Game of Thrones/ASOIAF: The Prince of Scrolls

"I'm fine, brother. Thank you for your concern," he said, looking him in the eyes.

Jaehaerys was a bad actor. He was sure he hadn't been able to hide the suspicion in his eyes. Viserys said nothing; he just continued to stare at Daenerys. He couldn't tell what he was thinking. It was as if he wanted to reprimand her but didn't dare.

He moved his hand, causing the chains to clash together. Viserys looked at the bloodstained weapon, then at the bodies in the room. He swallowed hard.

"We must take this matter to the king immediately," he said, with a hint of venom in his voice when he said "king."

"I would like a few minutes to calm my fiancée," Jaehaerys said.

Viserys gritted his teeth and looked sadly at Daenerys. He nodded.

"You know where the council chamber is, right? Go there as soon as you can. Trant, protect my brothers. The rest of you, take the bodies away," he ordered.

The knights accompanying him dragged the bodies away. It was not a task befitting knights, but facing a Targaryen was akin to a peasant facing a lord.

"Trant, Wait outside the door," the prince ordered once everyone had left.

"My prince, if anyone tries—"

"I'm sure I can defend myself until you come to my rescue," he snapped.

The man nodded, his gaze angry. He left the room, probably listening at the door to see what he could report to Myrcella or Cersei. He was a Lannister creature.

"Are you okay?" he whispered to Daenerys.

She nodded; the words were stuck in her throat. Dany felt safe in his arms. Jaehaerys looked at the tear in the princess's dress, running from her stomach to her right thigh. Her milk-white skin was tempting.

"You're... strong," she said, looking into his eyes.

Daenerys had just noticed how his body felt. He was muscular, though you couldn't tell from his generally loose-fitting clothes. It was as if he were trying to hide his physique.

"I am," he admitted without shame as he let her go. He began searching through a trunk. Dany continued to look at him.

His broad back was certainly an asset. And his butt was—

"Put this on," he said, not noticing her gaze. It was a linen shirt and pants. She looked at him, confused. "Really?" She brought her hand to the part of her hip that was exposed.

Daenerys blushed and looked down. If she had moved a little more, her private parts would have been exposed.

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

Jaehaerys turned away and approached the window. An eagle appeared seconds later. He seemed to whisper unintelligible words to the animal. Then, the bird took flight. She hurried to change, discarded the dress, and quickly dressed in her fiancé's clothes, which were not as nice as she was used to and were too big for her.

"Are you done?" He hadn't taken his eyes off the night sky while she was changing. She was sure. She had looked in his direction several times.

"Yes," she said. "Aren't you going to change?" she asked, pointing to his bloodstained clothes.

"It's not necessary. My modesty is not affected." His clothes were intact, just a little wrinkled.

She nodded.

Jaehaerys walked toward the door, his weapon in hand. His footsteps were silent. With a quick movement, he pulled the door open. Meryn Trant stumbled but quickly regained his balance. He looked down the hallway. Two men were approaching. Trant was about to draw his sword. But the prince's hand stopped him. Neither man said a word; they just entered the room.

"They're coming with me," he said. "Daenerys," he called to her. She went to his side and shot the royal guard a contemptuous glance. Jaehaerys put his hand on the girl's waist and led her outside. "Once you are in your room, bolt the door. One of my men will bring you a letter with a drawing of an elephant. You can trust him," he said. He saw Trant's ear twitch.

"Your men?" she asked. He had arrived with only a handful of Northerners who had escorted him and then immediately returned to their frozen wasteland. She had never seen the two men who entered her room. "I'm going to the meeting. I'm a witness," she said, deciding it was a priority.

"You're not ready," he said, looking her up and down. "Don't worry. I'll take care of everything," he said, trying to persuade her.

"If we get married, will things always be this way?" she asked. His words reminded her of Daemon's. "Will I be the typical Lady who doesn't interfere in her husband's bussiness?" Her voice held traces of irritation. Daemon was always leaving her out.

"When we get married," he emphasized. "I have no idea. I never thought about such things. You'll have all the freedom you want as long as it doesn't include other men in your chambers," he said.

"Try me. I want to be at that meeting," she said.

Meryn Trant snorted.

"Something funny, Ser?" asked Jaehaerys, stopping short.

"No, my prince," he said, bowing his head.

"Go to the council chamber. Tell them I'll be there soon."

"My orders—"

"Go!" he interrupted. The little man cringed, took one last look at him, and left. "The drawing, by the way, is not of an elephant. It's of a white eagle with gray eyes."

"Is that so?" she said. She filed his words away in her mind. After all, it was relevant information.

"Why do you want to attend?" he asked. "You know that women's voices aren't heard very much."

'Daemon wouldn't let me go,' she thought, but she couldn't tell him that. She wanted to see how he compared to Daemon.

"Will you listen to me?" she asked in a low voice.

"Yes," he replied, looking into her eyes.

"Take me, then." They looked at each other for a few seconds until he gave in.

"Do you want to go dressed like that?" he asked. A Princess wearing male clothes will raise eyebrows.

"My room is on the way. I'll grab a dress there," she said, walking ahead.

"I should have told Meryn Trant that we're going to be late."

"But you did," she said with a smile. He smiled back.

"Did I?" he asked rhetorically.

They reached the room in no time. Jaehaerys entered after Dany. She quickly took off her pants. They were uncomfortable; the fabric was rough compared to silk.

Jaehaerys looked at her. His shirt was too big, so he didn't see anything he shouldn't have before their wedding night. He quickly turned away, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.

He heard her rummaging through the chests. It seemed like an eternity before he heard her again.

"I'm ready," she said.

She was beautiful. She was wearing a red dress, simpler than before because she hadn't been able to call a maid to help her get dressed.

"Let's go, then," he said. His hand naturally went to her waist.

Soon, they arrived at the council chamber.

Varys greeted them with a friendly smile. Jaehaerys thought of the children he bribed in the north to give false information.

At the eunuch side was Petyr, although he seemed more like a harmless bootlicker. The Grand Maester made a clumsy attempt to stand up, only to fall back into his seat. Dany looked at him with pity. Jaehaerys looked at him with disdain.

The ship's counselor, Paxter Redwine, stood up to greet him. The war counselor, Randyll Tarly, greeted him with a nod, unable to hide the contempt in his eyes.

Aegon was present. Rhaegar had selected him as Hand of the King after Jon Connington abandoned the position. Rhaegar was also present, his crown adorning his head with pride. Viserys and Queen Rhaella were also present. She walked urgently toward him when she saw the blood on his face.

"By the gods!" she exclaimed, looking worried.

"The blood is not mine, Mother," he said, letting go of Daenerys's waist. He realized only then that her red dress was to hide the blood on her.

He heard a murmur of contempt. Daemon was there too, standing next to the Sword of the Morning.

"We have been waiting. Trant announced your arrival some time ago," Rhaegar's son said.

"Oh, he must have misunderstood my orders. I told him I would be late because my fiancée needed me," Jaehaerys replied. He rejoiced when he saw him grit his teeth. He wondered if he had leaked his code to his mistress. He hoped so; he needed gold. By that time, Brandon and Torrhen should be outside Daenerys' door.

"The council is assembled," whispered the king. He ignored the absence of Oberyn Martell, the master of laws, who was probably on the Street of Silk. "We have matters to discuss," he said, his violet eyes meeting those of his younger brother.