iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 536 King and King 12
As the morning light began to break, the soft light was like a layer of gauze, gently covering the bed, and Daenerys slowly woke up.

She subconsciously reached out and touched the empty body, but the familiar warmth had disappeared, and her fingertips only felt a slight chill.

Then, she slowly opened her eyes, with a hint of sleepiness still in them, as if they were hazy due to morning mist.

"Good day, your highness."

Not long after Daenerys woke up, Butler Surana came in quickly and lightly with several maids in blue dresses as usual. They held exquisite copper basins and soft towels in their hands, and served the princess in washing and changing clothes in a well-trained manner.

Daenerys walked to the beautifully carved dressing table and slowly sat down, her eyes falling on herself in the mirror.

The morning light danced on the mirror, reflecting Daenerys' beautiful and slightly tired face. She tilted her head slightly, looked around carefully, and asked softly, "Where did Green go?"

Surana slightly turned sideways and signaled the maids to show Daenerys the princess the gorgeous jewelry in her hands that were inlaid with various dazzling gems and carved with intricate patterns.

While displaying various gorgeous jewelry, he said: "He should be in the arena right now, watching the horse racing competition organized by the young people themselves."

Daenerys was slightly surprised: "So early?"

Surana shrugged. "His Royal Highness the Regent told them that the early bird catches the worm."

Hearing this, Daenerys couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth slightly, and she let out a faint smile, like the first flower blooming in spring.

Her eyes wandered among the jewelry, finally landing on a necklace and earrings with purple gemstones. She reached out and gently picked them up, comparing them to the mirror, and said, "His mottos are always so inspiring."

Surana pursed his lips: "Yes, he is a natural leader."

As she spoke, she picked up another piece of purple gem jewelry, walked behind Daenerys, stopped the jewelry in front of Daenerys's collarbone, tilted her head slightly, looked through the mirror, her eyes full of concentration, as if she was striving to create the most perfect look for the princess.

Daenerys looked at herself in the mirror and felt that something was missing. After a moment, she pointed to one and said, "Please try that one."

…………

The sunlight sprinkled on the dining table filled with delicious food, creating mottled light and shadows. Daenerys finished her breakfast and was gently wiping the corners of her mouth. At this moment, a steady sound of footsteps came closer and closer.

It was Ser Barristan Selmy, who had come to see the king.

Daenerys put down the towel in her hand, her eyes fell on Barristan, and she couldn't help but raise her eyebrows slightly.

Today, Ser Barristan looked completely new. His long beard was gone and had been shaved clean, revealing his strong jaw.

His snow-white hair was neatly groomed, and underneath it were a pair of blue eyes that exuded a sense of sadness... Although the years had left deep and shallow marks on Ser Barristan's face, he was still handsome and elegant, and his every move showed the demeanor of a knight.

Seeing the lord like this, Daenerys raised her lips slightly and said, "Sir, you are very charming today."

Ser Barristan smiled kindly when he heard this, and his smile was like the warm sunshine in winter.

He bowed slightly, his tone humble and gentle: "Thank you for your compliment, Your Highness Daenerys. If it is permitted, please allow this old knight to invite you for a walk."

Daenerys's purple eyes moved slightly, and she smiled: "Of course, it is also my honor, sir."

…………

The morning mist had not yet completely dissipated and was still lingering above the camp. Wisps of mist were sparkling with tiny rays of light under the reflection of the rising sun.

Daenerys and Barristan strolled on the grass in the camp. The grass leaves under their feet were covered with crystal dewdrops, which rolled down like tiny pearls when they touched them.

"your Highness."

Barristan's old and deep voice was full of special solemnity. He called out first, and then a look of hesitation flashed across his deep eyes. Then he slowly said, "Regent Lord Green invited me to serve as the captain of the Kingsguard again."

His voice trembled slightly, as if this simple sentence carried too many complex and deep emotions.

Daenerys nodded slightly when she heard this. She walked with graceful steps and said, "Green mentioned this to me. I think it's a good thing. Fearless Barristan, you are a famous knight in the Seven Kingdoms and you were once my father's Kingsguard. No one is more suitable for this position than you."

Her words were sincere, and her tone was full of respect and trust for the old knight, but... Barristan seemed to be locked in an invisible yoke and was silent for a long time.

Then, he slowly stopped and stood still with a look of deep pain on his face. "Since I knelt before Robert... the Usurper, I have lost the right to wear the white robe. My princess, it is my greatest blessing that you allow me to protect you."

Daenerys looked at him quietly. "Is that how you answered Green? What did he say?"

Barristan paused for a moment again, and then he answered bitterly, "The Regent said that I have no right to refuse his invitation. He told me that I would reach the end of my road to atonement only if I dedicated my life to you until I took my last breath or died fighting for you..." He managed to curl his lips, "... He also said that in a situation where defeat was inevitable, only the stubborn people of Crab Claw Peninsula would kill until only a pregnant woman was left."

Daenerys looked into the distance, her violet eyes seemed to see the bloody and tragic past through the morning mist: "That woman was a great mother. The child she raised not only avenged Crabclaw Peninsula seventeen years later, but also overthrew the dynasty of the usurper."

She turned to look at the old knight who still had a conflicted look on his face, and said, "I hope you will accept this invitation, Sir. You don't want to reject the kindness of both me and Green at the same time, right?"

"But………"

"Sir, no buts." Barristan was interrupted by Daenerys' voice as soon as he opened his mouth. Her plump lips rose and fell slowly, and she was a little emotional. She stared at him closely, "The fire of hatred will only bring endless bloodshed, generation after generation... I hope that the Seven Kingdoms will be stable as soon as possible, get rid of the pain, and let the people of the Seven Kingdoms who have suffered from wars have a happy meal with their families every day in front of the warm fireplace."

She took a deep breath and said, "My brother, Viserys, swore to hang all those who betrayed him. He lived in bitter hatred until his death... I, my mother died the night the storm was born. All my memories of my family come from my brother."

Her memory of Viserys, apart from his love for her when she was a child, was only the beatings he gave her when he exploded with the wrath of the sleeping dragon...

The painful vortex of memories made Daenerys' eyes dim. "Before I met Green, compared with the pain I suffered, what made me most desperate was that I was like a commodity at the mercy of others, waiting to be exchanged. I didn't even dare to think of resisting. I was almost sold... to the barbarians in Essos."

“Your Highness…” The old knight opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but his throat was choked by overwhelming emotion. He slowly knelt down in front of the princess and lowered his face which was full of guilt and emotion.

"Arise, loyal Lord Barristan Selmy."

Daenerys sighed softly and calmed down. When Barristan stood up trembling slightly, the smile she forced on her little face could not hide the sadness in her eyes: "Green has done enough for me. Now, I will try my best to forget the hatred. Maintaining the peace of the kingdom is my responsibility and obligation as a descendant of Targaryen."

At this point, the princess's expression gradually became gentle: "Since you came to Mermaid Harbor after experiencing life and death and met me again (Chapter 275), I have pardoned you. So, my good lord, please hold your head high and put on the white robe of honor again."

"Your Highness..." The White Knight Barristan knelt on one knee devoutly in front of the dragon. He held his sword solemnly in both hands and slowly placed it in front of her feet. The sword flickered in the morning light, as if telling of the regained loyalty and honor.

…………

Sow Corner, the arena.

The small horse race was over, and the valley's apprentice knights won the victory without any suspense with their superb riding skills.

Although the game has ended, the enthusiasm of the crowd has not diminished at all and the atmosphere is still very warm.

Following a loud suggestion from several trainee knights from Crab Claw Peninsula, everyone worked together to move a thick and sturdy oak barrel and placed it steadily in the center of the field. Thus, an arm wrestling competition began.

They gathered around the oak barrel, shouting and cheering one after another, as if they were going to overturn the sky.

Sitting on the high platform, Lord Green looked at the cheering crowd below with great interest. He couldn't help but sigh at the young people... Well, he suddenly remembered that he was only eighteen years old, and he was also one of the young people.

The arm wrestling competition became more and more intense. They gritted their teeth, veins bulged on their foreheads, and the muscles in their arms were as tight as iron chains.

Just when everyone thought that the champion would be born among the apprentice knights of the Crab Claw Peninsula, something unexpected happened... A servant from the River Land who was as sturdy as an iron tower, relied on his amazing arm strength to defeat all the challengers from the Crab Claw Peninsula one by one and won the final victory.

The atmosphere became a little better. Lord Green gently encouraged the servant from the riverlands and rewarded him with a bag full of gold dragons.

Following his signal, everyone began to disperse contentedly, heading to their tents for meals or returning to their residences to carefully put on their armor, making thorough preparations for the even more grand martial arts competition to come.

Grimm also went to the tent in the back, and Ser Brienne, with the help of a young squire from the Stormlands, dressed him in shining armor.

Brienne was very skilled. She first lifted the breastplate and helped Green put it on steadily, carefully adjusting the position to ensure it fit comfortably, and then put on the shoulder armor and arm armor for him in turn.

…………

Just as Brienne was about to put the cloak embroidered with swamp marigolds on Green's shoulders, a guard in a blue robe hurried into the tent, holding a secret letter in his hand.

Seeing Brienne stop what she was doing, Lord Green waved his hand slightly, motioning her to continue. Then he glanced at the intact wax seal on the letter, opened it and began to read.

Although Kevan has passed away, the high reward for the whereabouts of Euron Greyjoy (Chapter 379) he issued in the name of the Royal Council has not been revoked.

The Lys pirates who had recently been active in the waters east of the Stormlands, with a bit of luck, had discovered the Ironborn fleet sailing north.

Green moved his feet and came to the long table covered with a map of the seven countries.

His sight quickly locked onto the waters east of the Isle of Tas, then slowly moved northward, passing Cape Marseille and the Point, passing through the Throat, and finally settling on the location of Dragonstone.

Green's fingers drummed on the table one by one, the rhythm sometimes slow, sometimes fast... With the dragon's horn and the two legitimate heirs of Balon Greyjoy, plus the "Targaryen Princess", the cunning pirate seemed to have finally taken the bait.

(End of this chapter)