The Burnt Prince-GOT SI (OC x Ashara Dayne)

Part 26

Chapter 26

On the shores of Meereen, a dozen or so ships stood ready to set sail as men poured into the ships by the hundreds, armored and burnt each bearing a scald on their faces showing their devotion to the man who had freed them.

"You do not need to do this, Morro. The blockade by the slave masters will sink many ships; I will be fine on my own," he said, yet the man shook his head.

"That is why we are using more ships than we need. We are going to break through that blockade," he said confidently.

"This is my fight. There is no need for you to involve yourself in it," Daemon tried to persuade him against this, yet the man smirked.

"You fought for us, fought for our freedom when you did not need to. You gave us all a chance at a life we never could have imagined for ourselves or for our children. This is nothing in comparison to that," Morro said, and Daemon smiled. He nodded and turned towards the rest of the Thirteen, all of whom had given what they could to him.

"We will all wait eagerly for the news of your victory," Nycho said as Daemon shook hands with each and every one of them.

"I leave Meereen in your hands," he said as he stepped back.

"No mercenary group, or khalasaar shall take up arms against you after the precedent I have made for them. But this will not hold for long, use the time I have bought you to shore up defenses, train men and women, and make alliances where you can," he advised them, and they nodded.

"We shall heed your words," said and he hoped they did.

"When I succeed, I shall have my envoy sent to you, and we shall join hands. The might of House Targaryen and the Seven Kingdoms shall stand behind you in your freedom," he assured them, and they nodded.

"And so shall our Halls remain open to you. The Council of Meereen will always have a seat for you and your descendants. The Liberator and his kin shall have a place in Meereen as long as a free Meereen stands," they announced, and this was more symbolic, for there was little chance that he would ever return to Meereen.

"I am honored by the gesture," with that, a man stepped forward carrying a small box as Morro stepped forward.

"We know that you shall have a crown of your own, but we wanted to give you a tribute for what you have done for us," he opened the box, and Daemon was surprised by what he saw inside.

"The treasuries of the Masters we looted had little Valyrian Steel knick-knacks. After gathering it all, it was enough to create this pair," and two objects in the box lay right there.

They could have kept a sword and a mask, both with the characteristic smoke pattern of Valyrian Steel, and used them for themselves.

Yet Daemon felt a connection to the steel as he touched it. He could see the thoughtfulness in the design and craftsmanship that had gone into these two things.

"I shall take them," he said as he took the box.

"But not as Daemon Targaryen but as the Liberator and the Fourteenth. In my demise, shall a sire of mine wish to take that mantle, he shall come to Meereen wielding these very gifts."

0000

ARTHUR DAYNE

They had ridden hard, without stopping for only small breaks. The pat to Starfall had already been cleared away by Prince Oberyn, and any other bandit group they had met on the way had been slain by the King.