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Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
ASOIAF and all of its characters belong to GRRM
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 48: The Price of Trust
Joffrey stepped through the shattered wall of the House of the Undying, his boots crunching on broken stone, his sword still wet with the blood of the warlocks. The acrid smell of smoke and ancient magic clung to his armor, but he paid it no mind.
Behind him, the Hound emerged from the darkness, a cage in each massive hand, Rhaegal hissing in one, Viserion beating his bound wings against the other.
Joffrey had conjured the cages discreetly, a flick of his fingers and a whispered word. No one had questioned it.
Daenerys followed close behind, clutching Drogon against her chest. The girl's silver-gold hair was wild around her face, streaked with soot and sweat, and her hands trembled from exhaustion.
But her eyes remained clear and hard, and she kept glancing at Joffrey and the Hound as if she could not decide whether to thank them or flee from them.
The warlocks' courtyard outside the tower was empty, save for the figures waiting in the shadows. Joffrey's hand went to his sword, then relaxed when he recognized Lord Varys standing beside a tall, bearded man in Westerosi armor.
Two Dothraki stood behind them, braids hanging past their shoulders, curved arakhs at their hips, their dark eyes watchful and wary. Their gazes were locked onto Joffrey now, assessing him the way hunters assess dangerous prey.
"You made it back, Prince." Varys stepped forward, his soft hands clasped before him. His eyes moved from Joffrey to Daenerys, and something flickered in them...mostly relief. "And you found her. Princess Daenerys, I am pleased to see you safe." He offered a polite bow, deep and formal.
Daenerys's eyes narrowed. "Who are you...wait!, he called you Prince?" She glared at Joffrey, her grip on Drogon tightening.
Joffrey sheathed his sword. "This is Lord Varys. A former advisor to the crown. He traveled with me from Westeros."
Daenerys's breath caught. She recognized that name. Her brother Viserys had spoken often of the important people in King's Landing, and the Spider had been one of them. Someone who had whispered secrets into the ears of kings. Someone who had advised her own father before the Usurper took the throne.
The bearded man wasted no time. He stepped forward, hand on the pommel of his sword, placing himself between the princess and Joffrey. His eyes flickered with recognition, suspicion, and fear.
"Khaleesi." His voice was rough, urgent. "Be wary of this man. He is Joffrey Baratheon. The son of Robert Baratheon."
"The Usurper's son?" Daenerys's voice cracked.
Her eyes, which had been soft with gratitude, turned hard and cold. She took a step back, clutching Drogon. The black dragon felt his mother's fear and hissed, smoke curling from his nostrils, his golden eyes fixed on Joffrey.
"Baratheon." The word was ice. "You are the son of the man who murdered my brother. Who stole my family's throne. Who sent assassins to kill my children and me."
The two Dothraki, Aggo and Kovarro, moved closer to their khaleesi, their hands on their arakhs, their bodies tensed for violence.
The Hound shifted his grip on the cages, ready to drop them and draw his sword.
Joffrey did not move. "I am not my father. I have never wronged you or your family. I had no hand in his wars or his hatreds."
"You bear his name." Daenerys's voice was chilly. "You are heir to his crown."
"And yet, I wear no crown." Joffrey's voice was calm, steady. "My father is dead. I left Westeros before they could put a crown on my head. I have no interest in ruling. I never did."
Ser Jorah stepped between them, his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Khaleesi, this could be a trap. The Lannisters—"
"Ah, yes, my family's reputation precedes me." Joffrey's voice was dry, almost amused. "I am aware of what they say about us in the Seven Kingdoms. But you are ignoring a rather important fact, Ser Jorah." He gestured at the shattered tower behind him. "I just went out of my way to save your khaleesi's life. If my objective was to kill her, all I had to do was... wait."
Daenerys studied him, her eyes searching his face for lies. "Then why are you here? Why did you save me?"
Lord Varys stepped forward. "Your Grace, I know you have every reason to distrust Prince Joffrey. The Baratheons and the Targaryens have been enemies for generations. But he is telling you the truth. He is not your enemy." He paused. "And neither am I."
Daenerys turned to face the eunuch. "I know you. You are the Spider. The Master of Whispers. You served the Usurper. You whispered in his ear, fed him secrets, helped him hold onto the throne he stole from my family."
"I served the realm." Varys's voice was soft. "Robert Baratheon was not a good king. He was not a wise king. But he was the king, and the realm needed stability. I did what I had to do to keep the Seven Kingdoms from tearing themselves apart." He spread his hands. "But you, Your Grace... you are different. You are the daughter of Aerys, yes. But you are also the sister of Rhaegar. The Mother of Dragons. You are something new. Something the world has not seen in centuries. I have personally been doing everything in my power to ensure your return."
Daenerys glared at the eunuch with incredulity. "You expect me to believe that you, the Spider, the man who whispered secrets into the ears of my enemies, have been plotting for my return all along?"
"Yes." Varys's voice was steady. "Illyrio Mopatis and I have been planning for your return to power since the day you fled Dragonstone. We sent you to the Dothraki to build an army. We arranged your marriage to Khal Drogo. We have been watching, waiting, hoping that you would be the one to bring the Targaryens back to Westeros."
Daenerys's eyes narrowed. "So it was your idea to sell me to Khal Drogo? To barter me like a horse to a savage so you could use his army for your schemes?"
She may have made it work to her favor in the end. She had found love in Drogo's tent, had learned to be a Khaleesi, and had hatched dragons from stone. But that did not change the fact that she had been sold away like merchandise. For a long time, she had been treated as such.
Varys's face showed no emotion. "We did what we thought was necessary, Your Grace. The Dothraki were the only army that could challenge the might of the Seven Kingdoms. Without them, your return would have been impossible."
Joffrey stepped forward. "You are right to be angry. You should not trust Lord Varys. Or me...or anyone for that matter." His eyes moved to Ser Jorah. "Not even the valiant knight in front of you."
"Watch your mouth, boy." Jorah pulled his sword out a few inches, the steel glinting in the sunlight.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Daenerys's glance shifted between Joffrey and Jorah, confusion and suspicion warring on her face.
Joffrey heard the Hound shifting behind him and held up a hand, signaling him to stand down. "Aren't you curious to learn how Illyrio Mopatis and Lord Varys have been keeping an eye on you and your brother? After you left Pentos, how did they know where you were? How did they know what you were doing?"
Daenerys's eyes went wide. She looked at Jorah, really looked at him, and saw the guilt written on his face, the way his hands trembled, the way he could not meet her gaze.
"You." Her voice was barely a whisper. "It was you."
None of the Dothraki following her would even know how to communicate with a Westerosi, nor would they have a reason to do so. But Jorah Mormont was an exiled knight, someone who had been forced to flee his home because of a crime he had committed. Someone who had every reason to want something from her enemies.
"What did they promise you?" Daenerys's voice rose. "What did they give you to spy on me?"
"Khaleesi..." Jorah muttered her name, his hands trembling. "Please, let me explain—"
"What was the price for your betrayal?!." She shouted, and Drogon hissed in her arms, smoke curling from his nostrils.
Lord Varys stepped forward. "A full pardon, Your Grace," he said calmly. "Some coin. And a small piece of land in the south. Enough for an exiled knight to return home with his head held high."
Jorah glared at Varys with fury in his eyes. "Khaleesi, that is all in the past. I am now fully loyal to you. I swear it. I would die for you. I would—"
"How can I believe that?" She pushed the knight away and moved closer to her Dothraki guards, putting their bodies between her and the man she had trusted. "I am surrounded by snakes!"
"Yes, you are." Joffrey's voice was calm, almost bored. "And you would do well to get used to it, if you wish to take that throne. Everyone who gets close to you will want something in exchange. That is simply how the world works. The capital of Westeros is filled with snakes, spiders, and all sorts of nasty creatures. If you do not learn how to deal with them, they will eat you alive. Lord Stark did not learn that lesson in time and almost cost him everything."
Daenerys turned to face him, her eyes blazing. "And what do you want from me, Prince Joffrey?" Her voice was sharp as a blade. "What do you expect me to give you for saving my life? My hand in marriage? My dragons?" Her tone grew more threatening. "Because you will get neither."
Joffrey chuckled. It was not a kind sound. "I am not looking to get married, much less to a girl who thinks the world owes her a throne because of her name." He ignored the outraged expression that flashed across her face. "But do not be so quick to dismiss a powerful ally. You are in no position to be picky, Daenerys Stormborn. Your army is scattered. Your Khal is dead. Your dragons are barely old enough to hunt rats. If you wish to ever sit your arse on that ugly chair, you will need friends. And I am offering you one."
Daenerys's jaw tightened. She wanted to argue...he could see it in her eyes, in the set of her shoulders, in the way her fingers curled into fists. But she held her tongue. She was angry, yes, but she was also smart. And she knew he was right.
"You said you wanted to talk," she said finally, her voice quieter now. "You mentioned an alliance before."
"I did."
"Then we will talk." She glanced at the cages in the Hound's hands, at the dragons who had fallen silent, watching her with their golden eyes. "But not here. And not now."
"Where, then?"
Daenerys's face hardened, and something dark flickered in her eyes. "First, I have matters to attend to. Xaro Xhoan Daxos is still in his palace. Doreah, my handmaiden, she..." The princess clenched her fists, her knuckles white. "She betrayed me. They both did. They sold me to the warlocks for gold and promises, for a share of the power they thought the Undying would give them." Her voice grew cold, colder than Joffrey had heard it yet. "I will deal with them. I will have my revenge. And then..." She looked at Joffrey, her eyes searching his face. "And then we will talk."
Joffrey inclined his head. "As you wish, Khaleesi." There was a mocking edge to his voice as he used her title, but Daenerys did not rise to the bait.
She turned to her bloodriders. "Aggo. Kovarro. Come. We have work to do."
The two Dothraki nodded, falling in behind her. Joffrey made a gesture to the Hound, and the big man handed the dragon cages to the Dothraki warriors without complaint.
Ser Jorah hesitated, his eyes moving from Daenerys to Joffrey to Varys. "Khaleesi—"
"Jorah." Daenerys's voice was ice. "You will come as well. We have much to discuss, you and I."
The knight's face went pale, but he followed. He had no choice. He had never had a choice.
Daenerys paused at the edge of the courtyard, looking back at Joffrey. "Find shelter in the city. I will send for you when I am ready."
Joffrey smiled. "I will be waiting."
She walked away, her silver hair disappearing into the shadows of Qarth. The Dothraki followed, and Ser Jorah trailed behind them, his shoulders slumped, his head bowed, a man walking toward his judgment.
The Hound watched them go, his scarred face unreadable beneath his dog's helm. "I like her," he said finally. "She has teeth."
"Aye, she has potential." Joffrey agreed.
Varys sighed, shaking his head. "This is not a game. The future of the realm hangs in the balance. And that first encounter could have gone much better."
Joffrey shrugged, turning away from where Daenerys had vanished. "It went well enough. She is alive, her dragons are alive, and she agreed to talk." He began walking toward the harbor. "Now come. Let us go back to the ship and get some rest. Tomorrow, we have a meeting with a princess."
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