Bound by Blood and Oaths

Chapter 4: A Broken Family

The Great Grass Sea

"Ser Baelor, I have been thinking ever since we left, Pentos. Where have you been, I expected you to come earlier than you did," Viserys says as he looked at the knight. His gaze was stern but also filled with the satisfaction of having Baelor in his service. It is as it should be as Viserys sees it.

"I did, Your Grace. In Myr I found you, but you ran. I lost you in the city. I couldn't find you ever since the encounter," Baerlor explains calmly as he rides his horse next to Viserys.

"I recall that the person we saw was more akin to a cutthroat than a knight."

"It was to disguise myself, Your Grace. After the Trident I refused Robert's pardon. Only by the intervention of Lord Eddard Stark and Ser Barristan was I allowed to live in exile. I expected that Robert would be watching me, but I learned that was never the case."

"I see. You are here now. That is what matters. I expect you to serve me loyally, Ser Baelor. Prove it and I will consider naming you Lord Commander of my Kingsguard. For now, I have decided to give the title to Ser Jorah. I am sure you understand," Viserys says glancing at the knight beside him.

"As you wish, Your Grace," Baelor says.

He doesn't understand. Ser Jorah may be a knight, given his oath to the Targaryen but that does not make him worthy. Viserys may have reasons for the decision, but Baelor thinks he will not share them with him.

Viserys spurs his horse on to go back to Ser Jorah to discuss matters of import. Something is off about Viserys. The look in his eyes and the way he acts remind him of his father in the early days of his madness. Baelor hopes he is wrong for he has no desire to serve yet another Mad King.

Baelor sighs as he watches the strange people he is traveling with. Their foreign tongue. The strange and curious looks of how is armored. They find him more of a curiosity than anything else. He may consider not wearing his armor every day. The temperature and climate in the Great Grass Sea are even more unbearably than in King's Landing.

"Ser Baelor!"

Baelor turns his head to the voice and smiles as he sees Jaehaerys riding towards him. The Prince looked happy to see him. Baelor is surprised by how much the Prince has grown. He looked slightly stronger than your average man, athletic build, and handsome like his brother Rhaegar.

"Your Highness, I am happy to see you again. You have grown into a fine man," Baelor says with a small bow. His face shows pride in the young Prince. He has looked after the Prince for most of his time as Kingsguard. To see him again makes him happier than he thought he would.

"As it is to see you, Ser! How have you been? It has been so long," Jaehaerys says while a smile is forming on his face.

"I have been well. It took me more time to find you again, my Prince. I would have come sooner if I knew where you were," Baelor says.

"No need to apologize, Ser Baelor. To have you here again is more than I could have hoped. Did Viserys make you Lord Commander of the Kingsguard?"

"Ser Jorah has that honor, my Prince. His Grace found it necessary for me to prove my loyalty," Baelor says. He looks at Viserys again. This time he rode his horse alone as he seems to think. It is not hard to see he is not enjoying this trip into the Dothraki Sea.

"Of course he does. Viserys remembers you and your years of service. He thinks you are more loyal to me than him. It scares him," Jaehaerys explains.

"You make it sound like there is conflict brewing."

"There is, Ser Baelor. Viserys is becoming increasingly irrational and cruel. You will see soon enough, Ser. For his arrogance and cruelty do not hide in the shadows. When you do see what Viserys is, I hope to not find you next to him. For he will be a terrible king, Ser Baelor. Terrible, anyone who knows even a little about him knows it."