Vestiges of Valyria

Daeron

"Volantis, Old Volantis... The First Daughter of Valyria." He heard Jorah tell him, "You made a good choice in coming here, a lot of opportunities."

"I see... " He whispered lowly.

He's changed somewhat since Yunkai just a couple of months ago, his hairs gotten a little longer and a stubble and mustache began to take shape though he will be having it cut soon enough. He's also grown as a fighter since the Battle of Yunkai, he's taken lives and fought skilled men, Ser Barristan and Jorah have also gotten more intense in his training in the martial skills.

Now he looks at this new obstacle before him, and it had him in awe.

Truly the last vestige of Valyria is right here before his eyes and won't be hard to seize from the looks of it. In fact, he wished it wouldn't have come to this, but it is too late now.

His army was marching across the border when they found five hundred riders stopping their path, all wearing black armor and helmets covering their helmets will only their eyes were visible. Grey Worm cautioned against going towards them unguarded, but he isn't alone.

Barristan and Jorah are with him, and Kovarro and Rakharo too. He urged his horse to the front, and simultaneously three men dressed in black approached as well and led by one other, this man was young and around his age, dark of skin and had black hair that went to his shoulders, his eyes were like his own, lilac and a lighter shade.

"Your grace, it is unsettling that we must meet this way, with what you did in Astapor and Yunkai." The individual before him spoke, and he narrowed his eyes at him, "I am Malaquo of House Maegyr, a Triarch of Volantis and behind me is one of Volantis's mercenary bands: The Lost Legion." Malaquo introduced himself and the men behind him.

"A pleasure to meet you, I am- " He went to introduce himself yet Malaquo stopped him.

"We know who you are: Daeron Seaborn of the House Targaryen and heir to the Iron Throne. Father of Dragons. Conqueror of Astapor and Breaker of Chains." He was surprised at the man's knowledge, impressive. "The Astapori were ignorant of your power, Yunkai underestimated your resolve and we learned from those cities. We have prepared for your visit, 20,000 men of our most elite."

Twenty-thousand men, that is troublesome and can easily trump his 9,000 Unsullied, 500 Stormcrows and the extra 6,000 Freed-Men he's trained in the month of marching here. It will be a bloodbath, but he likes his odds as he liked them going against Astapor and the Red Wastes. His dragons are the size of horses now, his total cavalry from Yunkai's horses gives him 2,000 riders. If it comes to siege then he can take his time, his provisions from both of the cities he's conquered give him at least ten years in food supplies.

"It is my hope that we don't need to fight, that we may be friends for I am also the Blood of Old Valyria." Malaquo scoffed and irritated him right away. "I'm sorry, is something funny?" He asked and Malaquo chuckled.

"Your House isn't so great in the east. Yes, Aegon did take the Seven Kingdoms but back in Old Valyria, House Targaryen was a small family and had barely any influence and none before they left with their dragons." He was told and he felt insulted, how dare this man insult his family and what they were thousands of years ago.

"You must know, that you won't win against me. Even with your army and elephants, my dragons will turn them all into cinders." He warned, he didn't want to see men perish for a fruitless cause as rebuking his forces from continuing west.

"That is true, we might not win but we survived the Doom. We kept the empire alive for centuries before your Aegon burned us with Belarion and his siblings." Malaquo said, "We also don't want to fight, but if you've come to free our slaves then we will fight for the traditions we practiced for centuries upon counting when our ancestors first discovered the first dragons." He looked at all of the 500 riders that standing in front of him, all glaring at him with the same eyes he has.

They left afterward and allowed them to come with 30 leagues of the city, and he saw their grand army stationed outside its walls.

"How can we defeat them without losing half my men or my dragons? It seems impossible now." He muttered and swallowed a lump in his throat, the task at hand is a difficult one and one he has a hard time believing.

"My King, you've found a way to take Yunkai when there was none. I believe in you." Ser Barristan told him and he smiled with Jorah.

"I'm hardly the cause of that, our newest commander brought us that victory." He turned and watched Missandei, Grey Worm and their new ally of Daario Naharis.

The blue-haired commander of the Stormcrows and the leftovers of the Second Sons has done his duties well, has a laid-back way of speaking and isn't one to not share his opinions to the rest of them, even to him. He'll admit the Sellsword's brought a good amount of enjoyment to the camp, to the army as a whole, they even shared a number of conversations with one another.

His eyes then angled towards Missandei, wearing a set of clothes he found for her that makes her seem modest.

The feelings he's grown for her has broken limits, she laughs now when he talks to her and he dines with her too. Ser Jorah agrees with his choice but Ser Barristan has advised against getting too close to her, his bold knight is concerned that he would make a mistake that will cost him dearly during the battles he will be fighting in the Seven Kingdoms.

A small huff went out of his mouth, he isn't getting familiar, he's simply attracted to Missandei and might have strong feelings for her. It won't cause any problems and will hardly cost him anything when he takes back the Seven Kingdoms. Ser Barristan has nothing to worry about.

"My King. The army is camped, we should have the city surrounded in time." Grey Worm reported, he smiled and patted the warrior on the shoulder.

"Good, we will hold position and give our enemy a day or two of peace, then we will have our battle."

Malaquo

The night was cool, surprising for his city even with the large army a short twenty leagues from his home.

Daeron Targaryen poses a threat to his city, a threat to the power he has inherited from his father and would be his sisters if she wasn't across the Narrow Sea and Westeros. His wife is frightened, his son is confused and mother and father racked with fear for him.

Since he almost drowned in the river all those years ago, he has made it his goal to make Volantis less a place for masters and slaves but the people of all of Valyria. He's worked for this for ten good years before news from the east began to shake the foundations, Daeron.

The Western King has freed slaves from their chains but forced the other pillar to suffer where noblemen are killed or deposed from their positions. Economy failing has stirred the faction of nobles that want to keep slavery afloat and even those of his own group, who want strip away those damned tattoo's and walk on an equal ground with the likes of the lowborn.

"My love." His purple eyes looked up to his wife who was standing near the door, he smiled and rose from his desk.

"What is it? Aerina." He asked and she walked towards him, handing him a missive.

"It is the rest of the Triarch's. They have called for counsel." A sigh escaped his lips and after twenty minutes, he left with two guards of the Lost Legion following him.

It would have been a delightful stroll to the palace if not for the blasted followers of the Red God chanting, musing that he would have Daeron in his city rather than these fanatics and their temples.

The chants of Rh'llor are an infestation, including the ones who preach it. Volantis has no definite faith, many come here and remain but none are so irritable than the Red God whereas he and his father pray to the Old Valyrian Gods. In fact, he would have ousted the religion in its entirety if not for so many of the cities own guards, most of the Tiger Guards are followers of that religion and would revolt.

Then the Red Temple has their own guards, the Fiery Hand made up of slaves that number a thousand, no more and no less lest they overtake the 4,000 Tiger Guard that defend the inner city and beyond the Black Walls where he and most aristocrats live with the other faiths, and merchants. Past the walls is the rest of Volantis, where for every freedman is five slaves each and below is the harbor.

"One step at a time, choose your battles." He recited, his father's words back when he was well enough to walk.

He is the current head of Volantis's Triarch's and decides on the fate of Volantis in its entirety, the others are simply worried that he isn't ready with his age and lack of experience in battle.

But he can rule, been raised to since he was a boy.

And he won't surrender to lowborn Valyrian such as Daeron Targaryen, never.

Kinvara

She watched the flames carefully, re-imaging the vision she had seen months ago coming true before her eyes.

She doesn't see Volantis falling, she sees it rising. And rising with Volantis is three dragons of red, black and green. She sees Volantis rising again from the ashes with Daeron Targaryen leading from the front, as a servant of her Lord she must take on this task and give aid.

"My brothers, sisters!" She called for her most loyal servants, and leaders such as Benerro, her successor, and Moqorro, captain of the Fiery Hand, "The time has come for all who pray to our Lord to rise, to aid the Last Dragon in the Long Night." She cried in jubilee, happy and the two and many behind them all chanted with her, the Lord of Lights time has come.

Malaquo

"We cannot let Daeron pass, not with his dragons."

"And how do you plan to do that? Yunkai and their armies couldn't stop the Father of Dragons, you know what Unsullied can do."

He sat there at the end of the table, watching the rest of the ruling counselors bicker about what to do. He makes the final word, but what decision can he make that won't end in kneeling or seeing his home burn for the second time in its history, what decision won't end in his wife and child being victims of what happened to Yunkai or Astapor.

Volantis has its armies. Volantis has its elephants and Volantis has its pride, but what can these do against dragon fire and the might of a full Unsullied force. He sighed and let a shaky breath leave his body as he stared at the table under him, hearing these men bicker to one another over what to do.

The power a Triarch has is tricky, considering its three men voted to post for one year per term, he's been Triarch for seven years and his father for forty through bribes and genuine approval of the masses. There was one such man who tried to be Triarch for life, his 'reign' didn't start, or end right and was seized and torn apart by two elephants. In fact, a Triarch is so important that they aren't supposed to touch the ground, he was raised with slave children and would be equals with them.

"My Lords!" He and the two others turned their heads to the door, where a woman was standing at the center of the way. He recognized her as the head Priestess of the Red Temple.

"Lady Kinvara? What do we owe the pleasure." His fellow Triarch treated the woman with respect, such as the man is a follower of the fire faith too. She smiled and approached the three, behind her is a handful of Tiger Guard and Fiery Hands which caused him to jump to his feet, glaring at the woman.

"This is treason! What reason have you deemed to bring armed men here!? Answer us!" He shouted and the woman didn't have a change of expression, merely keeping that smile on her face.

"I don't plan on fighting or killing, only to show you three a vision of what lies Volantis if you fight Daeron Seaborn."

He didn't like it, but like most Triarch's heading towards the end of their term, he didn't have a choice in the matter and saw this 'vision'.

Daeron

For three days, he watched.

For three days, he waited.

For three days, he grew impatient.

He told everyone that on the third day he would wage his war, instead, he held his stance and waited like attacking now would cause his defeat, because it likely would.

The battle he would win, that is clear but how many men will he lose? Hundreds? Thousands? It is uncertain and he doesn't like to be uncertain about matters like this and all for some ships that he can get anywhere. But I cant, I have to take this city, He thought bitterly.

Volantis has a strong fleet, little over a hundred ships that can take him to Westeros. If he could just get the ships then he would, but why would a port city surrender their livelihood for his ambitions to retake his Seven Kingdoms? The answer is no, they wouldn't and won't.

His frustration, caused him to reach out to the only thing other than training and that brought him to Missandei.

"Your grace, I- " He didn't let her finish before wrapping his arms around her, bringing his love close and taking her lips and the sweet tastes that came with it. She was surprised but eventually brought her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, it grew passionate before it ended and he pulled away, though he wished it could go further but he wanted to be patient with her, so she can trust him.

"I'm sorry. It's the siege, not that it can be called that but things have gotten... Frustrating." He confessed and took a seat onto her bed, she looked at him before taking a seat as well, "What do you think I should do?" He asked her and she was surprised by the question.

"My King, Daeron. I don't believe I am appropriate to give you such counsel, that should be your commanders and kingsguard." She said and pursed his lip, sliding her closer to him that their bodies could be molded together and he saw her blush. He brought a hand to her chin and gently made her look at him, the intimacy wouldn't be liked by Barristan but he's spent so much time with Missandei.

How can he be expected to marry some stranger, from a House that would only be after a throne and not him?

"You are my Lady, you are. I will seek counsel from my warriors, but I would hear from you first." She was still as silent as ever, "Has the translator lost her tongue?" He teased and she smiled, throwing her legs over his lap and pressing her lips to his, taking the initiative for the first time. She pulled her sweet lips away again, smirking at him.

"Daeron... I lo- " Missandei tried to say but couldn't finish.

And they were interrupted, again. Ser Barristan entered with Jorah behind him, worried at first but then he saw a hint of disapproval.

"The Triarch's are here, my King and are waiting for you," Jorah informed him, he huffed and straightened his back before getting up.

"Well, let us see them." He agreed and turned to Missandei. "Want to come- " He attempted to ask Missandei to come along, yet he was stopped, by Barristan of all people but it isn't so surprising.

"Your Grace, this is a diplomatic event and should involve the nobility. Not lowborn." He was offended and gave the knight a look before leaving the tent and hurrying to the main pavilion with his knights following and Barristan caught up to him. "My King, forgive me for saying this but I feel that I must." The man added and he turned sharply to look at Barristan.

"Like what? Telling me who I will be with? Who I will marry?" He was heated and not a mood he wanted to be in when he meets the Triarchs. "She precious to me and I will not cast her aside like her former masters, I will not!" He decreed and yet his knight would have him hear.

"She is intelligent, yes. Resourceful and you do have an affection that is expected of one who traveled with another for a time, but my King you must listen." Barristan told him, getting closer and putting a hand on his shoulder, "Do not ruin your early reign, marrying a lowborn will get you no approval from the Lords of Westeros. Your great grandfather married for love, and when he wished to wed his children for alliances they rebelled and insulted many friends who became their enemies." His breathing got heavy as Barristan continued, making him doubt his feelings.

"Send her away, give her a home, treasures, and men to protect but you must come to Westeros as an unwed man." He didn't want to hear it, didn't want to be here and being told who to love and sending Missandei away, he will not.

So he left, found these visitors and opened the flap of the pavilion and saw them standing there. He composed himself and flattened his wrinkled shirt, then approaching the three men standing before them. He gave Kovarro and Rakharo orders not to let the others inside, he doesn't want to see them for awhile, he can do this alone.

"My Lords! I am pleased to meet the rest of you, it is a comfort that you came to see me before there will be a battle." He told them and yet he only knows one of their names, "I know Lord Malaquo, but I'm afraid I don't know you two." the two strangers came forward, sharp expressions on their faces.

"Vaereon Lendaerys." One man said.

"Taelarys of House Vaemond. Your grace." Another man announced.

He nodded to both of them and gestured a request if they want a cup of wine, one excepted and the other two dismissed it.

"I don't want to go around in circles, I and the two men beside me wish to offer peace between Volantis and welcome you into our city."

To say he was shocked was an understatement, especially hearing it from Malaquo who all but threatened war when they first met. He cleared his throat and was grateful that a battle would not take place, and that thousands of lives won't be brought to an end because of ambition.

"Thank you, I am- " He tried to say and was cut off.

"You are allowed no more than a thousand in the city, a manse behind the Black Walls and your dragons cannot be allowed free rein. The city isn't yours to hold as King, you are our guest until you have your ships." And they promised him his own ships? That is good as well.

He had hoped to rule the city for a month or two, to learn and get a bit of experience when he reaches Westeros. He would have freed the people here and bring some form of realization to what his sister wanted, but if it means he can save his army from perishing then that is what he will do, and besides... There are other ways of conquering the First Daughter and he will achieve his victory.

"I... Agree to your terms." He bitterly said, gripping his hands and seeing Malaquo smile victoriously.

"There are fifteen families in Volantis, powerful and of the Old Blood. You may also find your bride in Volantis, the city of mine and your ancestors." He swallowed a lump in his throat, he won't marry a woman he doesn't know.

"That is quite alright, in fact, I already have a betrothed." He lied and saw the three men give him a confused look.

"And who is this? A lady from Westeros, no doubt." Barristan entered, giving him a pleading look. Yet his face remained cold and quite determined.

"No, I am marrying Lady Missandei of Naath. She will be my Queen." It didn't take long before he realized what his anger made him do.

Gods, what have I done?