Honey and Blood

At the edge of Blackwater Bay

Daerion didn't believe his luck. The real squire that was supposed to take care of Connor Beesbury had been eaten by one of the wild dragons on Dragonstone letting him squire for Connor without consequence. Daerion had managed to win all of the jousting tournaments without even knowing that the price included an escort task with none other than the Targeryan Princess. Furthermore, Connor was also desperate enough to take him with him and by consequence saving him for eternal damnation in the purgatory that was Dragonstone.
Daerion didn't hesitate. He packed the few things he had left and got ready to leave the volcano he grew up in. He didn't tell his mother that he was leaving. She would have tried to stop him with all of her might. He instead wrote a letter explaining that he would be leaving for the main land and that he loved her very much. He left the bed on his bed when he sneaked out of the window at early dawn to meet Connor at the docks of Dragonstone.

Gidden helped him to climb out of the window and gave him a last vile with blue dye. It was already half empty and Gidden said that it was the last one he had. They exchanged goodbye and Daerion soon joined Connor in their designated spot. As instructed, he had redyed his hair blue. Connor was waiting for him on the bridge to the boat as expected. He seemed a little bit nervous and terrified. 

"-Finally, you made it. - Connor said as Daerion walked into the great wooden boat. - I thought that you were gonna abandon me. I was getting nervous.

-Do not worry, my lord. - Daerion answered. He had never set foot in a boat before and to be honest it felt kind of weird. - I won't break our promise. Do they sink often?

-What does? - Connor asked. 

-The boats. - Daerion said looking over at the edge. The water seemed cold and unforgiving under the waves. Connor looked down, he had traveled so many times by boat that he never had thought of it before. Daerion kept watching the water.

-Not very often, no. - Connor reassured him. - You've really never left Dragonstone?

-No. - Daerion admitted looking at Connor. It was funny; Daerion was a strong tall man, who could easily snap Connor in two but in some way he seemed more like an innocent kid. Connor felt a little bit of pity.

-Well then, you might need some guidance with social queues and the world beyond the shores of Dragonstone. - Connor said with a calm tones. - Just a few things in case you have to pretend to be me again.

-Social cues? - Daerion asked finally turning to look at Connor. 

-Things every knight must know. - Connor said in a pretentious tone. - First rule you must always be galant with ladies, even if they are not galant to you.

-Why? - Daerion asked. Connor was about to answer but the truth was that he really didn't know. He thought of it for a few seconds but the way Daerion looked at him made his mind go blank.

-I do not know. - Connor answered. - All I know is that you always have to do so. I also know that you always have to be honorable when you duel with a fellow knight. 

-All of these rules sound like common sense to me. - Daerion interrupted him. - Why would anyone go out of their way to be mean to others? Who would do something like that?

-You would be surprised. - Connor answered just as another person. started climbing onto the boat."

Daerion tried to hid his face a little bit from him and Connor kept glaring at him. It was a young man, with red frizzy hair and a puffy face. He had a few bruises but he was dressed elegantly. He seemed pompous and rather boorish. Daerion took a better look at the clothes he was wearing, he was a noble man for sure and sawn onto his doublet was a cluster of red grapes. That's when Daerion recognized who it was; it was Gawin Redwyne. The first person he jousted against. Daerion could taste Gawin's saltiness.

"- Congrats on your unexpected victory, Beesbury. - Gawin said rather rudely. - I thought that after your bender the night before it would have been almost impossible for you to ride a horse and yet you won all of the matches. Curious, isn't it?

-Maybe you are not as good as you thought so. - Connor barked back at him with the same discreet rudeness. Dearion wasn't good at picking up hidden messages in what people said but the exchange between Connor and Gawin was pretty clear. -Maybe you should practice more.

Gawin faked a smile. His eyes landed on Daerion who was trying his best to be invincible.

-Did you get a new squire? - Gawin asked Connor with suspicion. - He looks rather ... odd.

-I did. - Connor answered. Daerion could tell that he was starting to get a little bit nervous.

-You know, something I hate the most about your family armor? The one you used this tournament? - Gawin said with a little smile. - The helmet covers the face completely. It is like a fun mystery, who is truly behind the helmet?

-How interesting. - Connor answered dismisevly. - What are you doing here any way? I won the tourney.

-You did. - Gawin explained. - I just here with the party, I'm on my way to Iron Oaks. It's on the way to the Eyrie so I'm just gonna stick with you for a little bit of the road. I'll see you around, Beesbury."

Gawin left and didn't even acknowledge Daerion standing there. He thought that at least he would ask something about his blue hair but Gawin was too preoccupied being mean to Connor. Connor's ear were red and Daerion could feel there was some tension between Connor and Gawin. What type of tension was it? He couldn't tell yet.

"-What a prick. - Connor said to Daerion. - If you want to know what a knight shouldn't be, Gawin Redwyne is the best example."

There was a silence between them. They could see that boarding on the other boat was the groom's family. All dressed in fine blue silk, with silver tread. Rodrick Arryn was old, he already had a family. To Daerion it made no sense that he should marry someone as young as Princess Daella. He could see her now, following her new husband. Her face hidden beneath a red vale. Daerion could tell that she was a sad and shy girl.

"-Imagine being force to marry someone you do not love. - Daerion said to Connor as they watched the family going up aboard the ship."

Connor felt a sting in his chest. He turned to look at Daerion. There was a look in his eye, a far off look that Connor couldn't quite place. Daerion had never thought of marriage in any way, with his preferences he had never really thought about it before. He just thought he would always have to be alone. Connor didn't answer, he just left without a word.

Daerion looked at the shores of his childhood. He wasn't fully ready to leave them behind. The mystical island of Dragonstone, where the great house Targaryan was birthed, where wild dragons hid between the Dragonmont and where he was born. He wasn't ready to leave it all behind but he couldn't wait to see what was next.