Moving up

- 290 AC -

(Viserys POV)

It didn't take 4 months to double the profits. It took less than 2 months to do that. And the reason for that was my new and gradually improving body. I really started to feel the changes happening now. I was now a teenager, or a grown man by this world's standards, meaning I was now going through quite a few changes.

First of all, everything about my body improved. I grew stronger, bigger, more dexterous, and smarter, my reflexes were faster and my beauty rose as well. It was hard to believe that I was not finished improving. It would continue this way until I reach full maturity. My endurance rose drastically as well. This allowed me to work on anything the blacksmith couldn't through the night, after spending time with my sister and then putting her to sleep.

Daenerys didn't like the changes but went through with it thankfully. The blacksmith had a wife and no children. When the wife found out about us, she was happy and I think she saw Daenerys as her daughter in a way. She looked after her and only after being absolutely sure of her intentions, did I allow them to be alone together. The blacksmith also warmed up to us after he saw how I worked.

I did everything he asked me, just like I said. But after the first week, he allowed me to start working as a smith. He showed me some things, but I understood most things instinctively. That was weird for me but the blacksmith, Borg is his name, said I was a natural blacksmithing genius. We take those.

So after he supervised me when I was creating my very first sword, I started to create more and more and each time, I became better and more skilled at making it. It became so surreal, that I managed to multitask and create two swords at the same time. Borg's eyes almost fell out of his head when he saw that.

I enjoy working in the smithy and don't care about my 'heritage' and 'status' or anything like that. The only thing I don't like is that my sister has to live like this. The money I managed to save, I used to buy things for Daeny to make her life easier and more enjoyable. She is my sunshine inside the dark smithy and when she smiles, I am happy. I will pull through these times and work my way up.

The profits have more than doubled at the end of the 4-month deadline. Borg has more work for me to complete and even thought about hiring more workers. I told him not to and then did all of the work myself. My work was flawless, no matter what I created. And I finally got paid. And it wasn't little either. The smith was an ambitious man, like anyone who finally gets some money, but I made sure to have him treat me fairly. I am his golden goose and he understands that.

I usually buy good food or some presents for Daeny. I also take one day of the week off to spend it with Daenerys. She seems to like that very much. In a year or so, I will think about starting her training. Just some light endurance training. I want her to be able to protect herself in the future. She will become a dangerous woman, I'll make sure of that.

(Varys POV)

"Spider, is there any news about the Dragonspawn?", King Robert Baratheon asks looking at me.

"Well, Your Grace, there is indeed news of Braavos. Apparently, former master-at-arms Ser Willem Darry passed away a few months ago, causing the last of the Targaryen workers to spread into the wind. Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen have vanished into the city and no one knows for sure where they are.", I say not elaborating everything I heard.

"So the old idiot is dead. Good, that means they won't have a good chance at survival at least. Do we at least know that they're in Braavos?"

"Yes, Your Grace. They don't seem to have left Braavos since Ser Willem Darry passed away, but it isn't clear where they are. Some rumours say that a young man with white hair was seen working at a smithy though.", I tell the Small Council.

The King snorts at that and I even see Ser Barristan's expression change slightly. Neither of them believes that to be Viserys. And why would they? Viserys Targaryen is a young boy of 14 name days and the 'rightful' heir to the Iron Throne. Why would he work in a smithy?

"Bah! A smithy? Right, the entitled Dragonspawn is as likely to start working, much less in a smithy as I am to go to bed sober. Those are some trashy rumours. Nevertheless, send money to assassins and have them find and kill both of them as soon as possible. I want their heads beneath my feet!", His Grace shouts and then stands up. He has been drinking already and it's not even midday.

"As you wish, Your Grace.", I say.

News is strange. The only thing I heard about the two Targaryens is that they apparently jumped out of the window. Whatever that may mean. After that, they seemingly vanished. Other than that, there is the news of a rising star in the smithing community and the one responsible is that white-haired young man. This could be Viserys Targaryen, but it is highly unlikely.

Another explanation is that someone is either helping them and has hidden them away or brought them out of Braavos. That is just as unlikely though. Leaving the final possibility, that someone either killed them or captured them and is planning to sell them to King Robert. That would be the worst-case scenario. Thankfully, it is also the most unlikely one. Because if someone had them, why wait to sell them this late?

I need more information. Maybe Illyrio can help me in that regard.

(Borg POV)

*Cling*

I watch the kid hammer away at the piece of metal. I got a new order in yesterday from the Sealord of all people. That's right, Vaenys' work has impressed so much, that even the Sealord himself has asked for weapons to be made. I look at the boy and see the changes he went through during these couple of months. I never thought that I would come to appreciate some kids as much as I do these two.

They still haven't told us their real names. We knew that they were telling us fake names, but neither my wife nor I cared for it. Vaenys is doing good work, remarkable work actually and little Daenys is a delight to have around. She was so scared at first, when they came here for the first few nights, that she followed Vaenys into the smithy just to be close to him. The little sweetheart was just adorable. Eliane, my wife, has come to love the children so much. We couldn't ever have any, so this seems like our chance to get some.

But there doesn't seem to be a need for education. Vaenys is taking care of his sister like a mother bear would. I can tell that there is nothing he wouldn't do for her and she needs him as much as she needs air. I am glad though that she finally got more familiar with us. Daenys can now stay in the house with Eliane while Vaenys is working. His speed has increased even more since then.

I know that they are hiding from something and if I look at them, I have a good idea what that is. But I don't care. I have come to care for them just like my wife has and I am not letting them go just like that. But Vaenys is preparing for something. I can tell. He seems to have a goal and for that goal, he goes through the dirt.

"How is it going?", I ask as I approach him.

*TSHHHHH*

"Pretty good, I'd say. The first batch of swords is done, now I'm starting with the knives the Sealord asked for. It should take me a few days to finish everything. We'll complete everything within the timeframe.", he tells me.

"Heh, within the timeframe he says. If you continue working this fast, I am going to get fat because I don't work anymore.", I say.

He looks at me and then at my belly.

"..."

"Ok, even fatter."

"Hehe. It's alright. I can work, so I do just that."

"Yes, I noticed. Listen, Vaenys, if there's something you need, then tell me. Do you understand?"

"Aye, I understand. Thank you, Borg. But I'm perfectly fine the way things are right now.", he says while working.

"There is nothing you have to pay for staying here. You have long paid for that anyway. And if I look at the speed you're working, you might get another raise soon. You could even start your own smithy by then.", I tell him, half in jest and half serious.

"Don't worry, Borg. As much as I enjoy smithing, I would never try to put you out of business. I don't have that much time. I will work here and do some other things while keeping Daenys safe.", he tells me with a smile.

"I know that. But what are you going to do? What are your plans? And don't tell me you don't have any, because I don't believe that. You can't stay here all your life, Vaenys. You are so talented and smart. You are already as strong as I am, if not stronger. You have the potential to do anything. Don't waste it here in the smithy with an old man like me."

"I am not wasting my time. I am working, so that I can earn money to survive for now. In the future, there might be some things I will have to take care of, but for now, we are here. Daenys still needs to grow up before I can do anything anyway."

He is smart. I can tell that he knows, that I have a guess who he is, but he doesn't care. If the Sealord is interested in him, I can understand why he wouldn't care though. He will go far and move up in the world very soon. I just hope that they can still stay for a while, for both my and Eliane's sake.

(Eliane POV)

"When does Vy come?", little Daeny asks me for the 100th time. I smile at her desperation. She is like a little monkey who holds on to his mother and doesn't let go. She misses Vaenys whenever they are a few minutes apart. I find that beyond sweet.

"He will return shortly, my sweet. As soon as he's finished in the smithy, he will come to see you.", I tell her. That is true. Whenever Vaenys isn't working, he is with little Daenys, spending time with her. He has also started to train if the sounds at night are anything to go by. Borg went to check on it and saw Vaenys training with a lot of metal we had in stock. The sound wasn't loud, so we let him be.

I can't help but feel that he is preparing for something. Both Borg and I know that these two cuties aren't truly called Vaenys and Daenys. What coincidence would that be? No, their names are wrong, but we both don't care. I suspect that they were the Prince and Princess of Westeros who went missing and who the rumours are talking about. They have that beautiful Valyrian look, that I would associate with nobility. Little Daeny is a treasure, but Vaenys ... oh my, if I was 30 years younger ... he would not get one night's rest, that's for sure.

He takes care not to go out too much and if he does, he tries to be as dirty as possible. They have exchanged their clothes for normal ones like we wear and hidden the other ones. I know that Vaenys wanted to burn them, but couldn't when Daeny started crying. He can't say no to her, not even once.

The bond these two share is beyond anything I have ever seen. It is a thing of books, that my mother wanted me to read before I fell in love with the son of a blacksmith. I already asked my uncle if there was any more work for our smithy to do and showed him a sample of the new batch of swords. He was impressed and went to tell his contact in the Sealord's Palace about it. That was the reason, we got that new request for weapons and tools. I didn't tell Borg about it and I never will. But the Sealord will be happy about the quality of the work, that I'm certain.

"I want to see Vy! Please can I go and see him?!", Daenys asks me. Before I can respond though, the voice of Vaenys is heard from the door.

"Of course, you can love."

"Vy!!! You're here!", Daenys shouts and jumps into his arms. I smile at their interaction. She is truly like a little monkey.

"How was your day, Daeny? Did you have fun? Did you bother, Eliane?", he asks her.

"Nonsense. She was a little angel.", I say and he nods his head.

"So what do you want to do?"

"I want to hear another story!"

"A story? Haha, about what?"

"Dragons!!", she blurts out and I can tell that Vaenys didn't want her to say that. So I was right. They are the two ... that changes nothing.

"Sure, Daeny. I'll tell you a story about Dragons. Would you like something tasty to eat? I think there is still something sweet in-"

"Yes!!"

"Hehe, alright then. Let's go. The sun is still shining. We can relax a bit in the courtyard and eat something sweet."

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