All You Need Is Guts Chapter 8 (ASOIAF x Berserk)

Baelon

The laughter of his father boomed in Baelon’s ear as the Cannibal danced through the waves, behind the dragon’s tail massive sprays of water obscured the vision of any would be pursuers and if that wasn’t enough the dangerous swaying of his partner’s tail would cause harm to anyone daring enough to try and take a bite out of the appendage.

The smell of the ocean and the taste of freedom unlike anything he had ever felt in his previous life was intoxicating but all good things come to an end and this time Baelon spent in the air had to stop too. With another tug of the chains in his hands Baelon conveyed to the Cannibal his destination and soon they were moving back to the castle.

“I want to thank you, son, for you have given me a gift I didn’t even dare to dream off” The king’s arms grew a bit tighter around Baelon’s frame and he allowed himself to bask in the warm feeling that was blooming on his chest. Having a father, a true father, was one of the best things in the world.

The ancient home of his new family was growing closer in the distance and soon he would also be leaving it behind to go to the king’s court, that thought discouraged him a little, Baelon had never been someone with manners and even when he had been part of the higher echelons in his past life he hadn’t cared to learn, it proved wise when he didn’t stay there for more than a month. At least now Baelon wouldn’t be playing the role of assassin even if the role of a prince wasn’t that suitable for him.

“When will we leave for King’s Landing?” perhaps Baelon was being too forward but the smile the king gave him was very reassuring.

“I don’t intend to force you to go even if I would be very happy if you did, I will leave soon, perhaps on this very night but you can choose when you want to visit me”

“I...I think I would like to go with you now” The words came out of his mouth unbidden and he was not the only one surprised by them and yet Baelon got the feeling that they were the right words.

Viserys didn’t say anything as they came closer to the castle but only a fool wouldn’t recognize that he was happy thanks to his ever-present smile, after landing and getting the chains off the Cannibal disappeared once more into the heavens, probably to hunt for his food.

The thought about the Cannibal’s food made Baelon think of something he had overlooked before, with the dragon gone there would be a sudden uptick in the number of dragons nesting on the island which would lead them to fight for territory and may even force them to look for food or shelter near the town or castle. Baelon would die before he let something like what happened to his mother repeat itself but he figured that a few trips to the island each moon would be enough to keep things stable.

Daemon didn’t take long in coming to greet them and as was usual with him he did so with a lot of mummery “The conquering heroes return! Tell me, brother, how was it tasting the clouds again?” there was an edge of teasing in Daemon’s tone but underneath it shined a genuine curiosity.

Viserys remained silent for a little while and for a second there Baelon feared that his father wouldn’t respond well to the question but just as Baelon was about to open his mouth to say something his father finally spoke.

“Brother, mere words cannot express what a dragon feels after flying with no wings of his own. I felt free Daemon, so free that every problem that awaits me in the capital is so small as to barely be there. I feel like a new man”

Daemon laughed in response to the words but it was not a mocking laugh as Baelon had heard before or even something that comes after a good jape but something genuine and loving, like a brother who greets a loving one after missing him for so long. Baelon had to wonder if his father realized just how much Daemon had missed him and if his father missed his brother just as much, Baelon had to wonder the reason why they didn’t make peace long ago.

No good thing last forever though and so the spell that had talken hold of the smiling pair was broken by a messenger running directly for the king without thinking both Baelon and Daemon stood in front of the king and it must have been an intimidating sight as the man abruptly came to a halt and looked fearful as he stared at them.

“Forgive me sers but there is an urgent message from King’s Landing that arrived by raven, your grace the maester requests that you read it as soon as possible so that you may prepare a reply” The messenger bowed before offering up the piece of parchment and Viserys didn’t waste time in advancing towards the man and taking the offered item.

Baelon watched as the cheerful expression of his father turned to confusion and then to worry, Daemon looked as curious as Baelon but the man didn’t have the patience to wait for answers and was trying to sneakily read the message. Daemon’s attempts came to an end when the king passed him the parchment and was allowed to read it in full.

“This is outrageous! Brother we must act quickly, we can’t allow such a thing to stand those whore sons have to be taught a lesson, let me go over their castles with Caraxes as a warning and-“

“No Daemon, it’s too dangerous. Don’t forget what happened to our ancestors when they underestimated Dorne, Qoren Martell is no fool and he must be ready to face dragons”

Baelon had heard of the Martells before while on the island from some passing merchants, usually to talk about the women from Dorne and how they loved to use poison but more importantly about how they were the oldest living enemies of House Targaryen.

“Then what do you propose we do? Doing nothing would be-“

“I know Daemon!” the king exclaimed but then in a softer voice he repeated himself “I know”

“Perhaps” Baleon interrupted “it’s time for all of us to return to King’s Landing, the rest of your council is there and I’m sure they have some ideas of their own, not to mention that you must oversee the men that you will be sending to the Stepstones”

Daemon nodded after a moment along with the king “You speak sense nephew and while I don’t believe they would be of much help taking action without the small council isn’t the best choice”

“Then we agree, we must leave for King’s Landing immediately” the king proclaimed somberly and Baelon wondered if he would fight in the name of his father.

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Qoren Martell

Qoren paced around the empty throne room of Sunspear as he cursed those idiot merhcants of the so called ‘eternal alliance’. What a fool he had been trusting the words of Essosi when he knew they lacked the stones to do what was necessary to stop the Targaryen plague from expanding beyond Westeros. Not many people saw it like that but the Conqueror had demonstrated what a trio of dragons could do and despite the popular opinion in Dorne regarding the battle with the dragons, Qoren knew that it was luck or Mother Rhoyne that saved them from being conquered by Rhaenys Targaryen.

If the Conqueror had been smart he would have burnt ever castle and castle town and poisoned very water source he could find, that wouldn’t have killed all the dornish but it sure would have made it difficult for the Martells to retain power and in that power struggle they could have swooped up the remnants of the dornish and establish themselves at rulers. Thankfully the inbred lizards were as greedy as any merchant and they stopped from outright burning every castle in the desert.

And now one of those thrice-cursed lizards finally had the idea of conquering the Stepstones! It wouldn’t be long before they decided that the summer isles were close enough via dragon as to conquer them too, leaving the incestuous bastards with some of the best commercial routes on the seas and if that wasn’t all one of their close allies was the Velaryons who boasted about their wealth thanks to the trips the Sea Snake made years before, trips that would no doubt continue and be renewed once the family needed money and who better to sponsor them than the damm king who was his cousin!

Perhaps it was bold of him to try to meddle in the affairs of the dragons when he lacked an heir but Qoren felt like he had to do something. Since his birth coincided with the death of the old Targaryen king his people felt like he was destined to stop the dragons somehow and every year that he failed to do something was another year in which resentment and trouble would start to gather.

“My prince” Qoren’s ever-faithful bodyguard Castos called for his attention as he entered and with the wave of his hand the prince of Dorne gave the man permission to speak “Perhaps it’s better to focus on the issues at home, let the dragon spend his might in Essos and let us focus on the Yronwood making a mess of your kingdom”

His friend was probably right, it wasn’t the best idea to fight Daemon Targaryen when he had only the support of the Sea Snake, now that he had his brother behind him it would be a doomed mission, one that could have potentially brought all of Dorne into the seven hells.

“Yes, perhaps you’re right. More importantly, I’m still without a wife, and any plans to get one from Essos will have to be discarded so we will have to look for some here, we must be careful when selecting one however as any imbalance could prove disastrous for house Martell.”

Castos nodded at the wisdom in his words “I will have the maester investigate which ladies are available for you but I recommend marrying a lady of house Dayne my prince”

Qoran considered the words of his friend for a moment, the Dayne’s were stony dornish, and perfectly placed to counter the Yronwood influence as they too were once kings, that and every once in a while, one of them was allowed to wield the sword of the morning. Something that would surely boos Qoran’s reputation but giving them too much might alienate the salty dornish that were close allies of House Martell.

Perhaps Qoran should make it a competition of sorts, after all, his wife would be made the princess of Dorne, yes that sounded better, while a little arrogant doing so would show just how secure Qoran feels as prince of Dorne and it would make sure that anyone harboring rebellious thoughts think it twice as there could be an easier way to get influence.

“Castos, tell the maester that I have a message to send to every house with a lady within marriageable age. Qoran prince of Dorne is looking for a while and would be happy to host the families of those interested in Suspear, in fact, tell him to send it to all the houses bordering Dorne too, let’s see what this new Targaryen king does when such an announcement is made”

Casto didn’t waste time and moved out of the throne room leaving Qoran alone again. This was a gamble but one far safer than an adventure across the narrow sea and one that could bring much-needed commerce to the shores of Dorne, hopefully, this would be enough to keep his people calm for a few years