[voice/video] I put my trust in you, a stranger (un: whitewolf)

[northerndragon]

1. Voice

[A man's deep voice, colored with some urgency.]

My name is Jon Snow. I need the aid of two or three strong fighters, outside the city -- now. One of the Beastmaster's creatures is on me. He isn't alone.

2. Video

[Later, it's a young man, looking hesitant and unsure of where to begin. A curl of his dark hair is falling into his bearded face, and there are fine vertical scars above and below his eyes, as if someone once tried to claw them out. He has just been shown to his rooms after a long, hard journey, and he looks like it.

When he speaks, it's with the same deep voice from earlier in the day, now earnest and weary. The more he speaks, the more sure of himself he sounds, until in the end, it may become clear that he's used to addressing groups of people.]

I am sorry for my hasty messages earlier. The creatures are dead -- they won't trouble you or any of the people of this city.

I'm Jon Snow. I come from the Merchant -- I've been riding in and out of these canyons for most of a fortnight. Never seen anything like Taravast, but it is good to be in numbers again.

I don't expect that it will mean anything to any of you, but I am from the North. One of the Seven Kingdoms, it was.

I need to meet with Wrath and Wen Qing, as soon as either of you can. I am in the Palace of the Doxe.

For the rest -- tell me what I can do here in the city. Tell me what I can do to help our cause.

Comments

[northerndragon]

[That name… hmm.]

Westeros. Some call it the Seven Kingdoms.

[song_of_fire]

I know it well.

[She's searching her mind for the details she learned from various sources. "Snow" was a bastard name, no different from "Fyre" or "Sand". Beyond that, there's little for her to guess his identity and which part of the North he comes from.

Only to ask.]

Which House do you serve? Mormont? Umber? Karstark?

[northerndragon]

I don’t serve any house. My father was Lord Stark.

[From what little hair she has, she has the look of a Lysene, but…]

[song_of_fire]

[There's a sharp look on her face before being overtaken by warring emotions.

The Starks had been loyal to the Usurper, but her brother had loved a Stark. Eddard Stark was executed by the Lannisters, apparently. Where in all of this should her feelings land? She knew some of the bad of her father and was waiting to hear the rest. Not all men were wholly good or bad, but for such an honorable man, Eddard Stark broke his oath to his king.

Was he any different than Ser Jorah had been?

What's more, if he was a bastard of Eddard Stark, how honorable could that man be? It was complicated and more difficult to navigate than on a simple communication device. Luckily for her, Drogon couldn't be seen, so her identity might remain a secret.]

What part of the palace are you in?

[What part did she have to avoid?]

[northerndragon]

[He doesn’t miss the look on her face, either.]

I’ve been given a place in don Bonaccorso’s wing.

You know our houses — which do you serve, my lady?

[song_of_fire]

[Good. They were far enough apart for now, but she'd have to see Drogon didn't wander.]

None. [Which isn't technically a lie. She is House Targaryen and she only serves the people.] I don't reside in the Seven Kingdoms.

[Not yet, maybe not ever, but she hopes to.]

[northerndragon]

No?

[He shifts position and frowns, then decides to hazard a guess.]

Not on Dragonstone?

[song_of_fire]

I thought Dragonstone was in the hands of [don'tsayusurperdon'tsayusurper] House Baratheon?

[She flashes an innocent smile, one she reserved for the Second Sons and the Yunkish Envoy.]

Or did I mishear such events? Word travels slowly to Essos.

[northerndragon]

No. Stannis Baratheon has been dead for close on a year. Daenerys Targaryen holds Dragonstone now.

Before I found myself here, I was on my way to treat with her.

[song_of_fire]

Strange. It's said in Essos that the Mother of Dragons is in Meereen.

Why should House Stark wish to treat with her? I thought they were enemies to the Targaryens?

[northerndragon]

She was in Meereen. Now she’s not.

I am no enemy to Daenerys Targaryen. [And he’s not a Stark.] I seek an alliance.

[song_of_fire]

[She didn't push the matter. It may tell him more than she wants him to know.]

I'm only a young girl and know nothing of such matters. What would House Stark offer though? Alliance, if I'm not mistaken, means something equally given.

You must be very important to act as an envoy.

[northerndragon]

I’m not an envoy, my lady. I’m King in the North.

But what I would offer Daenerys Targaryen, or what I look for from her — that’s for her ears alone. Though I think anyone would be touched at a young girl’s concern for her affairs.

[That last bit is mildly reproachful: he doesn’t like games, and he’s beginning to recognize this as one.]

[song_of_fire]

A young girl with a passing fancy for such things.

[She's not ready to surrender it yet, especially with his claim to be King in the North.]

Daenerys Targaryen is said to be concerned for her people. Naturally, her concerns are our concerns.

[Another smile.]

[northerndragon]

Naturally.

[As agreements go, this one still seems remarkably skeptical.]

Never heard that the Meereenese have the look of Lys. Never thought they’d know much about some of our lesser houses in the North, either.

My lady, I don’t know what you think you know of me, but —

[song_of_fire]

I think that you are an unknown man claiming to be king, whose House broke faith with the Targaryens not so long ago. After so many attempts to her life, would Daenerys Targaryen trust such a man if she were far from home and without an army?

[Fine, let him have his way. She'll lower her pretense, but not completely.]

From what I heard, the last Westerosi to approach her for an alliance offered marriage and an army. The Dornish, however, were as insulted by the war as the Targaryens.

[northerndragon]

Aye, well, when a prince steals away a lady, and his father the king burns her father alive and kills his heir, and calls for the head of his second son, for no reason that I’ve ever heard — that could be said to be breaking faith, too. That could be said to have started the matter.

[He is mildly annoyed, but when he speaks again, he’s a little calmer.]

You have the Dornish for your allies. House Tyrell, too.

[song_of_fire]

[Her tone is calm, light even in the face of their conversation. It's been awhile since she had the chance to spar verbally with an envoy. A part of her has missed the challenge.]

Was she stolen? Did she say as much?

It's true that King Aerys was mad, but was no better served by the advisors around him. From what I understand, the Usurper was no better a king. Prince Rhaegar, however, was honorable and well respected by the people and the lords. Strange that a man with such a reputation would suddenly become a lecher. It's hardly fitting for the stories and songs.

But I am only a young girl and know nothing of such matters.

[Her look of bewilderment is genuine.]

If such things were decided, it was done by others and not the Queen. Dorne approached, but because she was pledged to another and meant to keep the peace of her realm, she turned the young prince away.

[northerndragon]

[He listens to those justifications and says nothing. She might have been told otherwise, but he’s never heard anything to suggest that his aunt was a willing party in her own abduction. Beyond that, he isn’t sure that arguing about what other people did a quarter-century ago serves either of them now.]

Aye, I’m sure you don’t.

[He is still unamused. Yet, as she continues to speak, some bewilderment comes into his expression.]

I don’t know anything about a Dornish prince. It’s Lord Oberyn’s woman and some of his daughters, and Lady Olenna Tyrell. Lord Oberyn was killed by the Lannisters. The same for much of House Tyrell — Tommen’s queen, her father, her brother. All dead, all at Cersei’s hand, if the stories are true. But Lady Olenna must believe them, or she would still be Cersei’s ally.

[song_of_fire]

Women would be of great use, but there are few that are rulers and none in Westeros. I believe the Dance of Dragons saw to that. If the Dornish wished to treat, it would be through one of their blood. Prince Quentyn Martell brought a signed marriage pact between Daenerys's former guardian, Ser Willem Darry and Oberyn Martell.

There was no woman...so I heard.

The Tyrells were loyal to House Targaryen during the rebellion, but no word was sent about a potential alliance.

[She's growing confused now, uncertain about this Jon Snow's sanity.]

How is a Lannister to hold the throne? The Usurper only could because of his Targaryen claim.

[northerndragon]

There is a woman now. Prince Doran is dead. King Tommen is dead. Cersei Lannister sits the Iron Throne.

My lady, I can only guess that you’ve been here longer than I have. Is it usual for people to know more of what has happened in the place where they came from than someone else who came from the same place?

[Because it’s clear that’s what’s going on.]

Daenerys Targaryen lived in Meereen, it’s true, but she’s been on Dragonstone for some time now. It was not long after the Northern lords chose me as their king. It was her who summoned me.

[song_of_fire]

You would be mistaken. I have not been here for long, only a week. There are many from other worlds, but I have not heard anything about those from the same world with different information.

[A lot of what he said was nonsensical. If Cersei Lannister truly was on the throne and wiped out an entire House, how was the realm not united against her? How was it not questioned by the Faith and the people, whether she could hold a throne with no claim? Anyone viewed as an outsider would face contention and disorder, chaos that Daenerys had seen.

She can only think that world has gone mad instead.]

I wonder why she did? It seems unlike Queen Daenerys to leave the people she worked so hard to free, but had yet to secure safety for.

[northerndragon]

[Part of him is more and more done with this conversation, but the rest of him is quite aware that, whatever else happens, he still needs her, her armies and dragons. The North needs her, and the world needs him to succeed in convincing her. So for that, he tries to quiet his annoyance.

And then, if for some reason she found herself here what should have been years ago for him, some of her confusion might make sense.]

Not much from that part of the world reaches the North, and I was not yet king. I know that Slaver’s Bay is said to be free.

Do you think she would leave that place before time?

[He may be hiding most of his annoyance, but what it leaves apparent is a kind of sober weariness.]

[song_of_fire]

I believe it is her hope to sail someday to Westeros, but she's refused offers three times in favor of securing the safety of Meereen. She is reluctant to leave the people, and as they cannot all fit on the ships she has, she won't abandon them.

Though her advisors, I'm told, advise it. The people come before ambitions and those that are the most vulnerable will not be left to be enslaved again.

[It's ironic given her current predicament. She can only hope Ser Barristan is maintaining order.]

Do the Westerosi want her to return?

[notsansa]

[ This is too juicy not to eavesdrop on. Someone from Essos?!

Until she can't eavesdrop anymore because Jon visits a random lady in her room, what? Scandalous. How dare he. What would their father say? Sansa will keep that in her pocket for later. ]