-Chapter 135-
-Chapter 135-
-21st day of the 9th moon of the year 299 AC-
-POV Trystan Sunfyre-
"A message arrived this morning from King Commander Sunfyre," said Maester Aemon.
I immediately rose to greet this blind old man, although I am the commander of the first legion, I did not dare take this old man lightly, he was after all the great-great-grand-uncle of my sovereign.
"Sit down, Maester Aemon," I said as I guided him to a chair.
He smiled and said, "Do not worry, I have not come to disturb you, I was merely passing by to ask you to release Commander Mormont."
"I am sorry, but as I have already explained to you, I am nothing but a soldier, I cannot override the king's orders, but once he is here, you can ask him and he will inform you of his decision," I said, skillfully dodging the old Targaryen's request.
The old blind man nodded then left.
Once he was gone, I sat down and opened the king's message.
I widened my eyes at what he was asking me to do.
'How can he imagine that this could work?' I thought.
---
-Braavos-
-23rd day of the 9th moon of the year 299 AC-
-POV Bellegere Otherys-
"Lady Otherys, an invitation has arrived."
"Who wishes to invite me to their table this time?" I asked in a bored tone.
My servant was about to answer, but I stopped her and said, "Let's play a game, I will try to guess."
Without waiting for my servant to respond, I turned to her and said, "Could it be the exiled prince, Illyrio Mopatis? Some say he is a truly repulsive but very wealthy man."
My servant shook her head, then I said, "Is it someone more or less noble than this exiled prince?"
"Much more noble," said my servant, sparkling with joy.
'What could possibly excite her so much?' I thought as I tried to guess who the invitation could be from.
I frowned and then said, "More noble than an exiled prince, is it a Bravosii?"
'Perhaps our old Sealord isn't as ill as he seemed at the last ball' I thought, surprised.
But to my great surprise, my servant shook her head and I said, "If it's not a Bravosii, then it can't be our Sealord and certainly not one of the keyholders of the Iron Bank."
She nodded then I said, "Have I already met them?"
The servant shook her head then I said, "How do you expect me to guess then?"
I reached out without missing the hurt look from Rose, my servant, who seemed to want to express through it, "It was you who wanted to play."
Once the invitation was in my hands, I couldn't help but gasp in shock.
---
To Bellegere Otherys,
As King of the Seven Kingdoms, I sincerely invite Princess of Blood Bellegere Otherys to meet me.
If you agree to meet me, then the escort composed of a hundred dragon guards will accompany you.
Aegon Targaryen VI
---
-25th day of the 9th moon of the year 299 AC-
-POV Arianne Targaryen-
"It has been nearly a moon since they all left, do you still not regret staying by my side?" I asked Tyene, facing me, dressed in a black gown signifying her mourning.
"I have already answered that question and I do not want you to ask me again, my father knew what he was getting into and so did I, I will not avenge your husband, I am simply fulfilling my duty as your lady-in-waiting and your cousin, that is what he would have wanted," said Tyene, staring straight into my eyes.
I held back the tears that were rising in me then I said, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Tyene."
"You don't need to," she said, smiling and taking my hands.
"Let's change the subject, what would you name your child once he or she is born?" she asked, looking at my significantly rounded belly.
"I have thought about it a lot and until very recently, I thought I would give them a Targaryen name like their father, but I hesitate, I would like to call them..."
"No, Arianne," Tyene interrupted me.
I frowned, surprised, and she said vehemently, "I know what you were going to say and I strongly advise against it."
"Why?" I asked, surprised by her reaction.
"How dare you ask why? I do not know if you are fully aware of your current situation but you are surrounded by scavengers, all these ladies-in-waiting think they would do better in your place, so I can understand that you are shocked by my father's death, I am just as much as you but giving my father's name to your son would be a provocation that all these bitches would use against you," she said.
I lowered my eyes, understanding Tyene's words, then I said, "You are right."
"Don't forget, all of Dorne is counting on you, you are no longer Arianne Martell, you are the queen."
'I must become who I was before, I can no longer afford to make such foolish mistakes'
---
-28th day of the 9th moon of the year 299 AC-
-POV Mance Rayder-
It has been nearly a full moon since I've been waiting for this moment, this unique instant where I could see who is this king who sent me this arrogant message.
I was terribly confused for several months because all the raids we launched ended in bitter failures, none of the raiders supposed to cross the wall were able to do so.
"And now I understand why," I thought as I looked at the top of the Wall teeming with people.
"So?" I asked Orell as I noticed his eyes had returned to normal.
"There is an army in every fort," he said.
'Shit, so he was telling the truth, we really have no choice, we must discuss with them otherwise we will be forced to destroy the wall to pass' I thought.
This message is addressed to he who boasts of being the king beyond the wall, Mance Rayder.
---
I invite you to a face-to-face meeting to discuss the issue that concerns the free people in a moon in front of the Wall.
If you accept this interview, feel free to bring with you the number of people you like, bring the giants too if it reassures you.
Know that I will be alone.
Aegon Targaryen VI
Sole Sovereign of this Continent
---
Just thinking about the arrogance of this king whom I knew nothing about made my blood boil.
The Targaryens ruled this continent for more than two centuries and they have always been like this, but unfortunately for them, even after suffering a rebellion and being dethroned, they learned nothing.
This King Targaryen underestimates me but unfortunately for him, I am no longer Mance Rayder, brother sworn to the Night's Watch, now I am a king, I have the weight of all my people on my shoulders and I will let no one stand in my way, especially not a King Targaryen.
Anyway, I have no worries because since the death of their dragons, they are worth nothing.
'They are nothing more than ordinary humans now' I thought as I saw the gates blocking access to the Black Castle open to let a rider pass.
"Let's see what the new king of the kneelers is made of," I said as I moved forward