The Black and Red Dragon

Chapter 33: Astapor

The sun is shining into the cabin. It lights up the room and brings in pleasant warmth. It wasn't as pleasant as the warmth that I felt from my right side. As if on cue, I feel someone shifting on my right side. I turn towards the beautiful silver-haired woman. Daenerys is cuddling into my side. A huge smile forms on my face, never before did I feel so happy and content. I turn towards her so I am facing her. She looks so peaceful. I gently stroke her arm hoping to wake her.

"Hmm...?" Dany moans. "Good morning, love," I say warmly to her. "I love you too... but give me a few more minutes," she moans. Dany buries her face into my chest and wraps her arms around me. As if trying to say that I should also continue sleeping. I chuckle. "I would love nothing more than stay in bed with you, but I need to get to my training. Ser Jorah will be angry and we'll be arriving in Astapor soon," I whisper softly. "Fine..." she sighs in defeat. She looks up at me and plants a kiss on my cheek.

We both start to get dressed, preparing ourselves for the day. Luckily I gave Irri the day off and Daenerys has currently no handmaidens so our morning is peaceful. "I need to find a new handmaiden. I am terrible at braiding my hair," Daenerys says while trying to braid her hair in front of the mirror. "I can help you if you want. It may not be as intricate as you are used to though" I say while putting my boots on. "Please, help me... I will look like a savage if I do it myself," She chuckles. I smile. "As you wish."

I walk towards her and start working on the braid. While I work on her hair I start to think about the future and about us. "Something on your mind, Visenya?" Daenerys asks. I sigh. "I do... will this last Daenerys? I love you, and I always will. But will Westeros accept such a relationship? Don't they think that a relationship with the same sex, like this, is sinful?"

She turns to me and I stop braiding. "I have three dragons, the lords and ladies will think what I want them to. And don't worry about an heir. We will figure that out later. Let's just focus on ourselves for now, okay?" She says. I smile and kiss her. "Thank you, Dany. And about the heir situation... I think we are safe in that regard." She looks confused. "Why do you say that?"

"When we were in Qarth I spoke to someone called Jon Snow during my sleep. It was the same way we talked to each other when we were apart," I started to explain. She was listening intently to what I was saying. "He was at a place called the Wall. I am not sure where that is. I think it is somewhere in Westeros. He knew a lot about what was going on there. We talked a bit about the situation there in Westeros and about you. He also mentioned that there is a Targaryen maester at Castle Black, but I also think he is a Targaryen."

Daenerys looks surprised at the news. She thinks deeply for a moment. "Why would he be a Targaryen?" She asks me. I shrug. "This dreaming ability is linked to Targaryens, no? If that is the case then he should be one right? Although, he said he wasn't a Targaryen. Jon said he is a bastard of Ned Stark." Dany sighs. "Let's keep this between us for now. At least until we know more. This might complicate things." I nod and I continue braiding her hair.

—

In the morning, we dock at Astapor and make it known that we want to buy Unsullied soldiers. In response, a man called Kraznys Mo Nakloz offers to show us a sample of the Unsullied that are for sale.

To my surprise, Kraznys speaks only in High Valyrian. I was willing to translate for Daenerys and Jorah, but Dany shakes her head when she noticed what I was planning to do. Of course, I oblige, and a beautiful slave girl translates for us in the common tongue instead. Perhaps I should teach Daenerys High Valyrian. I will ask her later when we are alone.

We are walking towards a small square surrounded by a wall where some unsullied are standing. While we are walking Kraznys explains about the unsullied. The slave girl translates, and if I am honest, she is doing an excellent job. She clearly knows the language.