A tale: Reborn in Westeros

Chapter 39

Aegon Targaryen

"Alex, are you sure you're fine?" Daenerys asks while laying her head on my chest. "Why? Am I not good enough anymore?" I tease. Daenerys laughs as she playfully slaps my stomach. A small shiver runs through me as she does it.

"No, I am quite satisfied and pleased with how you handled me. It's just... you're covered in scars! There are dozens of them... I am just concerned," she says as her hand trails over some of the larger ones.

"I am fine, Dany. The healing was painful and long. Being bedridden for weeks and then trying to walk again... Yeah, it wasn't great, but I am as healthy as can be," I reassure her and place a kiss on her shoulder.

Daenerys sighs a bit. "That's good to hear, love. We should probably get back into the thick of things. Cercei does not rest, nor do those dead things, I guess."

I nod solemnly. "They do not. We should probably expect Jon to come here at one point. Samwell went back north to Jon after all. But sending a raven to Winterfell can't hurt," I say while sighing. I rather stay in bed with Dany. This kind of comfort is what I have missed most. "I guess you're right," Daenerys says as she reluctantly gets out of bed to put her clothes back on. I follow suit with my own reluctance.

Daenerys is right as I look over my body. My body is covered in scars. That fall really messed me up. In a few minutes, I am again dressed. I turn to Daenerys, who sits in front of the mirror to braid her hair. Her hands move with skill and finesse as her hair is made in a magnificent and integrate braid. As she concentrates, she softly hums to herself. I watch in wonder and awe as I get lost in her beauty.

Daenerys softly smiles as she sees me in the mirror. "Staring is rude, you know," she chuckles. I smile. "Then it is good that I am not staring. I am admiring you." Daenerys' smile grows. "Hmm, I think I can tolerate that. Admire away," she says with a soft laugh. We soon hear someone knocking on the door.

"Who is it?" I call out. "Missandei, Your Grace. There is someone who is asking for an audience." Daenerys sighs as she finishes her braid. She stands up and holds a hand out for me. I quickly stand up, take her hand in mine and intertwine our fingers. "Let's get going, husband of mine."

We walk through the halls that are made of black stone fused together. It is strange. How is it that this place feels comfortable and pleasant to me. I can hardly call this island beautiful. It is not the largest island, it has no large forest, nor has it a large bustling town or port. Still, it feels like home.

"Dany, how come that this place feels so much like home?" I ask as we walk together. "I am not sure. It could be that this place feels similar to where our people came from, Valyria. It is one of the few places with a volcano, after all," Daenerys says. "That makes it still strange, but a certain kind of sense. I think." Daenerys chuckles and we walk into the throne room.

There we see a woman in red. It is Melisandre, the Red Priest that is a crazy, cold-blooded murderer. I tighten my grip on Dany's hand in response. Daenerys looks at me with furrowed brows. "What's wrong, Alex?" She asks.

"A red priest that has lost her mind to her useless fake god. She killed a child, from what I remember. That woman burned her. I hate her for that. She killed such a gentle and kindhearted girl called Shireen Baratheon," I explained with anger in my voice.

Daenerys eyes contain a growing fire of anger. Her gaze settles on the woman in question. It is cold and unrelenting. It contains such intensity it would make the toughest man cower before her. Melisandre turns around to face us. She seems startled as she looks at Daenerys. "Queen Daenerys..." Melisandre starts to say in Valyrian. However, Daenerys stops her by raising her hand to silence her.

In a slow and intimidating pace, Daenerys walks to Melisandre. "I met many people during my life. Murderers, rapists, slavers, thieves, liars... Tell me, have you ever met a person that burns children?" Daenerys asks. Melisandre's eyes widen as she looks at Daenerys.

Daenerys looks with a cold rage down at Melisandre. Daenerys is not taller than Melisandre, but her presence makes Melisandre shrink and cower before her. "Answer me," Daenerys demands. "Your Grace..." Melisandre whispers. "Shireen Baratheon. I believe you know her?" Melisandre pales as her eyes widen in shock. Her mouth opens and closes as no words leave her.

"Silence is your answer. I am a mother, did your flames show you that? Two daughters and a son. How old was Shireen? Five? Ten?" Melisandre swallows hard as her gaze connects with Daenerys again. "Eleven..." she whispers. "Eleven... Why did you do it?"

"Your Grace, I did not kill her. She was taken from the camp..." Milesandre says before Daenerys stops her. "Oh, that's good. But you were planning to do it. Why tremble before me if you're innocent. What else did you do?" Daenerys asks coldly.

"Brainwashing, dark magic that killed Renly Baratheon, tortured the bastard of Robert Baratheon, I think that says enough about what she is," I say with disgust. Melisandre looks at me with furrowed brows. "How do you know this? Does the Lord..." she is cut off by me. "Mother Rhoyne, speaks to me. She is the definition of motherly love while your god burns and kills people. You will die for your crimes, witch."

Daenerys motions for the Unsullied to take her. "Say your final prayers that will land on deaf ears. You won't see another sunrise," Daenerys says and walks away. I follow her. Her anger is still visible in her eyes. "I sometimes wonder how so many cruel people can hold so much power," she asks bitterly.

"I don't know, Dany. I wish it was otherwise," I say as I stoke her shoulder warmly. Daenerys takes a deep breath and lets it out. "We better make sure that we take them out. I do not want people to suffer under cruel tyrants or false religions."

"Your Grace, we were coming to meet our guest. How did it go and who was it?" Tyrion asks as he walks towards us with Varys. "A criminal that will be executed. Tyrion make ready for a war meeting in the afternoon. It's time to take the throne," Daenerys announces.