A War of Fate and Prophecy

Chapter Five

They had been riding for weeks. Drogo was taking the Khalasar south through the lands of Lhazar. Every night for the past week Alyssays dreams had been filled with images of blood and fire and screams of agony. She had woken this morning to find that Khal Drogo had taken the warriors and rode out to a nearby village leaving Dany and she with their guards and Ser Jorah. As soon as she had risen, she had frantically run to her sister telling her they had to follow. But as they neared the village, she knew they were too late.

The two sisters looked in dismay as they walked through the smoking ruins of the village. There was the stench of death and violence everywhere. The bodies were everywhere and bore the signs of Dothraki arakh blades and in the distance, they could hear the screams.

"What did they do?" Dany asked as Ser Jorah and their handmaids followed along surrounded by their guards.

Rakharo replied "Lamb men make good slaves, Khal Drogo will make a gift of them to the slavers. And the slavers will give us gold and silk and steel." The blood rider reached out a hand to gently guide Alyssays around a pile of bodies as she stumbled and pulled away from him, shocked by his words.

"I thought the Dothraki didn't believe in money." Daenerys reminded them.

"Gold to hire ships, Princess, ships to sail to Westeros." Jorah remarked and his tone of calm acceptance was almost as terrible as the carnage around them. Alyssays felt the first tear slip down her face.

As they walk further Dany stop when she sees a makeshift pen holding captives and Dothraki warriors picking out the women, Alyssays is nearly positive she is about to be sick, the suffering and pain of these people feels like a physical wave attacking the princess.

"Jorah, make them stop." Dany suddenly demands gesturing to a nearby blood rider abusing and raping a woman.

"Khaleesi?"

"You heard me." Dany's voice cracks like a whip and she moves to support Aly who is pale and looks faint.

"These men have shed blood for their Khal. Now they claim their rewards."

"You call this a reward? Raping and murdering the innocent?" Alyssays asks, not bothering to hide the disgust in her voice and the knight has the decency to drop his eyes in shame.

"She is a lamb girl Khalakki, the raiders do her honor. If her wailing offends you and the Khaleesi I will bring you her tongue." Rakharo raised his hand as if to comfort Alyssays or touch her arm and she pulled away so violently it seemed to surprise the Dothraki warrior.

Over the past few weeks Alyssays had become slowly aware that Rakharo's behavior towards her had changed subtly. He was always close by if possible and more protective of her safety and comfort. He found small ways to touch her and be affectionate and up till now Ally had allowed it. She was not sure if she was reading too much into the behavior, it had seemed harmless, and she was unsure how to address it. But in this moment, as he defended this brutality she was sickened by his attention and reminded that despite how she and Daenerys were treated with respect and gentleness because they were dear to the Khal that was not the case for many.

"Honor." She scoffed and asked in Dothraki. "And if Khal Drogo's enemies were to so HONOR my sister and I, what would you say then?"

He again reached for her arm "The Khalasar would never allow..."

Alyssays violently jerked away from his reach this time. "DO NOT touch me." She hissed and the riders face showed his surprise at her movement and the expression of disdain on her face.

Ser Jorah tried to calm the situation. "Khaleesi, Princess, you have gentle hearts, but this is how it's always been."

"I do not have a gentle heart, Ser." Dany disagreed and issued the order herself since he would not.