Chapter 116 - 116 - Dragonstone Island (V)
"I want to kill that annoying old man," Daenerys thought as she heard the hundredth compliment coming from the lord of Claw Island.
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"My Queen." While enjoying the breeze on the balcony of her room, Daenerys heard the voice of one of the Sardaukar ring out from behind the door.
"Yes, Merik?" Daenerys asked with narrowed eyes, feeling comfortable in the breeze. Her silver hair fluttered gently around her face.
"A fleet has been seen approaching Dragonstone." Merik, surprised that Daenerys had remembered his name, spoke with a respectful tone.
"Any known coats of arms?" Daenerys asked, curious.
"A silver seahorse on a sea-green background," Merik replied.
House Velaryon.
A satisfied smile appeared on Daenerys' lips. For House Velaryon to have come to Dragonstone so quickly was a sign of how eager they were to be sworn back to House Targaryen. With the Velaryons on their side, at least twenty to thirty percent of the ships in House Baratheon's fleet would disappear in an instant.
Daenerys began to dress herself. She had forgotten to bring Missandei from House Martell's ship; the girl had become a close friend of the Sand Snakes, as had she herself. Oberyn's bastard daughters were a funny bunch and easy to get along with.
She wore a black outfit with the dragon of House Targaryen in red in the middle of the chest. The creature's wings formed a beautifully elaborate neckline, elegant without being vulgar.
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Monford Velaryon, accompanied by his half-brother, straightened his clothes and adopted a posture worthy of a descendant of ancient Valyria.
After all, in terms of kinship, however distant, House Velaryon had provided three brides for Targaryen princes, including a king consort during the reign of Rhaenyra I Targaryen. Not to mention the countless marriages between the two houses before the Conquest - Aegon the Conqueror's own mother was Valaena Velaryon!
As soon as the doors were opened, Monford heard the herald announce his arrival:
"Monford Velaryon, Lord of the Tides, Master of Driftmark and head of House Velaryon, along with his half-brother, Aurane Waters!"
Aurane was surprised to be announced, but quickly followed his brother.
Monford entered the throne room and, when he came within ten paces of the Black Stone Throne, he stopped and bowed to the beautiful young woman sitting on it.
"It is an honor to be in your noble presence, My Queen."
"Sitting on the throne is Queen Daenerys I Stormborn of House Targaryen, Rider of Balerion, the Unburned, Mother of Dragons, Maiden of Healing, Daughter of Fire and Light."
Merik introduced his queen in a cold, indifferent voice, watching the guests from a distance. He and his brothers-in-arms protected Daenerys at all times.
"Lord Velaryon, Lord Aurane, welcome to Dragonstone."
Daenerys crossed her legs elegantly, one over the other, and greeted them both with a curious look. The two men in front of her were handsome, like any descendant of Valyria, and carried themselves elegantly.
Lord Monford's half-brother, however, looked rather malicious. But Daenerys knew that this malice was not directed at her, his smile itself conveyed that impression, which meant that he was a cunning man and probably thirsty for power.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, Your Grace."
Monford replied with a polite smile, marveling at Queen Daenerys' beauty.
"I presume Your Grace the King is coming to Dragonstone?" he asked with a respectful tone.
"My husband is in the North, about to begin our reconquest. He will not come until Dragonstone is besieged by the Usurper fleet."
Daenerys smiled as she replied, although she was slightly annoyed to feel that Monford was not paying her enough attention.
"My Queen was lucky. House Baratheon's fleet is in King's Landing right now, or Your Grace would have a hard time dealing with two hundred dromonds."
Monford spoke with a relieved tone. The thought of two hundred dromonds facing the twenty ships of House Targaryen frightened him. He could imagine that King Aenar would actually kill him if Queen Daenerys suffered any serious injuries or, worse, died.
"The dromonds would burn in dragon fire, Lord Monford. There would be no difficulty, it would just take longer to destroy them all."
Daenerys commented with a dissatisfied tone upon hearing the insinuation that she would be in danger even riding a dragon.
What could Monford say? He knew that this was the young queen's arrogance and her confidence in Balerion's power, but he didn't share that same certainty. There were two hundred Dromonds, not just boats, but real warships.
Still, he said nothing. It would be foolish to contradict a young and arrogant queen, especially one with a dragon.
Regaining her composure, Daenerys asked, even though she already knew the answer: "I presume Lord Monford has come to kneel before me, his queen and my husband's representative."
Monford and Aurane didn't hesitate. They both knelt, but only Monford pronounced the oath:
"I, Monford, head of House Velaryon, Lord of the Tides and Master of Driftmark, swear to fight alongside House Targaryen against their enemies and to respect their laws as my own. I will protect the seas in the name of House Targaryen until the end of my days, as will my son and the sons after him."
"I accept your oath in the name of my husband, Lord Monford. I swear never to dishonor your name or that of your house. Your family will always have a place at my table until the end of my days, those of my children and the children after them."
Sitting on the throne, Daenerys accepted Monford's oath with an interested look on her face. It was the first time she had received an oath, and she really liked the feeling.
However, she wasn't so enthusiastic about Monford's oath. Aenar had already told her that she and her whole family would live for a long time, so long that they could watch entire empires disappear while she would remain young, beautiful and as full of life as a teenager, no matter how many thousands of years passed.
Daenerys assumed that she would see all the lords of House Velaryon disappear one by one, until one day House Velaryon itself would cease to exist.
After Monford's oath, other lords of Blackwater Bay came: House Celtigar, House Bar Emmon and House Sunglass. They all swore allegiance to Daenerys and, consequently, to Aenar, who was still in the North at the time.
Now Daenerys was sitting in the head seat while food was served on the table, where the lords of Blackwater Bay ate and praised her beauty and elegance at every turn.
For the first time, Daenerys understood why flatterers were so annoying. They were like flies trying to win her attention so that she would grant more benefits to the Noble Houses.
Especially Lord Ardrian Celtigar, the old lord of Claw Island. In addition to an almost insatiable greed for gold, he was so arrogant that anyone would think that House Celtigar was a house of Dragon Lords. Honestly, Monford himself wasn't as presumptuous as Ardrian.
Their first dinner on Dragonstone was a fiasco. Daenerys felt that the food was tasteless and the wine bitter. The presence of those men made the meal even more unpleasant. However, she kept a smile and ate without hesitation, while listening to the flattery of the Blackwater Bay lords.
When dinner was finally over, Daenerys pretended to be tired and retired to Aegon's room, as it was called, since all the Targaryen kings and queens used this chamber when they spent time in the castle.
"Damn Ardrian, I want you to die as soon as possible. My ears are tired of hearing so many compliments."
Daenerys cursed the old lord of Claw Island. She had never seen anyone so disgusting, even when he spoke compliments.
Falling into bed, the Mother of Dragons let out a comfortable sigh and buried her face in the clean, fresh-smelling sheets. She couldn't help wishing she was in Aenar's arms at that moment.
Remembering her husband, whom she hadn't seen for a year and a half, Daenerys snorted, expressing her dissatisfaction. Even though she knew he was busy, she thought he could at least have sent a raven or entered her dreams.
But her husband had completely ignored her for a year and a half. In all honesty, Daenerys suspected that Aenar had probably found a lover to spend time with in the North. At the thought of that possibility, she felt like killing the whore who had seduced her husband... and then forgiving him for his betrayal.
Daenerys knew she couldn't resist his charms and would give in after a few words of repentance and some sweet kisses.
"Humph."
Snorting once more, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
If Aenar had known Daenerys' thoughts, she would have protested vehemently. Because of the Water of Life and the Warp Dimension, he was adapting and constantly improving himself.
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In the process, he couldn't shield anyone from his mind, so he did absolutely nothing but train and grow stronger until he could finally communicate across great distances again.
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