Fatebringer | Viserys Targaryen

Chapter 18

The woman awaited them in the throne room.

Her long red hair seemed to sway over her back despite the lack of wind. Her red dress curled at the ends as they touched the ground, shadows dark beneath them but her face pale as if all the light went to it. Ysira led the way into toward her, the woman turning with an eerily smooth roll of her feet.

"Dārys Visērȳs," said the woman. "Dārilaros Daenērys, Dārilaros se Riña Ondos Ysira." (T: King Viserys. Princess Daenerys, Princess and Lady Hand Ysira.)

Viserys narrowed his eyes, "Iksā constla lēda īlva brōzāt adhu gaomi daor gīmigon aōhon." (T: You are comfortable with our names yet we do not know yours.)

The woman smiled thinly, bowing her head and spreading her arms, "Melisandre broziks. Dārilaros Daenērys, dohaeriros istin, sindita liortā, qilonta ozbartā. Riglose Belmot Pryjatys rhaenan." (T: I am called Melisandre. Princess Daenerys, I was a slave once, bought and sold, scourged and branded. It is an honor to meet the Breaker of Chains.)

This seemed to please Daenerys, who said, "Kesir dreji jiorilaks, Melisandre." (T: You are welcome here, Melisandre.)

Ysira was eager to learn more, "Skoro syt emagon ao māzigon naejot īlva?" (T: Why have you come to find us?)

"Kinvara, Eglie Voktys Aeksiot Oño, massilaro vilibazmoti ay baelagon, ñuhos kostyso bosajose, yne jitters," explained Melisandre, hands tucked together. (T: Kinvara, the High Priestess of the Lord of Light, sent me to help you, however I can, in the wars to come.) Then, in the Common Tongue, she said, "I am no longer at the service of Stannis Baratheon."

"Why is that?" asked Ysira suspiciously. "Last we heard, you were aiding him a great deal in all his plots. Blackwater Bay, the murder of Renly Baratheon, I even heard talk that the Lord of Light played a hand in what happened to King Joffrey."

Melisandre's smile was pained and awkward, as if her explanation was about to be deeply embarrassing. "Bosys bantis amazis, se morghor zijomy amazis. Meri kivio darilaros oz maghagon kostas." (T: The Long Night is coming, and the dead come with it. Only the prince who was promised can bring the dawn.)

"Is this prophecy coming from the Lord of Light?" asked Daenerys, confused. "I thought there weren't many followers of the Lord of Light in Westeros."

"Not yet," said Melisandre, "but even those who don't worship the Lord can serve his cause."

"Then, your Lord wants something from us in relation to this prophecy? A Prince to bring the dawn?"

"Yes," said Melisandre. "With the dragons awoke other creatures that men will need to face... together. Prophecies are dangerous things, but I believe you have a role to play. As does another in the North. I see visions of a battle in the snow, of wildlings crossing the Wall. I hear that Jon Snow intends to unite the wildlings with the Northern houses to face a common enemy. He has seen the strangest of things with his own eyes, and you must hear it from him."

"Jon Snow," repeated Viserys. "Isn't that Eddard Stark's bastard? The brother at the Wall that's been supporting Robb?"

Ysira nodded. "Yes. Well, I imagined we may yet need to go to the North to speak with them personally... perhaps this will be what must be done, to offer our support. But I question, Lady Melisandre, why you have come to us now with this prophecy?"

"As I said, prophecies are dangerous things," she said quietly. "I believed Stannis was the Prince who was Promised, but I do not believe that to be so anymore. I thought him the image of Azor Ahai, who would wield the sword Lightbringer. My visions changed some months ago. I came here, led by what I've seen."