Bound by Blood and Oaths

Chapter 24: Moving Forward

Yunkai

Jaehaerys woke up early. The morning rays slipped into the tent to announce the new day. Daenerys was still asleep as she had bundled herself with the bedsheets next to him. A deep sigh left him as he gazed at her. Today would be an interesting day, he thought.

"Love," Jaehaerys says in a soft and warm voice, "Time to greet a new day."

"Hmm?" Daenerys groans out, "Tell it to give me a few more minutes. Not feeling well."

"Aw, aren't you cute?" Jaehaerys says with a chuckle as he wraps an arm around her. Daenerys kept trying to get back to sleep, but even if her smile and giggling made it clear she was very much awake.

"Are you actually not feeling well?" Jaehaerys asked, this time a bit more serious.

"A little bit dizzy, but I didn't really sleep well. I woke up a few times because of nightmares. You don't need to worry. It will pass."

Jaehaerys turned Daenerys around so she was looking at his face directly. It made her smile and blush as she saw the worried look on his face. It makes her feel blessed yet undeserving of it. Mainly because she hasn't been able to give much back other than her presence alone. While he has given her his blood, sweat and tears over the years to protect her. It wasn't fair in her mind.

"Tell me when it becomes worse, alright? And come to me when you wish to talk about something. You're my highest priority, always. Will you promise me?"

"I promise. Thank you, Jaeh. You're too good for me," she says softly.

"Because you deserve it. Come, we have a day of planning ahead of us."

—

The morning meeting was soon in full swing. The knights, Grey Worm, and Daario met with the Targaryens to discuss the approach of taking Yunkai. On the table was a map of the city and the surrounding land.

"I have thought about it. Either we take it by force, infiltrate the city to take it from within, or we starve it out," Jaehaerys says as he stood at the head of the table, "We do not have the recourses for a prolonged siege and we can't afford to lose half our men. That leaves infiltrating the city. Daario, I hope you have something for us to help in that regard?"

"A very astute observation, Your Grace. As a matter of fact, I do," Daario says as he leans over the map, a finger pointing to a specific gate. One that is close to the mercenary camp. "There is a side gate. My men use it to visit the brothels. They know me and will let me pass. I will be able to kill the guards and take your two best men to open the gates for the army."

"Hmm," Jaehaerys hums as he thinks, slowly nodding, "It does sound good. Who do you want with you?"

"Ser Baelor and Grey Worm."

"Ser Baelor stays at my side. Ser Jorah will go in his stead. If he agrees of course," Jaehaerys says while gazing at Jorah.

"As you wish, Your Grace, but are we sure we can trust him? What if he leads us into the arms of our enemies to be captured?"

"You've got a suspicious mind. In my experience only dishonest people think like that," Daario says with a knowing expression and smile.

"He is no longer such a man. But we have the opinion of someone that can see who a trustworthy fighter is," Jaehaerys says and turns to Grey Worm, "Do you trust Daario Naharis, Grey Worm? You lead the Unsullied now, so you have a voice in this."

Grey Worm's hardened and almost always expressionless face glanced at Daario, studying it before he gave his answer.

"I trust him."