Knight of skulls and kisses

A.N. I have already plan for the rest of the story, so if you have some suggestions, you should tell it now, before it is too late.

Richard POV

Walking to the port of Qarth, where my ships with the rest of my company await me, after talks with the merchants, who refused to support me, I notice a silver-haired girl asking around for the passage. Taking a good look I notice she is with some Dothraki and some kind of lizards in the cages. Curious I started to follow her and see who this mystery girl truly is, getting closer to her I could not believe my eyes, these were not some lizards but dragons.

With dragons on my side, I could, at last, accomplish my mission, so deciding to walk toward her and ask for her support, I notice a man giving a box to her. Getting a good look at the suspicious man, I run to her and knock the box of her hands, and the box opens on the ground revealing a manticore, but before I can kill it a Westerosi man, who was with the girl points his sword towards me.

"I would be more concerned about a manticore than a man who saved your friend's life," I say as the man looks at the ground and stabs the insect with his sword.

"Who are you? And why were you following us?" The man asks.

"I am just a sellsword who was walking back to his ships, but notice a silver-haired girl with dragons, so I have decided to see if my eyes didn't deceive me," I answer and take look at the girl.

"Thank you for saving my life, you said you had ships?" The girl asks.

"I do and it seems you need a passage out of the Qarth," I answer with an easy smile.

"Khaleesi, we can't trust his man." The man says.

"And who we can trust, but a man who saved my life." The girl replies.

"I wouldn't say, but if you want a passage, you should come with me now, because I was about to leave this port," I tell her and start walking ahead. "By the way, I would like to know, are you Daenerys Targaryen?"

"How do you know?" The man tenses up.

"Well, she is the last living Targaryen, and looking at her hair and dragons, it isn't hard to guess," I answer the man as we get close to my ships.

"Yes I am, and what your name is, you don't look like you are from Essos." The princess asks.

"My name is ser Richard Lonmouth, and who would you be?" I answer and ask the man.

"I am ser Jorah Mormont." He answers me.

"Jorah Mormont? I heard of you, you were due execution for selling poacher to slavers." I tell him as I remember the tale of the bear knight. "I should just kill you now for your crimes."

"You would try." The man replies.

"And I would succeed," I say and reveal to them my ships with about seven hundred armed men near them. "Welcome to my company of the skulls and kisses."

"Is a trap." The man says and draws his sword.

"You should relax, I did say I have ships, did you think they will be empty," I reply to him.

"So you will give me a passage out of here?" The princess asks, looking around.

"I will, follow me," I tell them and go to my ship and they follow me. "But not for free."

"What do you want?" The princess asks.

"I want your help," I answer. "Don't worry, I will tell you everything, but first we should get comfortable."

…

At my cabin, I sit in front of Daenerys Targaryen and ser Jorah Mormont, taking some wine from the cabinet and filling the cups with it. They refused to drink, so I take my cup and have a sip, looking at them, a dishonored knight and an exiled princess with real dragons.

"First of all, I should tell you what I was doing in here." I start speaking. "I was looking for support, to accomplish my mission, but was refused."

"So it is that mission that you need my help with, what is it?" The princess asks curiously.

"My mission is to destroy the slaver bay and free all the slaves, that is my life purpose, my company's purpose," I tell her, I still remember the day when I was just a drunk knight and the boy who found me and offered me a new purpose, worthy of legends itself.

"What a bold proclamation, and how could you possibly accomplish this?" The bear knight asks.

"How would you understand, slaver, asks any of my men, all of them were slaves before I freed them, every single one of them is ready to sacrifice their lives for this goal of ours," I tell him and then look at the princess. "And with the help of the dragons, that goal is now feasible."

"That is an admirable goal you have, but in return I want your help to retake the Iron throne from the usurper." The princess demands.

"The usurper, as you call him, is dead, now his son Lyonel is ruling the Seven Kingdoms," I tell her. "And I could not help you with your conquest, after the mad king, there is no chance for you to unite the great lords."

"What do you mean, after the mad king? It is just a lies that the usurper spread." She exclaims.

"Oh, so ser Jorah didn't explain it to you, your father was a mad king, who burned Lord Stark alive and killed his heir, and then demanded for second son's head," I tell her with a serious tone.

"Lies, you were one of the rebels too, weren't you? Believing the usurpers and his dog's lies." She says with an angry voice.

"I was your brother's squire at the battle of Trident," I reply her and she shuts up at that. "It is late, you should rest for tonight, but all those lies are truths, there is no place in Westeros for a Targaryen."

With those words she leaves my cabin, I start thinking that maybe I was a bit strict with my words, she is just a little girl, but she needs to learn the truth one way or another. It seemed that the bear knight would not tell her, so it is for better.

…

The next morning after the princess has calmed down, I went to her for a talk, she was standing on the bridge, looking at the sea. She was a pretty girl, but what was most important about her was her dragons. Standing next to her I looked at the sea too.

"What you said yesterday was the truth, right?" She asks first.

"Yes, your father was a mad king, it was his fault for your family's downfall," I answer. "Back then I was just a boy, looking for glory and the Crown prince took me as his squire."

"Did you know my brother?" She asked with a curious voice.

"Not very much, but he was a kind man, a little recluse, but friendly man," I answer her. "I never believed that he kidnapped the Stark girl, but she was found with his kingsguard, so I don't know what to believe."

"Lyanna Stark, ser Jorah said last night, that the war began with my brother supposed kidnapping of her." She tells me.

"In a way, it was the start of what would come, but if your father had not killed Rickard Stark and his son, it still would be dealt with, without any bloodshed," I reply her.

"Tell me, why do you want to save those slaves?" She asks me to change the subject.

"Before coming to Essos, I was just a drunken knight without any purpose, blaming my luck choosing the wrong side at the rebellion, but a boy found me and told me that I at least had a choice, but most of the men in Essos didn't," I tell her. "He offered me a deal, he will give me gold to start my new life, if I freed the slaves, at first I came here to do as he said, but after seeing what those slaves had to endure, how miserable their lives are, I took it as my life purpose to help them."

"I will help you with this mission, but I refuse to believe that there is no place for a Targaryen in the Westeros ." She tells me. "Who was the boy?"

"Who knows?" I answer her with my own question.

Lyonel POV

Taking care of the papers in my solar was a daily thing for me, if I missed even one day, it would stockpile and make my day even more miserable. Looking at the kingdom's finances, fleet building reports, and other things in between. After the tourney, most lords left with their men, but I somehow managed to coax some knights and men in arms to stay in Kings Landing, but I was too successful, so now I need to find accommodations for them.

After finishing all the paperwork, I called for ser Davos, who just arrived at Kings Landing not so long ago. Without any information from Essos I started to get paranoid, what I need is to know that the Golden company are still in Essos and not already traveling to Westeros. After a few more moments ser Davos comes to my solar.

"Your grace, you have called for me?" He asks once he entered my solar.

"Yes, as I know, you should have some contacts with the pirates and sellswords in Essos, I need for you to contact them and tell me if some of the most famous companies are doing," I tell him.

"I shall see what I can do, your grace." He replies to me.

"Thank you, as you have probably heard, I have appointed you as my master of whispers, so will like to start getting me information, from other lords of Westeros, especially from Dorne and Vale," I order him.

"It will be done, your grace, if that all." He answers me and starts going back.

"Wait for a moment, tell me how are my cousin and brother doing, have they already left for Dragonstone?" I ask him.

"Little Tommen is keeping a good company to Shireen, they should have already arrived at Dragonstone, your grace." He answers me.

"Good, now I only need to ask for Lord Kevan to take some men and secure the other Islands," I say more to myself than to ser Davos. "You are dismissed."

After Davos leaves, I start to thinking of what needs to be done, there are suspicious movements all over the Seven kingdoms, the war is coming. Taking a look through the window and seeing the sea, I start to imagine the moves that Aegon Targaryen/Blackfyre will take. Telling people that he is fake won't be enough, those who want to believe him will believe him as the heir to the Iron throne. Those who don't want him as a king, will not believe him from the start, and coming with the Golden company won't win him any favors.

Taking another sip, I start to plan how to take care of the Lords who will support Aegon, getting close to Seralla is only part of my plan, if she is informing her uncle about me and my actions, then I feed her false information and if Doran decides to support Aegon I will take her as a hostage, Oberyn will care for her daughter's wellbeing and refuse to personally attack me. Letting her believe that I like her, she will let her guard down, and having a fun night is just a bonus.

…

In a small council room, with now all members, I was listening to the reports from the Vale. It seems that even with giving the Lord of Runestone the title of the regent, didn't help much, Lady Lysa is not letting her knights leave Eyrie and calling others lords a traitor for taking arms against the mountain clans. Still, Lord Royce manage to rally about ten thousand men for defending against the mountain clans, but the mountains of the Vale are a treacherous place and he got many casualties in the ambushes.

"Should we send men, to help Lord Royce in his campaign." Asks Lord Manderly.

"Something is not right," I say in a quiet voice.

"Your grace?" Uncle Tyrion asks with concern.

"Something is not right, from the reports it seems that the clans are fighting together against Lord Royce," I tell them and they look confused at me. "Who is leading the clans, I know for a fact that the clans are divided among themselves, call for Ser Robar."

Ser Robar Royce, the second son of Yohn Royce, will probably know most of the conflict that is happening in the Vale. If something isn't right, ser Robar will know, what I need the most is information about them. As the knight of Vale arrived and I stopped thinking about it, bidding for him to sit.

"Tell me, ser Robar, how well do you know the Vale mountain clans?" I ask him.

"As well as any lord of the Vale, your grace." He answers modestly.

"So better than most of us," I say. "Tell me how likely is for them to unite and fight the Vale?"

"The mountain clans would love to fight the Vale, but to united would be unlikely, there are clans like the Burned man, who wouldn't follow anyone, and even if other clans united it would be hard to control them." He tells us. "But if they united, is because of a strong leader and promises of steel and gold."

"Thank you, for your input," I tell ser Robar. "So most clans are united under a strong leader, so underestimating them, because they are savages, would be foolish, do you know what number of fighting force they can assemble?"

"It is hard to say, your grace, but if I have to say, it is up to eight thousand men." He answers and other members of small counsel are shocked by the number.

"You have heard of your father's failed campaign against them? What do you think of it?" I ask.

"Yes, your grace, I don't know details, but is hard to believe he would just lose, the mountain clans are tough men, but they don't have much of any good equipment, no steel swords or armor." He informs us.

"I see, but if they got those things, it would be another tale," I say, starting to think. "Someone could be supporting the mountain clans, giving them equipment and information on Lord Royce's forces."

"But who would do such a thing?" Uncle Tyrion asks.

"Someone, who wants power, someone who has gold to support them," I answer, even if it doesn't give a clear picture.

"So what should we do, your grace, do you want to assemble an army to reinforce Lord Royce?" Willas asks.

"We don't have any other choice, Lord Renly, you will gather ten thousand men from Stormlands, but they will stay in Storms End for further instructions, Lord Willas, I want to gather your best five thousand Reach men and send them to the Kings Landing for now," I tell both of them. "Ser Davos, I want you to find out if there are any merchants who have sold steel to the vale."

"Yes, your grace." They answered me.

"Maester Marvyn, I want all information about Vale, the culture of the mountain clans, and so on," I tell my new Grandmaester.

"Of course, your grace." He answers me.

"Lord Manderly, I want you to prepare all ships we have, we may have use for them soon," I order the fat Northman.

"Very well, your grace." He nods.

"You all are dismissed," I say and watch them leave.

"What about me, nephew? Don't you have any orders for me?" Tyrion asks after others leave.

"You, uncle, going to marry," I tell him.

"What? Marry who?" He asked shocked.

"You choose, Talia Tarly or Desmera Redwyne," I say to him. "You not getting any younger, it's a long time for you to marry."

"Do you think they would want to marry the Imp of the Casterly rock?" He tells me with a shake of his head.

"No, but they will want to marry the Hand of the King, and heir to Casterly Rock," I tell him. "They are the two most powerful houses of the Reach, we need at least one more marriage to take control of them."

"Why do you want to control them so much?" He asks.

"Because the Tyrells didn't manage to do so," I answer him. "And you need a bride soon before grandfather decides to marry you some petty lord's daughter, with powerful house behind you, he won't be able to take control over you."

"I see, lady Talia is about your age if not younger, I will not marry some little girl." He says.

"So it is lady Desmera, good, now go, I will prepare for it," I tell him and he leaves.

…

Making deals with Lannister household members, was fine, what wasn't fine was not informing Tywin Lannister, the head of the house. So there I am in my solar waiting for my grandfather, to have another talk.

"Your grace, Lord Tywin is here." My steward tells me.

"Good, invite him in and leave, I don't want to be disturbed," I order him.

"You wanted to see me?" Asks my grandfather.

"Yes, our last meeting was not very nice, I have to apologize for my behavior," I tell him.

"Your apologizes are accepted." He replies to me.

"Very good, but I still won't give a position in the court," I say and see his eyes darken a little. "Your presence in there would only create an imbalance among other houses."

"So, why have called me here, just to apologize?" He asks me.

"No, what I have told before, was partially right, house Lannister is too isolated, so I decided to spread them a bit, I will give great-uncle Kevan regency of the Dragonstone," I tell him.

"Very well, he will rule fine for Tommen." He agrees.

"I decided that it would be best to marry Tyrion to the Redwynes before you start complaining, I already am in the talks with them," I inform him.

"Fine, but I will not give him Casterly rock." He tells me stubbornly.

"You will, it is his by all rights, and even if you refuse, I will give him the Casterly rock, and there nothing you can't do about it," I replied him with a stern voice.

"Then we have nothing to talk about anymore." He says and stands up to leave.

"Sit down, or I will declare you a traitor to the realm," I tell him with a loud voice. "I don't care that you don't like Tyrion, but he is my most trusted man, who will marry a powerful house with a fleet, so he will get the Casterly rock."

"And if I don't agree, you will fight me?" He asks.

"Yes, no matter how much you want for Jaime to be your heir, he won't, and even if he was, do you think he's up to the job?" I ask him, but don't wait for an answer. "I tell you, that no, he's not up to the job, Tyrion is smart, cunning, and ruthless enough to take control over the Westerlands."

"He is an imp, an embarrassment to the Lannister name." He replies.

"He is the Hand of the King, he is better than you," I tell him with anger in my voice.

"Better than me? In what way?" He asks with his own anger building up.

"He has all of your strengths and none of your weaknesses," I answer him. "As I said before, he is smart and cunning like you, but doesn't have that useless pride, you carry around."

"I won't hear of this anymore." He tells me and leaves.

Well, it could have been better, I hope he changes his mind, I don't want to become a kinslayer because of him.