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

Part 32

Chapter 32

ASHARA DAYNE

Ashara had considered her life forfeit all those years ago. And now, as she lived, having the opportunity to spend every day with the man he loved, she considered them all a blessing. It was a fought blessing that had come at a great cost, most of it born by her lord husband sitting infront of her.

And he continued to bear it still. For her. For his family. For this world, and yet few understood him, understood the sacrifice he had made for the world. And so, she would, she would understand him, stand by his side even when no one else would.

"So, it is beginning?" she asked, and of all the people in the world, she was the only one who knew of both their perceived and their true enemies. Many believed the Blackfyres as their ultimate enemy, and yet she knew that to be false. That the Blackfyres were but a nuisance in the grand scheme of things. Their true enemy lay North—hidden behind the Great Wall, gathering strength as the seasons passed, wishing to plunge this world into darkness.

"Yes, the Blackfyres are finally making their move," he replied as they both lay in the Godswood. She rested her head on his lap, savouring his presence and warmth before he went on to his campaign.

"Is it wise risking yourself like that?" she asked, knowing that his plan of taking down the Blackfyres was dangerous and involved much risk on his part.

"Meereen provided me with a refuge when I had no place to go. The city is our greatest ally on the other side of the Narrow Sea. After the liberation of Astapor, many in the region are eyeing this conflict and are supporting the Blackfyres only to curb this wave of freedom that threatens the status quo," Pentosh and Volantis were among the most prominent ones. They could only officially support the Blackfyres of course, not with Kingslanding being a great trading partner for these cities.

There was a time when the only thing that made the continent a power was its military might, but in one decade, Daemon had changed that, believing that if Kingslanding was to become a power broker in the world, it must expand its influence through the art of commerce.

And so, the last decade had seen the Crown expand its enterprise massively, investing heavily into ventures that had revolutionized one thing after another, from farming to construction to craftsmanship.

Artisans had been smuggled from across the Narrow Sea, and now Kinglanding's expanded Streets housed the finest glass makers and other craftsmen, each of them working for the Crown, helping them expand their influence.

"So, you think they will target Meereen first," she asked again as she held his hand. The glove covering it made her heart fill up with guilt.

"Yes, and if Meereen falls, our enemies will have access to an imaginable amount of Gold, and though Gold doesn't necessarily win the war. It is much easier to win a war if you have if you have it rather than not," he finished, his eyes landing onto her own as she felt them soften as he caressed her protruding belly.

"I wish there was another way, but the truth is if Meereen falls, this war will become a lot harder for us," he replied, and she knew it as well.

"I know," she replied as she touched his face. The cool feel of the metal made her bite her lip as she felt guilt rip through her knowing full well that she was the one responsible for putting him through this.

"If I ask you to stay, will you stay?" she asked, and his eyes softened as he looked her in the eye.

"You very well know the answer to that," and he would. And yet she would not.