15 The hard truth

"You heard my son Ser Arthur. What are your thoughts?" Lady Dustin asked the first sword of the seven kingdoms after her son left the room.

He might be silly but he does recognize qualified people. She wanted someone like Ser Dayne to be by her son's side.

"I have my oath and obligations... I'm sorry Lady Dustin." Ser Arthur Dayne still kept true to his word.

"You do understand that the life of the Royal family was saved by my son, not to mention the life of you sister Lady Ashara and your sworn brother Ser Hightower. You will protect what? The remnants of Targaryen? The Princess? Or..." Lady Dayne looked at the thinking man. "Let me enlighten you Ser Arthur. You were to protect Prince Rhaegar family. You failed. Protecting Kings family? You failed. Now you want to make up for it? You will fail again Ser Arthur. When the first person recognizes you the person you're protecting will die. If, of course they are not from an old, major noble house in The North. I'm not going to use such petty argument as you killing my husband and Brendan's father..." she finished with spite.

"Why a northern house? I could go elsewhere..." he wanted to know the lady's reply.

"And go where? Dorne with the Princess? To get her killed faster? Reach after they sided with Targaryen loyalists? They would sell you for a better deal to King Robert Baratheon. Vale? Don't make me laugh. Lord Arryn would kill you at first site!" Lady Dustin laugher in her chair which was the exact opposite of the solemn atmosphere in the room. "You can go to Stormlands or Westerlands or Riverlands and see how many pieces will the dogs leave you with after the Lanisters send your head as a token for new queen or King Baratheon domain. Stormlands and the rest as well."

"Usurper King." He said bitter.

"Be that as it may he sits on the Iron Throne and who sits there, doesn't matter sane or not is the King and you know it better than anyone after serving the Mad King." Lady Barbrey calmed down a bit as well.

She really looked as she was made for politics. She felt so natural that even the Princess and Lady Ashara were no match for her.

"You should agree. Lady Dustin is correct. You can not go with us. You can not run all your life and you have a debt to pay either as Kingsguard or as a Dayne..." Princess Elia wanted to clean the debt for hers and her daughter's life.

Since this was the easiest way to go about it and she didn't loose anything she pushed the knight to agree to it.

Truthfully deep in her heart she felt resentment for the man in front of her. He had chosen the Stark whore to protect and not the rightful heir to the throne.

Besides, with the deal she had with Lady Dustin her family would have a powerful ally. Maybe not so powerful now but in few years if the young Lord won't die...

"Arthur... they are right... I don't want you to die a dogs death... You are the Sword of the Morning..." Lady Ashara wasn't one for scheming but she truly loved her brother and wanted the best for him.

The young Knight though about it. No one knew what went through his mind but at the end of the day he will have to agree, there was no other choice.

The Lady in front of him had all the cards in his hands... Including Prince Rhaegar and Lady Lyanna's son... Just spreading a rumor would get the boy and the Stark's killed for treason. That, assuming that Lord Stark took the boy.

With some difficulty Ser Arthur bowed his head to Lady Dustin.

"I agree to be the young Lord sworn shield till the day of my death. In exchange I ask you, Lady Dustin to keep what you know to yourself..." this will be his last act as a Kingsguard... his last contribution to House Targaryen, Prince Rhaegar and Prince's son...

He will sell his life to the devil and let the words of his oath be fulfilled. To the death. Now he will live anew as per his new oath... Sword and shield of his Lord... Brendan Dustin...

"I'm not the one you will swear you oath to Ser Arthur. My son is. Teach him everything you know, he must wield his strength be it sword, word or his cunningness and defend his weaknesses... His good heart and naivety. I leave that to you..." She got up and lower her head in respect to the princess and after started to leave but then she paused for a moment.

"Oh and Ser Arthur... my House would get more from your betrayal than we would lose but you should already be aware of that right?" She had a confident smirk on her lips almost like she would dare the man to betray them.

Just one sentence would put the North into civil war and he didn't doubt that House Dustin would emerge victorious. Even the usurper King would not help the Starks.

She left the room wanting to check on her sweet and stupid son. Ser Bryce followed just few steps behind her.

"You did good Ser Bryce. Thank you." She didn't even stop or turn around when saying it as they were traveling though the long corridors in her son chambers direction.

"Thank you my lady... It didn't feel good though..." he blamed himself, but an oath is an oath and one given shouldn't be broken.

"You did as ordered for the good of my son and your future lord. He had to grow up from his childish self sooner or later." She continued to walk pass the guards that were bowing low to her and the servants that did the same.

"If he has to learn this painful lesson let it be under my control and not out there where his lacking mentality would cost him his life."

"I understand my lady, but... what if our actions created something worse... something that can not be put back together after being broken..." the knight behind her said something that made her stop in her tracks and turn around looking him dead in the eye making him shiver.

"Whatever my son will become in the future. Monster, King or God. I will be right there wiping the blood from his face or helping him rule. As will all of you as his swords and shields or his aid! Till your death." Lady Barbrey looked at all the people she passed in the corridor before. They bowed lower with a short "Yes my lady." as a confirmation.

"Monster or a King..." she whispered last time before turning around and leaving the people with cold sweat at their back and a chill running down their spines.