The Mountain of Ice and Fire

Daenerys, Victarion, Marghaz, Missandei, Jhiqui, Irri, and others all turned to look at the guard who had made the startling declaration.

The guard came from the Windblown, the company of the Tattered Prince, and was nicknamed Frog. During the siege of Astapor, he led a group of twenty-odd mercenaries, all from the continent of Westeros, who were the first to defect to Daenerys. Shortly thereafter, as the situation on the battlefield changed, the Tattered Prince, leader of the Windblown, also led his entire company to surrender to Daenerys.

This young man, nicknamed Frog, was short, stocky, and of unremarkable appearance. His eyes were bright and black, his forehead and nose were equally sharp, and his black hair had a few strands of silver in it. He was meticulous and hardly ever smiled when he was around Daenerys. In the eyes of Ser Barristan the Bold, "Frog is a rare, upright servant, loyal, serious, rational, meticulous, sincere, and hardworking… but of ordinary appearance, unlikely to attract attention, whether from women or men."

And this was the servant who suddenly knelt before Daenerys and declared himself to be of dragonseed.

Dragonseed: descendants with the blood of dragons.

"Who exactly are you?" Daenerys asked, her voice filled with wariness. She had never suspected that 'Frog' might have another, more complex identity.

"I am Prince Quentyn Martell, Your Grace," Frog said. "My father is Prince Doran Martell of Dorne, and my mother is Mellario of Norvos. I am their eldest son."

Under Daenerys's astonished gaze, Quentyn Martell produced his house pin: a golden spear piercing a red sun. The golden spear was the ancient sigil of House Martell, and the red sun symbolized Nymeria, the Rhoynar heroine. The family words were "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken."

"Jhiqui, fetch Ser Barristan."

Footsteps sounded, and without needing to be fetched, Barristan came up the spiral stairs.

"Your Grace, I overheard what Frog said just now. I am sorry, but although I am from Westeros, I do not recognize him and cannot know whether what he says is true."

"I have proof of my identity, Ser Barristan," Quentyn said, standing up and taking a sealed letter from his pocket. "This is a letter from my father, Prince Doran, to Your Grace. My black hair is streaked with silver. Black hair is the blood of House Martell, while the silver comes from House Targaryen. Our ancestors once intermarried, Your Grace."

Missandei took the letter from Quentyn, opened it, and handed it to Daenerys.

Daenerys read the letter. It was a personal letter from Prince Doran to Daenerys, and it mentioned another very important matter: a marriage pact signed years ago by Willem Darry and Oberyn Martell, with the Sea Lord of Braavos as witness. This pact stipulated that Viserys Targaryen would marry Princess Arianne Martell of Dorne, in return for Dorne's full support when Viserys landed in Westeros to reclaim the Iron Throne.

The letter stated that Dorne already knew that Prince Viserys was dead. Doran said that the marriage pact was still valid, and he hoped that Quentyn could marry Daenerys as a continuation of the pact, and Dorne would still support her in reclaiming the Iron Throne.

The letter mentioned one name: Willem Darry. This caused deep-seated emotions to almost overwhelm Daenerys. Willem Darry was the only person Daenerys remembered as family.

Ser Willem Darry, sword master to Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and a member of House Darry of the Riverlands. During Robert's Rebellion, House Darry rebelled against their liege lords, House Tully, and chose to remain loyal to House Targaryen. His brother, Ser Jon Darry, was a member of the Kingsguard, a white cloak brother with Barristan, the Sword of the Morning, and Jaime Lannister.

In the year 283 AC, Rhaegar Targaryen died at the Trident. Soon after, his father, King Aerys, trusted Tywin Lannister and opened the city gates, leading to the slaughter of the royal family and the end of the Targaryen dynasty.

Daenerys's mother escaped to Dragonstone under the protection of Willem Darry. The castellan of Dragonstone decided to offer the two Targaryen children to the approaching rebels. However, the worst storm in centuries prevented Robert's fleet from arriving smoothly.

On the night of the storm, Ser Willem Darry and his four men led Viserys and the newborn Daenerys away from Dragonstone, creating a miracle in the raging storm. They safely escaped to Braavos.

This was also the origin of one of Daenerys's many titles: 'Stormborn'. Her mother died giving birth to her.

In Daenerys's memory, Ser Willem was a very irritable man. Every servant and maid was terrified of him, but as soon as he faced Daenerys, he would immediately become as gentle as a girl with an extremely soft heart. His fierceness and violence would disappear without a trace, and his face would be filled with a kind smile. He always called her 'my sweet little princess'.

But soon, Ser Willem Darry fell ill. His hair quickly turned gray, and his eyes began to fail. Years later, Willem was so ill that he could not get out of bed, and he was half-blind. But as soon as he spoke, the servants still trembled with fear.

Under the protection of Ser Willem Darry, Daenerys grew up healthy and carefree until Willem Darry finally died of illness. After Ser Willem's death, the servants stole all the money and belongings and fled, abandoning the two children. From then on, Viserys and Daenerys began to wander the streets, destitute and begging for food. It wasn't until they met Magister Illyrio Mopatis of Pentos that they finally had a temporary place to stay.

Daenerys had no memory of her mother, who died shortly after she was born. As for her father and Rhaegar, she wasn't even born when her father and older brother had already died. Her only family was Viserys, but Viserys later became stupid and arrogant, treating her only as a bargaining chip for his restoration. As for her life, death, honor, dignity, warmth, hunger, and thirst… he never cared.

In Daenerys's heart, the only true blood relative who raised her, protected her, and loved her in this world was Ser Willem Darry.

After so many years, this was the first time she had seen Willem Darry's name in a letter. She almost wanted to cry, but she held back, remaining expressionless and maintaining the demeanor and dignity of a queen.

"Prince Quentyn Martell," Daenerys said, "I see that Prince Doran's letter mentions a marriage pact."

"Yes, Your Grace," Quentyn said, producing another document from his pocket. Daenerys took it and opened it. It was indeed a marriage pact.

This was a contract signed by Ser Willem Darry and Prince Oberyn Martell, with the Sea Lord of Braavos as witness. Daenerys was clever and recognized Willem's handwriting, even though she had not been by Willem's side for very long.

In the years after Willem's death, Daenerys missed everything about Ser Willem: his gray hair, his blind eyes, the songs he sang loudly after drinking wine, and his handwriting.

Willem Darry was also Viserys's first sword instructor and Daenerys's first teacher in reading and writing.

He was the softest corner in Daenerys's heart, never to be forgotten.

Willem Darry's handwriting proved that this was a genuine marriage contract: Arianne Martell, the eldest daughter of House Martell, would marry Viserys Targaryen of House Targaryen.

Willem was the representative of House Targaryen, Oberyn Martell was the representative of House Martell, and the witness to the marriage pact was the ruler of Braavos: the Sea Lord!

Daenerys handed the marriage contract to Missandei for safekeeping. "Prince Quentyn, where are your attendants?"

In Dorne, Arianne Martell and others who had participated in the coup at Sunspear believed that Quentyn was serving under Lord Yronwood at Yronwood, guarding the Boneway. But in reality, he had secretly crossed the Narrow Sea on his father's orders.

"Your Grace, when crossing the Narrow Sea, we encountered pirates. My attendants and I worked together to repel the pirates, but my attendants, Ser Cletus Yronwood and Ser William Wells, were killed in battle. I only have Ser Archibald Yronwood by my side. My accompanying maester, Cadrick, was wounded in the sea battle. Treatment was difficult at sea, and later we arrived in Volantis. Maester Cadrick died of illness in Volantis. We heard news of Your Grace in Slaver's Bay in Volantis, but because Your Grace opposes the slave trade, no merchant ships dared to stop in Slaver's Bay. So we joined the Windblown in Volantis and came to Meereen with the Windblown. Your Grace knows what happened after that."

"Oh, so where is your Ser Archibald?"

"He is on one of the Windblown's warships, Your Grace."

"Summon him. You are a prince of Dorne and cannot lack the protection of guards."

"Yes, Your Grace."

Soon, Ser Archibald Yronwood arrived, accompanied by the Tattered Prince. Archibald was six and a half feet tall, with broad shoulders, a round belly, legs as thick as tree trunks, hands as thick as hams, and no neck. His arms were as thick as Strong Belwas's. A childhood illness had caused him to lose all his hair, and his bald head looked like a smooth, pink pebble.

He was a Dornish strongman! He wielded a warhammer, which was rare in Dorne, and was known for his strength!

"Your Grace, I hope the marriage pact can be continued. The contract is still valid, and Dorne will fully support Your Grace in reclaiming the Iron Throne," Quentyn Martell said.

*

Daenerys had absolutely no 'interest' in Quentyn Martell as a woman. Quentyn's appearance was too ordinary. No matter how you looked at him, he looked like an honest child from a farmer's family, not a prince of Dorne. His temperament didn't seem like that of a nobleman either.

Varys, who had arrived upon hearing the news, remained impassive. He was the secret instigator of the pact, but all of this had been done behind the scenes. Ser Willem Darry, Prince Oberyn Martell, and the Sea Lord of eighteen years ago were all dead.

There was no proof. Saying more would only arouse Her Grace's suspicion.

Varys coldly observed how Daenerys would respond to Prince Quentyn Martell.

In Daenerys's heart, however, another voice rang out. This voice came from Quaithe, the mysterious shadowbinder from Asshai whom she had met in Qarth—a woman wearing a lacquered wooden mask—

"The glass candles are burning. Soon comes the pale mare, and after her the others. Kraken and dark flame, lion and griffin, the sun's son and the mummer's dragon, none of these are to be trusted. Remember the Undying. Beware the perfumed seneschal."

The sun's son—did Quentyn Martell fulfill the prophecy of the sun's son?!

The sigil of House Martell was a golden spear piercing a red sun. The ancestor of House Martell, the Rhoynar heroine Nymeria, was known as the sun. She led two thousand ships across the Narrow Sea to Dorne and, after marrying into House Martell, unified all of Dorne for the first time, creating the kingdom of Dorne belonging to House Martell.

Quaithe, the shadowbinder from Asshai, warned Daenerys—the sun's son and the mummer's dragon were not to be trusted. The perfumed seneschal could be used, but with caution.

Although Daenerys could not see what harm Quentyn Martell could bring her, she decided not to answer Quentyn Martell's request for marriage—not a refusal, but no answer.

Daenerys looked at Barristan. She could see that Barristan hoped she would agree to the marriage. The captain of the Kingsguard hoped to gain the support of Dorne's House Martell. She looked at Varys. The perfumed seneschal's gaze carried a smile, and she could not see his inner inclinations. She looked at the Prime Minister, who was one step late. The Prime Minister showed interest in this and also hoped that she could marry into Dorne…

"Commander Victarion, allocate a warship to Prince Quentyn and assign him a hundred Ironborn as guards. The guard unit will be led by Ser Archibald Yronwood."

"As you command, Your Grace," Victarion said respectfully.

"Jhiqui, from now on, you will stay by the prince's side and take care of his food and daily life."

"Yes, Your Grace."

Jhiqui was one of Daenerys's three personal handmaidens and was like a sister to the Queen.

"Prince Quentyn, if you need anything, you can come directly to me and explain it to me. If I am not here, tell the Prime Minister."

"Thank you, Your Grace," Quentyn Martell said, placing his right fist on his left chest and bowing his head.

"You're just a kid who doesn't understand anything, and you want to marry Her Grace the Queen," Daario laughed loudly.

"Daario, do not be disrespectful to the prince," Daenerys said sternly.

Daario's smile immediately froze on his face. He shrugged awkwardly and walked to the side.

Quentyn said, "Your Grace, in the Seven Kingdoms, there is a fairy tale about a prince who is turned into a frog by magic. Only by receiving a kiss of true love can he be transformed back into a prince. I have been serving Your Grace under the name of Frog, and I look forward to receiving Your Grace's sincere response. Dorne's loyalty, Dorne's troops, and Dorne's wealth all belong to Your Grace."

Daenerys nodded slightly.

"Your Grace, besides marriage, I hope that I can become one of Your Grace's dragonriders. The blood of House Targaryen flows in my veins. The ancestors of House Martell and the ancestors of House Targaryen have intermarried many times. The silver in my black hair is proof. I am dragonseed, Your Grace."

"I will give you the opportunity to get close to Rhaegal and Viserion, Prince. Let's end our reunion here for today. Commander Victarion, take the prince to take over his warship."

"As you command, Your Grace!" Victarion and Quentyn said together, placing their right fists on their left chests.

The Tattered Prince had an excited smile on his face. He had not expected that one of the two wandering mercenaries he had taken in in Volantis was actually a prince.

He excitedly followed behind Quentyn Martell.

During the siege of Astapor, the Ragged Prince had deliberately ordered a mercenary company of twenty-odd men led by Quentyn to defect to Daenerys first, with the intention of using it as an opportunity to surrender if the battle went poorly. He was a slippery old fox accustomed to playing both sides. Now, seeing that Quentyn might soon become the Queen's husband, he immediately latched onto Quentyn, determined to build a good relationship with Quentyn Martell.

Quentyn Martell – was he the Sun-son in Quaithe's words? Could Quaithe be trusted?

Watching Quentyn, Victarion, the Ragged Prince, Archibald, and Jhiqui disembark, Daenerys said to Barristan, "Ser Barristan, after the ship docks, I will depart. After I leave the fleet, you will be responsible for persuading Prince Quentyn Martell to return to Dorne."

"Yes, Your Grace!" Barristan felt a pang of regret; he believed that if Quentyn Martell had been a handsome youth, the marriage alliance would have been successful.

"Your Grace, if that happens, we may lose Dorne's support, which would be detrimental to our conquest of Westeros," Varys said softly.

Daenerys was silent for a moment. "Lord Tyrion, I cannot marry Prince Quentyn, but I do not want to lose Dorne's support either. Do you have a good solution that satisfies both sides?"

Varys said softly, "Your Grace, I know that all of Dorne has a deeply ingrained enemy for whom they cannot seek revenge: the Mountain and his wife. If Your Grace does not want to marry but still wants to gain Dorne's unwavering loyalty, I believe the best way is to kill the Mountain and his wife, Jeyne Westerling."