Welcome [Red]

[Daenerys Targaryen]

Astapor was hers now, Daenerys thought with a smile. She had taken a city. Viserys would have never believed her capable of such a thing, and yet, here she was. Of course, she knew it was down to the confidence that she had built while Drogo was alive, but still. She, Daenerys Stormborn, had taken a city.  She had 8,000 Unsullied to fight for her, as she had fought for their freedom.

Dany had decided to rest a while in the city before they moved on to Yunkai. Ser Jorah wanted her to press on, but she did not believe that leaving today would make any difference to leaving in two days. They would have difficulty in securing more help from Yunkai, and she wanted her people to rest comfortably for a while before they began their next journey, sleeping in tents. Her people were her number one priority.

"Khaleesi, there are rumours of a ship from Westeros having docked in port. I would suggest that we do something to increase your security, if the Baratheons have sent another assassin after you." Ser Jorah's face was grave as he spoke, but it didn't seem to phase Daenerys. "Ser Jorah," she began. "I have an army of eight thousand Unsullied. One assassin will be no match for them."

Ser Jorah looked down, a little abashed, but nodded. "Of course, Khaleesi. I am just concerned for you, as your loyal knight." Dany nodded. "That is a noble thing indeed," she told him with a smile. As she looked out across the city, she smiled more. This was really the start of her taking back what was rightfully hers. "Who is that?" she asked Ser Jorah, pointing to a man in her eye line. "He isn't one of my Unsullied, nor my Dothraki...Maybe he is from Yunkai?"

Ser Jorah looked over in the direction she pointed, andshook his head. "I do not know, Khaleesi. But he looks as though he is headed this way."

"Let him approach," she said, before calling to some of the nearby Unsullied. She asked them to protect her, should this man be an enemy, and they nodded.

[Alexander Redhawke]

Alexanders ship finally approached what had once been Astapor. A mile back they had seen the plumes of smoke that still spewed from the city and the captain had wanted to turn back, it took Alexander a good 30 minutes of persuasion to keep him on the current course but finally they were here. "Are you sure you want to get off here?" The captain asked, "We could take you onto Yunkai or Pentos." Alexander just smiled and replied; "No thanks, this is exactly what I came for." Alexander took a small row-boat to shore and waved to the ship as it turned and sailed on to safer waters. When he turned the sight before him was quite something.

Several thousand soldiers, arranged perfectly in lines stood before him, with a clear path leading to a tent where he could barely make out 3 figures, two standing and one sitting. Alexander walked between the lines of soldiers, they disturbed him. The soldiers were silent and unmoving, he couldn't even hear them breathe. Alexander pondered where Daeneryes had acquired such troops, perhaps she made more support than he had thought. If these men were as well trained as they seemed, she could crush half the armies in Westeros with these forces alone. As he approached what looked like a war tent a line of soldiers barred his way. As he approached them they dropped their long spears into combat formation Alexanders hand moved towards his sword but he changed his mind and raised his hands above his head. "Please, I wish no harm. I only wish to meet with her grace, Queen Daeneryes Targaryen. I would pledge my sword and my life to her." Alexander could barely see his new Queen and hoped she wouldn't be suspicious of a complete stranger. "I bring a gift for her grace, and ask humbly that I be allowed to pass." The soldiers made no move however and seemed to be waiting for orders.

[Daenerys Targaryen]

"Let him pass," Daenerys said in Valyrian to her Unsullied. She sat, composed, her three dragons around the tent. Drogon was perched beside her, and behind her perched Rhaegal to her left, and Viserion to her right. She did not truly believe this man would attempt to hurt her now that he had seen her protection. Eight thousand Unsullied, her Dothraki riders, and her dragons. One would have to be a fool to attempt to hurt her while alone. Ser Jorah gave her a look, but said nothing. He still believed that she was too trusting of people, but he would not say anything. He knew better. he would hold his tongue around the Khaleesi.

The Unsullied that protected her stood down, allowing the man to pass through to her presence. "Come," she said to him, a smile on her face. She had heard his proclamation, and wanted to know more about the man who called her Queen, rather than Khaleesi. "You call me Queen. Here, I am Khaleesi.Please, sit." She motioned to the seat opposite her, which had been occupied by Ser Jorah a little while before.

"Welcome to Astapor," Dany said with a nod.

[Alexander Redhawke]

As the 'Unsullied' parted Alexander instinctively fell to one knee. When he loomed up he was amazed by what he saw. Daeneryes was younger than he had expected but she had the confidence and calmness that Rhaegar had, she was clearly his sister. His eyes drifted to the dragons and for a split second Alexanders jaw dropped. They were incredible. Until now Dragons had been naught but old wives tales and nursery rhymes to Alexander but to see them for real, Alexander could scarcley believe his eyes. When she had finished talking Alexander stood and bowed. " Thank you my Qu... Kahleesi." Alexander had never heard the term before but want to be as respectful as possible.

He sat down tentatively, keeping an eye on the dragons as he did. "Your grace, it is an honour to be here. I must confess I knew little of your current position, I knew only of your dragons and your journey east, I had not realised you possesed such a grand army." Alexander reached into his pack and brought out a bundle of leather. "Your grace, the Gods gave me two gifts. I can swing a sword and I can forge one, and so I present this gift to you." Alexander knelt in front of her and began to unwrap the leather, revealing the glint of silver within. When he was finished unwrapping it Alexander held up his gift. A sword, the blade thin ans curved, a meter in length. The blade was the finest quality steel Alexander could find, engraved with the dragon of the Targaryens and inlaid with silver. The hilt was blackened steel shaped into the head of a dragon, the eyes inlaid with rubies. Finally the handle was wrapped in red leather and stamped with the Targaryen steel. The blade was Alexanders masterpiece, his magnum opus. "It is no Valyrian blade, your grace. But I hope it pleases you."

[Daenerys Targaryen]

The man dropped to his knees, and it pleased Dany. This was the first man from Westeros that had come here of his own choice, had come to seek her out, and called her Queen. That meant something. It meant that there were those on the Island whom she could count on for support for her claim to the throne. She spoke to him in the Common Tongue, both because it was easier for him to understand, and because it was gracious to do so. He had come all this way to seek an audience. It was the least she could do.

"My army is newly aquired. I am grateful that no one knows of them just yet. News of my army should not reach Westeros until it is too late for them to raise their men to fight against me." She kept her gaze on him, and wondered what the man was pulling from his pack. She did not have to wait long to find out, though. It was a gift for her. She waited for him to undo the bundle in front of him, and the sun shone on the item, and the gleam of silver was apparent. He raised the blade for her to better view it, and she took it from his hands to best examine it. It was a beautifully crafted blade, the sigil of her house engraved into it. The hilt, however, was what almost took her breath away. A dragon's head, with rubies for eyes, it looked almost exactly like her Drogon. She held it up for the creature to see, and he nudged her in approval. "I care not for what type of steel it is, only the way in which it feels, and how it moves through the air."

Standing, she gripped the sword by the handle, and stepped away from her seat. She motioned to one of her guards to bring some of the meat that was left aside for her dragons, and he held it as she sliced through it cleanly with the sword. It seemed to sing as she swung it, and it felt as though the blade was always a part of her. Valeryian steel or not, this was perfection. She gave the sword to her guard, who quickly cleaned it off for her. She returned to her seat. "And what do you wish for in return for this gift? You have yet to tell me anything of you. What is it that you seek from me?"

[Alexander Redhawke]

Alexander smiled warmly. "It gives me great pleasure that it pleases your grace." Alexander returned to his seat slowly. Alexander noticed as she showed the sword to one of her dragons, the black one which bore an incredible resemblance to the hilt of the blade. As Daenerys passed the blade to her guard Alexander again observe the soldiers clad all in black. They truly were a mighty force, no hesitation or mistake, they were perfect soldiers. But Alexander noticed one problem, they were all infantry. With archers or cavalry a war would be hard to fight and sieges would be nigh on impossible. This was an impressive force, but only the beginnings of a true army.

When Daenerys asked who he was he bowed his head respectfully and replied. "My name is Ser Alexander Redhawke, if it please your grace. I was a Knight of Griffons Roost until... until recent events. I once served Lord Jon Connington, and fought alongside both him and your brother Prince Rhaegar during The War of the Usurper. I was there at the Trident when Rhaegar was killed." Alexander bowed his head in genuine sadness, "Many a good man died that day, your brother was a great man, your grace. The Trident is also where I lost my hand. To emphasize this point Alexander held up his steel hand. "Once I gave my hand for your house, now I would offer you my life. However you see fit. Originally I attempted to rally support for you within Westeros but I am no schemer y'grace, I failed and was forced to flee. I immediately traveled wast so that I may serve you and inform on the situation within Westeros. Alexander knew that Daenerys had not visited Westeros in many year but he had been there mere days ago, perhaps he could serve her better in this capacity than in any other.

[Daenerys Targaryen]

“Ser Alexander Redhawke,” Dany repeated after the man introduced himself. “Anyone who fought alongside my brother is a welcome sight to me. You shall have to tell me sometime of him. I have no memories of him that have not been forged from the words of others, and any tale of him would be of great comfort to me.”She glanced at his steel hand. He said that he had lost it fighting alongside her brother. If that were true, then it would only be just that she accepted the man’s oath to serve her. He had tried to raise support for her in Westeros. In time, she would likely send someone to do it again.

”Ser Alexander, you have travelled many leagues to be here, and I appreciate it, more than you know. You know that the Usurper tried to have me killed when I was with child? Were it not for Ser Jorah, I would have drunk the poisoned wine that was sent from Westeros to kill me. Ser Jorah is one of my Queensguard. Could you swear to me that you would do as he does? To protect me, at whatever cost?” Ser Jorah raised an eyebrow at her, but she ignored it. Her Queensguard would do well with a man who fought with her brother, she decided. If he would offer up his hand for Rhaegar, his life for her, he would be the best candidate for a knight of her Queensguard. ”If you would say yes, then I would make you a knight of my Queensguard, one of my trusted to protect my life, at all costs.”

[Alexander Redhawke]

Alexanders heart sweled up with pride at the word "Queensguard", Your grace, you do me a great honour." Alexander had always dreamed of being in the Kingsguard, fighting to defend Aerys or Rhaegar but he had failed, and Rhaegar was dead but now he could make things right. He noticed the knight who already stood at Daeneyes'side, he didn't seem to approve of Alexander but he was used to that. Alexander fell to one knee once more. "I swear, by the old gods and the new, that from this day forth that I shall protect you from all threats and all harm, I will give my life for yours.

Alexander drew his sword and laid it over one knee, "From this day forth, I shall hold no land, take no wife and sire no sons. I am yours Kahleesi, until the day I die." Alexander lifted his head and studied Daeneryes. She had the blood of Aegon the Conquerer in her and she would retake her throne, with him by her side. Alexander knew once more he would ride into battle with a dragon, and it was all he could do to stop himself from grinning like a fool.

[Daenerys Targaryen]

“Khaleesi,” Ser Jorah said, irritated that the man had been told already to address Dany as such and seemed to forget it so quickly. Dany shot him a look that screamed for his silence, and he was quickly obedient. Sometimes, being the queen was good. She allowed Alexander to make his vow before she spoke. She took a step to him, and placed her hand on his shoulder. “I swear by the old gods and the new that from this day forth, you will be a knight of my Queensguard. You are bound by this oath to protect me, to follow any order that I give you. But, Ser Redhawke, now that you are a member of my Queensguard, I do not require you to remain chaste. My other Queensguards have lovers, wives… You have the choice to do so if you please. But your loyalty must always be to me first.”

Dany looked down at her knight. Ser Alexander Redhawke would make a good addition to her guards. He had risked his life to come here, to rally support for her in Westeros, and she would repay him for his loyalty. When the time came, when she regained the Iron Throne that was stolen from her father, Ser Alexander would be one of the first to be repaid for his loyalty, along with Ser Jorah. Lands, titles, whatever she could give these men for the trust they put in her. She turned to Grey Worm, and told him in Valyerian that he was to prepare rooms for Ser Alexander. “When your room is prepared, one of my khal will take you there, and once you have rested, we shall talk of all that is going on in Westeros.”