No Rest For the Conqueror

Daeron 

The King of Westeros walked down the streets of Volantis, guarded by Kovarro and Rakharo behind and Barristan and Jorah in the front along with a compliment twelve Unsullied with Daario and Grey Worm on his left and right.

In the old days, as Barristan told him, the Kings would walk everywhere with a constant guard and a number of ministers.

Now obviously, he has more warriors than ministers, except Daario who's tongue can lead to being a sarcastic bastard. He was currently hearing the two of them compete in a battle of wits on who will lead the first charge in the next battle.

"I defended our camp when the Lost Legion attacked, so I should be leading the vanguard," Daario said which was true, he did hold the line when the alliance ended.

"Agreed. Yet I protected our King and took the city streets from the inside." Grey Worm shot back, that was also true. During the battle, Grey Worm worked with their garrison inside the city and took a number of levels within.

This 'important' discussion would usually be held within the Triarch's Palace, but they will be heading out of the city and into the Golden Companies encampment. To meet with the leader and his captains, their first meetings since the battle had ended. Tyrion and Varys will also be there as well, so this meeting will go as expected, or at least he hopes for better.

Jorah told him that the Golden Company was found by Aegor Rivers, a bastard of Aegon the Unworthy and after that many of Daemon Blackfyre's descendants. Word is, that the company has his ancestors sword, Blackfyre which is the sword of kings. Lost to the ages after the War of the Ninepenny Kings during his grandfather's reign.

He and retinue stopped along the way to help a man put some crates on his cart, in return he was given some fruit and they went on their way.

It was hard for the people here when he took personal charge, there were quite a few riots by both master and slave alike. That was a dark transition. It wasn't until he utilized Rh'llor's followers and Kinvara that the people calmed down and all was well with the exception of a few of the noble families. They come to ask him when he will be leaving Volantis, he usually tells them that until his ships are finished, he will be keeping a residence here.

"Open the gate!" Grey said to one of the captains in charge of this entrance, the gate was then raised a moment later.

They gathered some horses, getting on their way toward the Golden Companies encampment. They were three leagues from the city itself, large with horse, men, and elephants.

Elephants, like his dragons, will prove a good challenge against Westerosi soldiers and mounted knights. It took a moment before frowned and thought that elephants should have made a difference in the War of Ninepenny Kings, yet his grandfather was able to push them and Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh's armies back east with the defeat of Maelys the Monstrous.

He has to say, these men aren't your normal mercenaries. They drill and carry themselves like a real army, marching in strict formation and making Daario's men seem like young boys taking a piss on their profession, it was quite an impressive sight as they walked past two hundred performing some mock-combat.

"Your Grace! Thank you for visiting." Harry came out of the larger pavilion with his captains and Varys and Tyrion following behind. It seemed the two felt more comfortable in the camp, and he could respect that as he's felt a little more paranoid than usual when staying in the city rather than inside his own camp.

"I'm glad I took the invitation, these men of yours look like a real force to be feared." He complimented, shaking the leader of the companies hand.

"Aye, and soon these men will aid you in reclaiming your father's throne, with some riches to be had." He chuckled at Harry's comment, the debt these men need will be paid for in full.

"I'll even give you a castle. Anything to retake the land which was taken from me, it is yours." He promised and a resounding cry came from the captains of the Golden Company.

This wasn't a strategic visit, wasn't for planning the invasion but to get a sense of who he will be fighting alongside with. The next few hours he spent numerous moments in getting to know many of the men who will be helping him in taking the Seven Kingdoms, Harry Strickland being the first of the many of them.

Harry looks little like a warrior. He is portly, with a big round head, mild grey eyes and thinning grey hair that he mentioned would brush sideways to cover up a bald spot, that is what he said in confidence so that his men don't think him unworthy to lead them. Harry also said he preferred elephants to horses.

Apparently, his great-grandsire lost his lands when he rose in rebellion with Daemon Blackfyre. Harry though, was born and raised in the company, as was his father and grandfather. The original commander of the Golden Company was a man named Blackheart, but he had died many years before.

The leadership of the company is made up of exiled families and knights. Descendents of Mandrake, Peake, Byrne, Pease, Cole, Lothstan, Mudd and Strong. The more shocking of these are Jon Connington, his older brother's right-hand or so Viserys spoke of once or twice but it was at times the fool was drunk.

"Your grace, forgive me for saying such but you remind me of your brother." The man knelt in front of him and had his sword laid before him, "It was my fault I could not protect him and his family so, I ask forgiveness." He looked to both Barristan and Jorah, seeking their counsel on what this man was asking him forgiveness for.

"Daeron, my King. It was Lord Jon who led at the Battle of the Bells, he lost because he refused to torch the entire town and it's people to find Robert. For his failure, the King banished him from Westeros." He nodded in understanding and got up and pulled the knight back to his feet, sword put back into his hand.

"Listen to me, all of you." He called to everyone, all of the families who were ran from their homes by his family or the Kings who came before Aegon and his sisters, "When we take back the Seven Kingdoms I swear you this, you will all be given back your titles and lands, right now, I pardon all of you to return home as not traitors or banished lords, but as war heroes!" He ended and raised his cup, everyone else agreed.

"Thank you, your grace!" Many of them said, but he laid eyes on Jon and put a hand on his shoulder and told him to follow him.

Once the two were alone, he stopped and looked at him.

The man looked like he neared forty. Yet the man was clean-shaven with a lined, leathery face. He has crows feet at the corners of his pale, blue eyes. His hair is red with patches of grey. His beard is also red with ash showing here and there.

"You knew my brother, really knew him?" He started and the older man nodded proudly, "Barristana said to me he was quite the minstrel, that the people loved him." He added and Jon bellowed with laughter.

"Aye, that they did. I remember at times he and I would go down to the street of silk, and I would watch him play for the people. He had a beautiful voice, and a gentle heart." He heard every word that Jon was saying to him, not at all what Viserys had told him and Daenerys when they were children.

"Viserys said our brother was a fool. That, that he threw away the dynasty for a woman." Jon frowned at that, and he noticed the closed fist he was holding in his palm.

"Rhaegar... Rhaegar was no fool. He simply loved too fiercely, every great man makes mistakes of judgment when it comes to their heart... Even mine." Jon said with such emotion, that even he felt pity for him, for he too had made mistakes in the name of love, romantic or otherwise.

"Lord Jon?" He called and the red-haired man looked from the floor to him, "I do not blame you for any actions made in the Rebellion. I too would have had the safety of the people as primary rather than my father's lust to see the rebels head." He added and a moment passes as both he and Jon nodded in understanding to one another, "These next few weeks will be for the memories of my brother, for the loss of my sister, not for the madman who was my father or the fool who thought too highly of himself, Viserys. We will fight for the men and women we've lost on this tragic road, we fight... For redemption." He ended.

"Aye. I will fight through all Seven Hells for you... My King!"

With the sadness out of the way, he and Jon went back and celebrated with everyone. He drank and sang, and told stories and heard stories from everyone.

Later on, he was brought to one of the few men that Viserys told, or boasted that would grovel at his feet for forgiveness.

"Lord Varys, I presume?" He asked and outstretched his hand, the bald man took it with both of his own hands, a grateful smile on his face.

"Just Varys to you, your grace, I stopped being a Lord for some time. I did serve your father as his Master of Whispers." Nodding at what he already knew, he got to the point which caused a bit of tension between everyone at this gathering as his smile fell from his face.

"Indeed. You spied on me, my brother, and sister, at which time Robert also sent his assassins after us. Now you've betrayed his son. Or not son since I've heard that King Tommen isn't even a Baratheon at all." He started and Varys didn't so much as flinch, not a twitch as he stepped closer to the man who served his family, once. "You betrayed my family. Had us hunted like dogs when all I and Dany wanted was a life, free to live and die without looking behind us for daggers in the dark." He snapped and narrowed his eyes on Varys, standing tall and proud.

"And while I was giving Robert the right information, I was also getting you and your siblings to another safe place. House Targaryen has kept the Realm as one for over three centuries and I might not have enjoyed serving Aerys, I was still ever faithful to my liege Lords." Varys said and explained, he might not have believed it if it weren't for Harry and Tyrion backing him.

"It's true, your grace. For it was him and two others that sought us out and convinced us to fight against our founder's foes, a negotiation that took eight years to meet an agreement." He was shocked, how could all this planning go over his brothers head, all while scheming and selling Dany to Khal Drogo.

"Varys, though he had made your life difficult had saved you on numerous occasions as well. His loyalties may be fickle but his- " He snapped at Tyrion for the comment, what is loyalty to this man standing before him.

"Loyalties? Fickle? He worked for Robert, then his Wife's family, he had my sister sold to Drogo- " Varys cut him off, this was getting heated and fast.

"I haven't stopped working to restore the Targaryen Dynasty, though King Robert was an improvement on your father's part, no ruler since Maegor was as cruel as the Mad King. I knew then that your families return was the best option for the people because it's the people- The Realm, which has my undying loyalty." He wanted to kill him, this man was much like those that betrayed him and his siblings since they've been on the run from Robert and his killers and assassins.

"Did your 'Little Birds' ever tell you how my brother beat me, or how he verbally and would hurt my sister? Or that he was a fool who believed every man and woman in Westeros was drinking to his health and weaving dragon banners to rise for him when he returned?" He asked Varys who didn't truly know what to say to him. "I know men like you, you are a gambler, 'Lord' Varys. You put your best bet on the one you think will win, well let me tell you something... " He paused and approached Varys once more and this time, the eunuch had the sense to step back.

"I will win. Every battle in every part of the Seven Kingdoms until I have beaten all my enemies. My gamble is in these men fighting with me, My gamble is in my children who will burn away the lion and stag and wolf and every banner that rises against me. My gamble, Lord Varys... Is in my strength to be the King that Westeros has needed since the Conquest."

He left after a moment of silence, suddenly tired of all the festivities for the night and in desperate need of some rest.

They said their farewells for the night, bidding Harry, Jon, and a young squire by the name of Rolly Duckfield a good night before he and his company set off for the city and back to the palace.

The city was quiet this evening, little business here and there but not much traffic as they made their way through the streets. The palace was also quiet with the servants all put to bed and the occasional Unsullied, Stormcrow or Second Son wandering to different positions.

"Leave me. All of you."

He ordered everyone to leave, as he wished to be alone after that little spat with the Spider in Strickland's camp.

To be honest, he didn't really believe that he would have lost his temper so badly just from speaking to someone no matter who their loyalties lie with. To know that Varys and his 'friends' were conspiring for them and serving Robert was a surprise, it made his sister being sold to Drogo seem in vain, that Viserys ploy with the Dothraki meaningless and that he didn't need to lose his sister.

"Why couldn't I, Viserys and Daenerys know of this?" He asked toward's no one in particular, this was all so confusing to him and being half drunk wasn't helping.

He could have been told, if there were plans then the essential pieces to those plans should have been informed to them! He lost the one he loved most because they didn't know the secrets being kept from them.

"It's not fair... It's not fair... IT'S NOT FAIR!" He roared and took his sword and began to hit everything that wasn't bolted down, cutting the bed, chairs, carving scratches on the stone walls and throwing everything he could around and even a bottle of wine which when thrown into the hearth caused a slight explosion which sent him to the ground in pure shock.

At the end of the night, he just bawled himself to sleep, hating himself and the men who kept all this from him. And, and dreaming of his sister who after all

What else are these people keeping from him?

He awakened hours into the next morning. His hair was disheveled, and he was still in the sitting position he was in hours before. The knocking continued for another moment, at which point he got himself slowly off the floor and went to answer it, he was ashamed he couldn't even put up a smile to greet Barristan.

"What is it? Is something the matter, Ser Barristan?" He asked the commander of one other Kingsguard. Selmy nodded and had a bright smile across his face.

"Nothing but good news, my King," That was nice to hear especially after last night, he nodded for Barristan to continue, "The Port Captain has informed me that the last of the ships have been finished, we are just waiting on your call to set sail for Westeros."

Now that, that put a smile on his face.