and the food was all but gone, only a single sack of water was left and he began to worry for his three companions that he might have sent to their graves.

It proved true when a horse had returned, one of the three he sent away. Two severed heads were inside and their braids were also cut, he sighed in relief to see that none were Rakharo so he must still be out there. Still, the loss of the other two was a great sorrow for him and the women that were theirs. Another day passes and they camped and waited in one the ruined villages, it was nightfall and a few fires were lit when the sound of a horse got near, it was Rakharo.

He and Jorah and the others approached to welcome him back, Irri rushed into the warrior's arms and kissed him passionately. He smiled and clasped his hand in Rakharo's own hand, glad to have him back into the fold. Next is to find out what he has brought and where he had gone in the last few days, what he found was quite surprising.

"You returned, and with gifts." Rakharo past around food and water in great measure for the small number of people that were left, "A new horse?" He asked Rakharo who nodded and spoke in Dothraki, Jorah translated for him.

"He said it was given by the rulers of a city, southeast. He also said that they would like to see you." He hesitated for a moment but seeing his people in pain and how hungry and thirsty they were, he couldn't just let them hurt so a decision was made. They will go to this city and see these rulers, then he can plan their next move.

"What's this city called?" He asked Rakharo who said one word, their last and only hope right now.

"Qarth."

That night they started moving before dawn comes and in a few hours, they should be nearing this city of hope. Along the way, they would stop and rest for an hour before getting back on the road. Dawn has fully risen and the sun was beating back on them when they finally reached the city, he feared they wouldn't let them in for what Jorah had told him about the city, that when they shut their doors on a traveler, this adds to the 'Garden of Bones'. He swore that will not happen and will make sure they get inside.

The tall gates opened and several armed soldiers marched out, he and the others besides Jorah went for their weapons because it seemed as if they were going to attack them, but Jorah quoted that if he had heard there was a horde approaching that he might have done the same thing, he thought it strange since they weren't even a horde. It was only when he saw thirteen unarmed men approach that he took his hand off of his sword's hilt, clearing his throat and waiting for the talks to begin and so they can enter.

"Greetings, my name is- " He started and the short man cut him off.

"Daeron Seaborn of the House Targaryen." He was surprised the man knew who he was, most don't with so many in Essos looking just like him.

"You know me, my Lord?" He asked and the man was quick to answer him back.

"Many don't, but your sister's reputation as Khaleesi made distinctions clear... They also call you the Father of Dragons." The man went on to say, "And I am no Lord. Just a humble merchant." He could tell the man was pompous, Viserys and Illyrio were the same way.

"And what should I call you?" He asked the man and said man sighed heavily, rubbing his belly.

"Oh my name is quite long and hard for foreigners to pronounce, I am merely a trader of spices." The Spice Merchant then gestured to his companions, "And we, are the Thirteen: Charged with protection and governance of Qarth, the Greatest City that ever was or will be." He tried to praise Qarth but pronounced it wrong and the man was quick to correct him and then the inevitable topic came to light, "Might we see the dragons?"

He didn't want to, didn't want to risk them attacking and killing them only to keep or sell his dragons, Dany's dragons. He felt protective of them and was going to say no, but then he looked back to his people behind him. They were worn from such a long travel, the deaths of four on his conscience, a glimpse at what is his shouldn't be so bad but he will be ready to attack and defend if needs are.

"Doreah, Irri, Rakharo. Bring them." His followers went and opened the cages, grabbing Wildfyre, Raeleris, and Daegon. "Choose two to come and see them." The Spice Merchant and a dark-skinned man approached like they already knew what he was going to do, it was suspicious. Both men gasp in shock at seeing them, screeching and flapping their wings.

"What wondrous thing they are, to be so small when thousands of years ago they caused untold destruction." Now he was going to broach his entrance into the city.

"Now you have seen them. May I and my people be allowed into your city?" Both men looked to one another, then smiled and stepped back with arms gesturing to the gates. The dark skinned man finally spoke, his voice low and kindly.

"Welcome to Qarth, my Lord."