Winter's Fire → Game of Thrones

iii. Animosity

I sat in the chambers I was staying in within the royal palace of Pentos. I had thought that Illyrio's manse was beautiful, but it could not even compare to this place. There were marble floors and walls with paintings and tapestries on them. Every room had some kind of art in them, and it was all beautiful.

The chambers that I was staying in had those same marble floors and a large golden tub with clawed feet. There was a painting spanning across the wall of the hillside of Pentos, and it was a beautiful painting of the landscape, especially where it connected with the sea. My bed was larger than the one at Illyrio's somehow, and I had a table and a few pyres around the room. When I looked out of my window I could see the sea, and I know that is why Alios put me in here.

Alios had agreed to let me stay for a week while Viserys calmed down, but he feared that he would anger his council if I stayed any longer. He happened to like being alive, and I prefer my friends without slit throats. The council still wants him to marry me to secure some kind of alliance that I can not even create while in exile because most of them are fools.

Today I was expected to return, but I do not think I am ready. I have actually been enjoying myself here at the palace, as the serving girls talk to me if Alios is not around, and I am allowed in the court. It has been so long since I have partaken in any form of court, and I did not even know I missed it. It is something I have a talent for and enjoy at the same time.

Countless amounts of people have asked me why I am here, and if I am to wed Alios or have any form of involvement with him. We have both told everyone we are just close friends, but courts do not really work that way. People believe what they wish, and that is another reason that I cannot stay. We cannot have anyone believing anything more. I cannot afford it.

My door was opened and Alios walked in with his guards. Ever since I arrived at least two of them have been with apart from one night were we sat in his chambers talking. We came to the agreement that he would not ask me to marry him because we are just friends. He knows most things about me now, including why I was exiled. It did not seem to shock him too much, which I was grateful for. I know that he fears messing up and dying because of something that he knows is not his fault.

I got to my feet and pulled Alios into a tight hug. He hugged me back, knowing that I did not entirely fear Viserys, but that I was not ready to go back. I had even told him that I was worried that Viserys had not calmed down yet, or that he would get angry when he saw me, but Alios had assured me that I would be fine. He had told Illyrio not to send any men because he would send his own guards to escort me back.

We walked out to the very front gates of the palace in a comfortable silence and I almost forgot about the guards behind me. There was a horse waiting for me there, and it was one of Illyrio's. I knew that because I had refused to take a royal horse, just in case I upset the council. Alios scoffed and told me he was not afraid of them, but he is. And if he did not, then he would be a fool.

"Take care," Alios said. "If anything happens, just send word and if I cannot come myself then I will send men to go and get you."

"Thank you for your hospitality, my prince," I thanked, having to use his titles while his men were around. "I will be fine. You should take care as well."

Thankfully, Alios did not apologise once more before sending me off. If he did, I would have lightly hit him and that would end badly for me, even if it was just a joke. He kept saying sorry and it was driving me crazy. It is not his fault because Viserys would have had to find out eventually. It just ended up being sooner rather than later.

The ride to Illyrio's manse was short, but I got to see part of the city on the way there and that always made me happy. I like to go into the cities and experience the culture instead of just sitting in some fancy mance. Illyrio was not happy with me doing that, but Alios sent his younger brother with me to look at the city.