The Age of Daenerys Targaryen

Part 73: The proposal

The Sealord's huge ballroom was packed. In addition to the delegations from the Empire, the Six Kingdoms, the North and the Iron Islands, numerous rich and powerful citizens of Braavos had come to the banquet. The latter were all dressed in black or gray according to the custom of the local upper class, which was in clear contrast to the colorful robes preferred by the elite in King's Landing and Volantis.

Sealord Belo Aenolis rose to deliver a speech. He praised the successful negotiations and expressed his hope that the peoples on both sides of the Narrow Sea would live together in peace in the future. Then he briefly mentioned the decision of the citizens and the Council of Braavos to join the Empire (everyone present knew that, of course) and made a toast to Daenerys.

"Our Empress, Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, long may she rule!"

"Our Empress, long may she rule!!", came the thunder of hundreds of throats. "LONG MAY SHE RULE! LONG MAY SHE RULE! LONG MAY SHE RULE!"

"I knew Daenerys was popular in Braavos", Sansa whispered in Tyrion's ear. "But this reminds me of how the Lords of the North proclaimed Jon king."

"Because the comparison fits", Tyrion muttered back. "Just as the Northmen followed Jon - and are now following you - the Braavosi joined Daenerys of their own free will."

When the applause subsided, the Sealord sat down again and the food was served.

"I really didn't expect you to want to join the New Valyrian Empire", Daenerys said to Aenolis. "I got the impression that Braavos attaches great importance to its independence."

"So it is, Your Majesty", said the Sealord. "In addition, for most Braavosi, the name Valyria is still synonymous with evil."

The Empress nodded. Before the Doom, the Valyrian Freehold had kept innumerable slaves. They literally had to work their way to death in the scorching mines under the Fourteen Flames. Once the prisoners of a large fleet of slave carriers succeeded in capturing the ships and escaping to the lagoon on which they built the city of Braavos. The citizens of Braavos never forgot their origins, so their hatred of slavery - and of Vaylria - was understandable.

"However", continued Aenolis, "the Moonsingers who led our ancestors to this lagoon foretold not only the fall of Valyria, but also its resurrection, this time as a power of good, and that Braavos would find its place in it and prosper. This prophecy is not known to anyone outside of Braavos, and even here few know about it. But it is recorded in the archive of the Temple of the Moonsingers. But that is not the only reason for our decision. The Empire now controls almost everything between the Narrow Sea and the Bone Mountains and thus the largest sales market in the known world, it controls the trade routes to the Jade Sea ... it would not be advantageous for Braavos to remain outside."

"We would have given you the same trading rights as the Westerosi", said Illyrio. "In addition, we could certainly have agreed on a customs union."

"Of course", said the Sealord. "But it is the case that the sheer size, population and economic strength of the Empire make its neighbors dependent on it."

"We don't force anyone to trade with us", Illyrio remarked with a wink and Aenolis laughed.

"But every country that wants to prosper and be economically successful will have to deal well with Volantis. For example, the Empire controls almost half of the world's grain production! That alone leads to relationships of dependency. If someone upsets you, you can simply impose an embargo on them and bring them to their senses without using a single soldier. Neither I nor the Council anticipate anything other than friendship between the Empire and Braavos in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, it will be the case that many decisions that are made in Volantis will have a direct influence on Braavos' interests. And unlike the other Free Cities - the former Free Cities, I mean - that are or will be represented in the Imperial Parliament, we would not have a say. Better to join the club. And the fact that you want to allow us to remain independent only shows us that we made the right choice."

Daenerys politely thanked the Sealord for the trust placed in her, then turned to Kinvara. She still had a serious word to say to her.

"How long have you known about Rhaegar?", she asked softly, but with an annoyed undertone. "Why didn't you tell me about it?"

The priestess sighed. "After Jaqen - Rhaegar I mean - foiled Arya Stark's assassination attempt on you and was injured in the process, we both saw his scars. He also said that he has died before."

"I still remember that", Dany replied dryly.

"From then on I had a suspicion. And when I took care of Rhaegars wound..."

"I wonder why you did that yourself instead of leaving it to one of the healers", interjected the Empress.

"Because I wanted to talk to him alone", Kinvara smiled.

"And because you like him", Daenerys commented with a sly smile.

"Maybe", said the priestess without blushing. "Above all, I wanted to talk to him alone. His scars made me suspect he was Rhaegar Targaryen and when I confronted him with that suspicion, he admitted it."

"And why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone without his consent."

"I am your Empress", Dany reminded coolly. "And Rhaegars sister. I would have had a right to know."

"And Rhaegar had the right to choose when the truth would come out. He knew that he couldn't hide it forever, even if a part of him had certainly hoped to simply be 'no one' for the rest of his life. I understand that you are angry with him, but remember: he has lost everything that meant something to him in his old life; the woman he loved and almost all of his family. And why? Because he lost against Robert at the Trident. I think he's afraid of re-bonding - and failing again and losing everything."

"That's nonsense", said Daenerys. "Viserys and I were still there. And Jon. Jon may have been in good hands with the Starks, but we..."

"You and Viserys were safe in Braavos, at least for a few years. Maybe he thought it would be safer not to reveal himself to you. You can ask him the reasons yourself."

"I will", Dany growled. "But only when we are back in Volantis. Right now I'm too angry to speak to my 'brother' without strangling him."

The next morning, Jon and Dany were sitting on a bench next to the lemon tree that grew outside the guest house.

"Before I found out the truth about my parents", Jon said, "I always wondered why my mother abandoned me. Now I know that she died when I was born and it was my father who left me."

Daenerys could have argued that Rhaegar Targaryen could hardly have knocked on the gates of Winterfell to inquire about his son, but she just nodded and said: "I can imagine that you are quite disappointed."

Jon snorted bitterly. "And you don't?"

"Of course. I feel just like you."

"If I hadn't decided beforehand to go to Volantis with you, then at the latest now. My sons shouldn't say later that their father didn't care about them."

Abruptly, Dany took his hand. "Answer me a question, Jon: In the throne room, before you... stabbed me, you said that I would be your queen always. Did you mean it seriously or did you just say it to make me feel safe?"

"I meant it", said her nephew and looked at her steadily with his black eyes. "And that still applies. I swear."

"Well. Because what I told you before still applies: That I want to build a better world with you." Her purple eyes fixed his black ones. "Aegon Targaryen ... will you marry me?"

Jon looked at her in amazement for a moment. He had already thought about when and how to propose to her. That would have been done then. He pulled Dany into his arms and kissed her.

"Yes, I want to marry you. But actually I wanted to ask you."

"As Empress, I should take the first step", Dany replied and they kissed again.