[Edric's POV]
Right as she desired, I called for Jaime. He first looked at Daenerys and then at me.
"You didn't bring me here to be a sacrificial lamb, did you?"
I shrugged. "Someone needs closure."
"Why did you do it?" Daenerys questioned. "You were my father's Kingsguard, sworn to protect him."
"I've made many oaths. Knighthood, sworn to be just, brave and protect the innocent. A Kingsguard, sworn to protect the King. A son... sworn by blood to never turn on his father and family. What is right and what is wrong when these oaths do not align?"
"What do you mean?" Daenerys questioned. "Wasn't it the Lannister men who sacked King's Landing? A Kingsguard's oath should hold more weight than any other."
"... Your father intended to do far worse than sack the city."
Surprisingly, he admitted to the truth. Maybe I didn't need to say a thing, after all.
"And what would that be?"
Jaime looked at her for a moment. He hadn't shared this with anyone else quite yet.
"The underground of King's Landing was lined with wildfire caches. Once your father realised that there was no hope of victory, he ordered them all to be ignited. He believed that the flames would turn him into a dragon... when all it would've done was burn half a million people and all of King's Landing to ash."
Jaime Lannister was unhesitant, almost indifferent, as he spoke of the events that transpired.
"I put an end to that." The mask cracked only slightly. "It was my finest act... and the act I am most reviled by."
"... That can't be true, can it?" Daenerys' eyes slowly widened in shock as she turned to me.
"The Mad King is a title that is well-earned," I added. "Whatever you imagined Aerys to be, whatever Viserys told you he was... it's far from the truth."
"You seem unsurprised," Jaime noted. "Did you already know?"
"I suspected something like that to be the truth from the very beginning."
"... I see."
"Didn't he kill your father as well?" Daenerys turned to me.
"Yeah."
"... Did you not care at all? He legitimised you, made you a prince, betrothed you to a lady from a great house... made you his heir and refused to marry again to sire trueborn children who could have a stronger claim. He was proud of you."
"..."
I could almost feel guilty. But... at that point in my life, I only truly cared about one thing. Everything else was a means to an end.
"What I find odd is that you didn't even bother to avenge him. I've seen you kill for so much less."
"I didn't care," I admitted, turning to her. "That's all there is to it."
"... That's heartless, even for you," Daenerys replied, shaking her head. "He was your father."
Jaime looked like a bystander stuck between a quarrel.
"Am I permitted to leave? I feel as if I'm disturbing something."
"Sure," I nodded. "Go right ahead."
"Your Grace."
Once he left, I raised an eyebrow.
"Why do you care so much about me not caring for my father?"
"It speaks to the kind of person you are, doesn't it? I cared more for a father who was dead before I was even born than you ever did for yours. Let alone a father who had given you so much... you wouldn't be a king without him."
"Mayhaps you're right. So?"
"So...?"
"If he was still alive, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't have the power to do half the things I've done. I'd be weaker... and the future would be more bleak than anything. I would have to kill you somewhere down the line. Is that 'better'?" I questioned, closing the distance between us. "Would you have preferred if I truly were the so-called Usurper's bastard... or myself, a King in charge of his own destiny?"
"What are you implying..."
"I could've saved him from himself," I admitted. "I know I could have, but... I didn't."
"..." Her eyes widened in shock. "You let your own father die?"
"In a sense... and while you suggest that he gave me so much - do you know what he took away from me? The life that I loved," My steady steps forward led her against the wall. I punched a hole into it, lightning cracking around my fist. "I didn't ask to be a prince, I didn't ask for a betrothal... I didn't ask for nor desire any of it."
"But I earned it all the same... which ultimately led to his death," I grabbed her chin, making her look at me. She was less frightened than I imagined. "You're right. I can be heartless. Cruel. Selfish. Arrogant. Proud. Wrathful. Envious. Greedy, even. You may even think of me as a monster."
"But one thing will always remain true. When Winter comes, when the days grow cold and harsh, when the legions of undead march for my Realm... I will be the stalwart shield that guards them from all those horrors. It's my noble purpose to bear. An excuse for all my terrible actions, mayhaps... but if my people prosper, are they truly so terrible?"
I withdrew my fist, dusted it off and turned away.
"So... you did it for the Realm."
"Yes. Everything I did since was for the Realm... and now, for my children and the future."
"... I see. You imagined Ser Jaime had more value to you alive rather than dead?"
"You could put it that way. His heroics happened to be one of the great reasons why my fleet didn't sink in the Orange Shore. House Lannister and the Westerlands settled down peacefully, and Jaime's little brother has become quite the supporter of the Night's Watch. Time has proven my decision to be the right one."
"Dorian taught you well," Daenerys remarked. "Even then, you were pragmatic..."
"You don't have to worry about that side of me... I think. If anything, it works in your favour. I know you being pleased benefits me and this relationship."
"Was that what that night was... you pleasing me?"
"You did sound very pleased to me, many times over..." I smiled slightly. "What more could you want from me?"
"What more? I don't want you to play an actor... I want you to be genuine, true." She placed a hand on my chest, where my heart suddenly surged. "I want to be more than just the 'logical' choice. I want your heart - I want you to love me."
'She wants to conquer us, heh... keep dreaming girl.'
"You're quite demanding, you know..."
"Is it so much to ask?"
"You have no idea," I grabbed her hand and put it aside. "It's not something that comes so easily to me."
"I can understand that..."
"Good... are we done here?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Go on and do whatever you want to do."
That certainly didn't sound good. Was she on her period? Still, I had a lot on my plate.
...
Arthur would choose Jaime Lannister, Sandor Clegane, Valaegor - every non-Kingsguard vision wielder in my service. It seemed quite intentional. With Brienne, Barristan, Balon Swann and Loras Tyrell, along with the entire Stormguard, I was in good hands.
"Well, everything's ready," Arthur took a deep breath, observing his fleet of ships. "The great adventure of my life, it seems. I never would've dreamed of sailing as far as Slaver's Bay, let alone YiTi and Asshai."
"I'm sure we'll see plenty more, my friend," I patted his back. "Truthfully, I hate that I can't go with you."
"I promise to bring plenty of gifts from these foreign lands."
"It's not quite the same..." I smiled regretfully. "I just... want it all to be over with. I want the Night King's head. I want my freedom."
"And you will have it, Edric. Just be patient and don't do anything rash."
"I've spent too many days and nights working towards victory to do anything rash," I shook my head. "Still... it's a thorn at my side, one I've had stuck to me for far too long."
"Think of the brighter future beyond that."
"I try. Anyway... the further east you go, the more mystical the land becomes. Most so-called maegi, warlocks and sorcerers come from that part of the known world... and they have likely benefitted from the resurgence of magic. Follow your own advice and don't do anything rash. If there's something you can't overcome, retreat. This is a task that I can accomplish at a later date."
"I won't fail you," Arthur smiled reassuringly. "Don't you fret about that."
"... Alright, Ser Eclipse," I chuckled. "We're too great to fail now, is it?"
"Mayhaps... Edric, when was the last time I ever failed you?"
"Hmmmmmm... when you turned Sansa away."
"Surely that doesn't count?"
"I jest. Simply, this is nothing like what you've done before. Even I don't fully grasp the kind of events you could encounter. You might even find one of the old dragons who survived the Dance... like the Cannibal. Back then, it was the largest of the wild dragons, and no one ever found out what happened to it. It just... disappeared."
"Now you're just cursing me," Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"There's myths about dragons in the Shadow Lands, sooo... hey, if you get unlucky enough to encounter one, bring me its corpse. Or mayhaps some dragon eggs. I'd be overjoyed."
"My misfortune would become your fortune," Arthur laughed.
"Something like that... but, on the bright side, you'd add a legendary deed to your entry in the White Book and mayhaps a title to boot. Ser Arthur the Dragonslayer - that sounds quite striking, no?"
"Hmm... not sure if it's worth the dance with death."
"True - very true. The important thing is that you return home in one piece."
"Are we both terrible at saying farewell?" Arthur chuckled.
"I've always been..." I smiled, shrugging.
"I'll be the one to say it, then," Arthur embraced me. "Farewell, brother. I imagine you might have another child by the time I return?"
"Or two - Daenerys is an unsatiable woman."
I backed away, chuckling.
"Well, isn't that a good thing? There has to be a reason so many men think with their cocks."
"Yeah... sex can feel quite relieving, I suppose. You should try it."
"I find a slower approach more meaningful,"
"Does that mean it's going well with lady Stark?"
"I've grown to appreciate her company."
"I'm happy for you, love can be such a beautiful thing... you'll see."
I smiled. Honestly, the whole thing was a little adorable. It made me wish I could love for the first time again.
"Anyway, you should get going. Seek me out in your dreams if something happens... or well, I'll seek you out anyway."
"Yes, Your Grace."
...
After departing from New Ghis, the only thing on my mind was Volantis. I continued to work on the dragon saddle, eventually completing it. Daenerys was pleased with that, although she had been a little bit more distant since our conversation. Was she waiting for me to come to her?
The journey around the ruins of Valyria was swifter than last time, with my wind and water magic pushing the entire fleet faster than ever before. Although, due to not wanting to unintentionally break any of the ships, I had to do so in moderation. Because of this, I could 'push' for nearly the entire day constantly... which turned into a greater benefit. Steadiness wins the race, after all.
It would take a month and a half before Volantis was within a day's sailing.
I looked at the board set up in my cabin. Two tigers, one elephant. There hadn't ever been more than one Triarch from the tiger party in the past three centuries - until now, of course. The freeborn landowners of Volantis voted for war... and so they would have it.
I held a tiger piece, grinding it to dust in my hand as my fist tightened and lightning sparked.
They chose to hold on to their old world... to defy me. Thousands of my men, my people, paid the price for that.
On the morrow, they would be avenged.