Argella walked past Lord Jaenyx and Lady Visenya as they exited Orys' chambers. From what she was able to glean from Lord Dondarrion, the Belaerys' were very much in love with each other. Their open displays of affection, along with Aegon and Rhaenys Targaryen, did not sit well with a few of the stormlords since it didn't fit propriety. But considering that the four had actual dragons, they didn't dare voice their disapproval in their presence.
Not that Argella cared that much about what they thought. They never ended their grumbling ever since she ordered all the stormlords and anyone else of importance to evacuate to the east banks of the Slayne, while the rainwood and the forests along the Wendwater protected their flanks. While no one questioned the soundness of her actions given that the stormlords were outnumbered by the combined might of the Gardener host led by Prince Edmund Gardener, abandoning their castles to the enemy didn't sit well with them. What's more, Argella ordering them to slight their castles to prevent the enemy from using them caused quite the uproar. Families such as the Swanns, the Selmys, and the Carons had occupied those fortresses for centuries and for them to destroy their own home was unthinkable. However, Lord Dondarrion defended Argella tore down the walls of Blackhaven before retreating with his house's harvests and retinue.
Argella was thankful for Lord Dondarrion's support during the difficult time of holding back the Gardener host and dealing with the stormlords' grumbling. Her ancestor had raised House Dondarrion to lordship and thus the Durrandons gained a house that would remain loyal to them forever. If only the other houses were like the Dondarrions .
But House Durrandon was no longer the ruler of the stormlands, replaced by House Baratheon via Orys, who claimed Storm's End by right of conquest after killing Argilac Durrandon in close combat. That also meant that the dragons now ruled over her house's former kingdom, since Orys was mostly Valyrian despite not having their characteristic silver hair and amethyst eyes.
Argella saw Orys lie there in the bed, still recuperating from his time in captivity. She remained in awe of what Lord and Lady Belaerys accomplished, as no army, not even a small band of men, were able to infiltrate Casterly Rock and emerge out of that fortress alive. However, the Belaerys and their foreign assassins achieved the impossible and rescued Orys, even though they lost a man in the process. All of Westeros will know their names after what they've achieved.
The stormlords certainly became familiar with Lord and Lady Belaerys after what they've done and their mood suddenly changed from grumbling to celebrating. While Argella was happy that Orys was back and that her vassals held respect for her husband, she found herself… disappointed at how quickly they changed moods. The only reason why they followed Orys was because he demonstrated combat prowess against the corsairs from the Stepstones and against their rivals across the Red Mountains in the Tarlys and the Peakes.
The problems that Argella faced when she was her father's only heir had risen back up, and the only reason why the stormlords didn't outright revolt against her for her decision to withdraw to the Slayne amidst reports of what Edmund Gardener and the Faith were doing in the stormlands through their zealousness was because Orys was back and alive. Still, she found her belief in her vassals' loyalty shaken because they still didn't respect her. I am a woman in a mostly man's world and they'll just find more excuses to not hold me in any regard.
However, Argella decided to put aside her stewing and put her attention on her lord husband. He was awake and the tan gown he wore hid any scars he obtained from his captivity. But the one thing that couldn't be concealed was his left hand, or what was left of it. Apparently, Loren Lannister had a certain predilection for inflicting pain besides being a king that his adversaries ignored at their own peril. His strategy at Riverrun was quite ingenious, but like all men, he had his vices and all of them must've revolved around causing pain. He certainly does embody the cunning that is characteristic of those at Casterly Rock, but bastard or not, you don't harm a lord without the consequences following. From how Orys' trueborn family reacted, she knew that she wouldn't have to wait long for the Lannister king to get his comeuppance.
"Hello, Argella," Orys tried to rise from the pillows. She set the tray down before she helped Orys sit and adjusted the pillows to rest his back against.
"How are you, Orys?" Argella pulled up a chair and sat besides Orys.
"Holding up well, considering what I've been through," Orys glanced at his left hand.
"I know that I am not the first person to say this, but the Lannister will get what's coming to him. There are lines that you don't cross when it comes to prisoners and he crossed many of them," Argella looked at Orys' eyes.
Orys closed his eyes while nodding. "Thank you, Argella."
Argella stood up from the chair, poured some water into a cup, and crushed some dried herbs before stirring them and a vial of potion with the water.
"What's that?" Orys eyed the mixture Argella was making.
"Lord Jaenyx's cousin, Taygor Leniar, told me that this mixture would help seal the cuts on your skin while managing any pain you might still have," Argella responded. "He couldn't be here himself because he had business to attend to."
"Really?"
"Yes," Argella finished mixing and brought the cup near to Orys for him to drink it while holding the back of his head up. As he swallowed, his face twisted in disgust and he struggled to not spit it out.
"What the fuck is that?" Orys shook his head to shake off some of the effects of the potion.
"Don't ask me. I was merely following his instructions," Argella set the cup back down before bringing the tray with bacon and peas.
As Argella cut the bacon into smaller bits to make it easier for Orys to pick up, she glanced at her lord husband. Knowing that his left hand would be the cause of many unwanted looks, she looked through the openings of his tunic and could see the scars from his torture. She could also make out burn marks, the type that usually resulted when hot metal was pressed against the skin. She knew that he had endured through something that no one should have gone through, lord or not.
But rather than be repulsed by it, Argella saw his scars and burn marks as evidence of the resilience Orys displayed prior. She knew that the scars on Orys' body and his weakened state would not sit well any other woman, as they would not want to be with a man with so much external and internal injuries. However, Argella could care less about what they thought. Most women have not been princesses or queens, if only for a short moment.
If anything, seeing Orys' scars and seeing him so calm even when confined to the bed made Argella want him more. She may have looked strong and her experience dealing with small-minded men and military matters might have not sat well with those that were not used to seeing women handling such affairs, but she could not deny the loneliness and anger at people treating her bad because she was different. Orys had treated with respect and never disparaged her father, going so far as to show shame. And now, she finally found someone who understood what it was to languish among those that sought to usurp her.
At the same time, one question still lingered in her mind. Orys was more valuable alive and unspoiled. He's still alive, but Loren Lannister harmed a lord. A king would know better than to inflict injuries on a valuable hostage.
"Orys, can I ask you something?" Argella finished cutting the bacon.
"Sure," Orys reached for the fork.
"Why did King Loren harm you so? No matter the circumstances of your birth, you were a lord and you were more useful as a hostage instead of a prisoner."
Orys swallowed some bacon down before looking at Argella. "Well, try saying that to the lords sword to King Loren. I'm a bastard and in their eyes, they could treat me however they wished."
"But why cut off your fingers and cut across your chest and back? There's just no point to that."
"Should there be? King Loren is a bloodthirsty shit as I had personally discovered. Took pleasure in cutting off every bit of pinky and ring fingers. At least he didn't touch my good hand," Orys continued eating the bacon.
"But a king like Loren would not be so reckless unless he felt so insulted as to throw off any restraint he had towards you," Argella pointed out.
Orys continued to stare at Argella, with her staring back hard. He sighed and set the fork down, knowing that Argella wouldn't stop asking until she got answers.
"I can only guess that he treated me the way he did because I spat in his face," Orys admitted, prompting Argella to raise an eyebrow. "He told me to do something that I did not wish to do and the fingers and cuts were attempts by him and his kennelmaster to coerce me."
Spitting in a king's face? My lord husband has some gall for doing that . "And what did he want you to do?"
Orys swallowed. "King Loren told me that Mern Gardener never forgot King Argilac killing his uncle at Summerfield and that he wishes to annex the former Storm kingdom as revenge."
Of course he would , Argella silently scoffed. The one thing that she strongly shared with the stormlords was their hatred for the Kingdom of the Reach, specifically the Gardeners. While they could command a large host, the only worthy commanders were summer knights and thus would falter against true warriors. "An army of sheep led by a shadowcat is better than an army of shadowcats led by a sheep" was her father's saying whenever he talked about the Reachmen.
"King Loren said that King Mern wanted his son and heir, Prince Edmund, to marry you, thus uniting the Storm and Reach kingdoms by marriage. The only way for that to be accomplished was if I signed documents with the High Septon's seal that would annul my marriage to you," Orys continued.
Argella gulped and she was tempted to let her skin crawl at the thought of having relations with the flower prince. Orys respected my father and myself, which Edmund Gardener would never if he is any inch like his father.
"And?" Argella knew that there was more to it.
"King Loren said that I signed those annulment documents, he would persuade Queen Regent Sharra Arryn to legitimize me as Orys Targaryen, Lord of Dragonstone. I would swear fealty to the Arryns, who seek to become the new overlords over the Blackwater Bay, and that she would find you a suitable lady to marry. He called it a 'generous deal,' but I interrupted him by spitting him in the face and telling him to go fuck himself."
Argella laughed in amusement. "And he didn't take that well, didn't he?"
Orys held up his left hand, causing Argella to stop laughing. "Here's the proof that even a lion has a temper."
"And all of the suffering that he made you go through was for you to sign those annulment documents?" That seemed a little too far in Argella's mind.
"Should have expected the savagery of the Lannisters. One mistake that I won't make again," Orys put some peas in his mouth.
Argella cursed herself for allowing the Faith to have any say in her wedding ceremony. While she didn't that much affection for Orys when they married, she wanted to know what it was like to have a ceremony in the Valyrian tradition. But she had to be accommodating to her vassals, many of who followed the Faith, and thus allowed for a septon to give his own blessings. However, that put the wedding under the jurisdiction of the Faith and thus allowing the Starry Sept to have a say on whether or not the union could be legal. It was a fact that Loren Lannister clearly tried to manipulate to his advantage, only for Orys to not oblige him. It seems that King Loren is turning out to be an insignificant man in one aspect.
Going back to the Faith, Argella had heard the tales from some of the smallfolk in regards to the Faith's septons going crazy in their "divinely-ordained" punishments. But she took more offense at the Starry Sept daring to interfere in her marriage. When this is all done, I'm cutting off all ties to the Faith. They and their precious Seven have done nothing for me, so I have no more reason to keep allowing them in my lands.
However, Argella still had one more question. "But why didn't sign those documents?" That caught Orys off guard. "You could have saved yourself a lot of pain by doing what he asked and considering that you didn't bed me, no one would have had significant reservations."
Orys blinked, before Argella saw a slightly hurt look in his eyes. "Is that what you have wanted me to do?"
"I am just saying that given the circumstances of our union, there was no reason for you to endure so much pain in resisting King Loren's attempts to have our union annulled." Argella was merely trying to get Orys' real reason, but she felt that she already knew the answer given his actions at Nightsong.
Orys breathed and exhaled before looking softly at Argella. "Yes, I could've done that. And my left hand would still be intact. But I didn't want to do it."
"Why?"
"Cause fuck Loren Lannister, that's why," Orys answered, causing Argella to chortle.
"Okay, but tell me truthfully. Why did you not sign the annulment documents?" Argella needed to know.
"I never expected to marry anyone since I'm a bastard. And I don't know if the gods were playing tricks on me when my father had me marry you, but I knew deep down that things would not be same with you in my life."
Argella turned fully to Orys, not expecting him to say that. "What do you mean?"
Orys took a moment before speaking again. "I could go on and say that you're beautiful, intelligent, and knowledgeable in war and running a kingdom than most would give you credit for. Then again, every lord or person in existence would say such things whenever they meet a beautiful woman."
Argella sighed, as Orys' words brought back memories of when every lordling under her father sought her hand and their attempts to woo her became quite irritating after all.
"I'm not saying that you aren't all of that, because you are," Orys quickly said while trying to prevent any misunderstandings. Argella smiled while gesturing him to continue. "My father said that he became a better man mainly because of his wife, Lady Valaena. She ended his whoring days and made him take his lordly duties more seriously. My father said that a man becomes good on his own, but a man becomes great when he has the right woman by his side. And that's what I believe, Argella."
Argella continued to listen, but she felt herself warm to Orys at that moment.
"If you think I'm trying to flatter you or say sweet nothings, I assure that it's not that. I am better with you, Argella. I no longer feel the need to visit a brothel. I'm sharper, more focused, and clearer on what needs to be done. I would not have got this far if it weren't for you. I might hate the Faith right now, but when I said the words 'till the end of my days', I meant it. Perhaps I feel pure affection for you, but whatever it is, I have no wish to end it," Orys admitted and looked as if a heavy burden was released from his shoulders.
Argella's heart began to melt at Orys' admission. She began to feel strong feelings for him after seeing the Baratheon sigil, which honored both the Durrandons and his Valyrian heritage. Now, he was saying that she made him become a better man. Without thinking, Argella leaned forward and kissed his lips.
Orys was surprised by Argella's audacity, but he closed his eyes as the kiss became deeper. Pulling apart, Argella laid her forehead on his while putting her fingers underneath Orys' chin.
"Haven't told you yet, but you also make me better," Argella whispered.
"Really?"
"I would have never imagined myself with the man who felled my father and no matter his faults, I loved him. However, you never forced yourself on me and you never disparaged his memory. That's when I knew that you were a good man and that maybe, I would have affections for you. Perhaps this is what this is now," Argella breathed.
Orys closed his eyes and exhaled before opening them again. Argella stared into his black eyes and could see a hint of violet in them. Deciding the next natural step, she put the tray on the side and snuggled against Orys' side.
Orys winced slightly. "Careful, Argella. I might be better, but I'm still healing."
"Don't worry, Orys. However, I feel that my embrace might speed up the healing," Argella said against his neck.
"Come on, Argella. I'm your lord husband. Allow me some space," Orys grumbled.
"And I was a queen, if only for a moment, which still outranks you, so you don't tell me what to do," Argella playfully replied.
Orys gave up and relaxed, using his good arm to pull Argella closer to him and take in her scent. "As I said, I won't force you if you don't want it."
"I know," Argella looked up to him. "And we can wait still, but just know that you are mine and mine alone. You made your choice by not signing those documents." Argella then grabbed his left hand, careful as to not cause pain, and kissed it. "And I know that you would rather suffer than let me go."
Orys smiled as Argella ran her hand across his chest, feeling the scars through his tunic and thus more evidence of his care for her.
"When do you reckon we should return to Storm's End?" Orys asked. "We can't stay here forever and we would need to sort our lands."
"We can't stay here forever," Argella confessed. "But let's just take a few moments and get a respite from all this. You just got out of captivity, so you deserve it."
Argella became more affectionate to Orys, seeing his concern for his lands like a proper lord despite his condition. Also, she caught how he said "we", not "I" or "mine." That meant that he truly saw her as his equal and not beneath him.
If he's like this right now, then I don't want to let him go either, Argella thought as she continued to lie beside Orys, silent but enjoying their combined embrace.
Argella sat next to Orys, but both were uneasy at looking at Konno Haru. She heard tell of the father of the man who helped save Orys from Casterly Rock, especially his brutal training sessions with Rhaenys Targaryen. Being a sworn warrior, sellsword, and finally master assassin from Yi-Ti added to the tension to the four in the solar. Taygor Leniar had arrived to check in on Orys' progress that day and he would be interpreting for Konno Haru, who only spoke High Valyrian and none of the common tongue. Fortunately, Taygor Leniar was able to with a distinct lilt.
"No words can describe my gratitude for your son's sacrifice in rescuing me captivity, and please accept my condolences. No child should have to die before their parents," Orys sincerely offered.
Taygor translated to High Valyrian, which Konno answered while keeping his gaze on Orys and Argella.
"He said that his son died like a warrior and that there was no shame in how he died," Taygor interpreted. "However, he said that his blood has been spilled and thus blood must be repaid."
Orys nodded in understanding. "I understand completely, Master Konno. I too want revenge for what Loren Lannister did to me. We have common cause since we both seek his death."
"He says that you might have two fingers, but he lost his son. Therefore, you don't have any claim to pain compared to mine," Taygor translated.
"Tell him that he best be careful before he emphasizes his losses at the expense of others," Argella defended Orys. "My lord husband was tortured and just because he's alive doesn't make his suffer all the lesser."
Argella looked at Orys, who nodded his thanks.
"He says that with all respect—" Taygor began before Argella interrupted him.
"Please don't say 'with all due respect.' Most of the time, the person saying that means the exact opposite, unless that is his intention," Argella retorted.
Taygor was hesitant before translating what Argella said to Konno, which prompted a small chuckle. "It seems that Master Haru is quite amused by your candor, Lady Argella."
"Please remind me, but how should I address you? You are Lord Jaenyx's cousin, but you don't have a title," Argella forgot their conversation.
"You may address me as Lord Taygor, as I am of noble blood even with my lack of a title. But if you really wish to address me as a landless noble, I would suggest calling me Master Leniar, in which case both titles speak of the considerable emotional distance between us."
Argella blinked. "That's not a very polite way of describing our unfamiliarity with each other."
Taygor shrugged. "I have no wish to get to know you better. Also, it was your father that killed Garaeron Rahitheon, who I knew very well. So, what basis is there for an acquaintance to be formed between us?"
"Then why help me?" Argella was struck at how different this Taygor Leniar was compared to the one who prepared the potions for her.
"As a courtesy to my cousin, since he considers your husband family. And since Lady Visenya finally has a child on the way, it's best that I treat her and your husband in the same manner. But that courtesy does not apply to you."
Argella was slightly bothered at how rude Taygor was to her.
"Taygor, we're getting off track," Orys reoriented the conversation before gesturing to a servant at the side. He took the scroll Orys held out and walked over to Konno Haru, who unrolled it.
"It's a deed," Orys said. "As compensation for your loss and as a gesture of thanks for your family's sacrifice, I am hereby granting you the keep at the mouth of the Wendwater. Notice that my brother and father have stamped their seals to approve the grant. It may be abandoned, but we will provide with the resources and coin necessary to rebuild it into a proper castle. You can give it a new name if you wish."
Konno scoffed as Taygor translated, making Argella slowly become angry at the Yi-Tish man's lack of appreciation for Orys' actions.
"He is asking if you think you can buy him off with a castle," Taygor said to Orys.
"It is nothing like that," Orys emphasized. "There are no conditions to be met, no expectations. This is the least I can do for you family because your son gave his life to save mine. But also understand that I know that there can be no true consolation for the loss of your son."
"He said that it's good that that you think so," Taygor interpreted. "But will he have to swear to you as his liege? Because he might have some problems doing that, considering that you haven't done much to deserve his loyalty."
"You are impertinent, Master Haru," Argella leaned forward on the table.
Taygor was hesitant to translate what Konno said next. "What did he say, Taygor?" Orys asked.
Taygor gulped. "He said, 'Plenty of highborn cunts called me impertinent and those same shits were the ones that benefited from my previous liege's demise. So you'll forgive me if I don't show you what respect you think you are owed just because your ancestors laid an imaginary claim on some land because they could.'"
"What do you mean by 'imaginary claim?'" Argella was clearly offended at Konno disparaging her family.
"'I've read a bit of your history thanks for Jaenyx and Visenya translating some of the works for me. You think Durran Godsgrief got his claim on Storm's End because he asked nicely? He killed and forced his way onto the lands your family staked their claim on. What is nobility but thugs who just happened to kill the right people and were lucky to have ended up in the right place?"
Argella felt her hand tighten into a fist, but she felt Orys calm her down by placing a hand on her arm. However, he had words to say to Konno's incessant insults.
"Now, Master Haru, I don't know what has prompted such personal attacks from you," Orys said. "But as I said, there is nothing attached to the castle I now grant to you and your family. You will not swear loyalty to me as your overlord and you may continue being loyal to Jaenyx. The castle is located between the lands surrounding the Blackwater Bay and the stormlands, so no one can say that you swear allegiance to one or the other."
"'And as I said to you, Lord Baratheon, you may keep your castle. There is only price that I will find acceptable for my loss.'"
"And what would that be?"
"'I want Loren Lannister's head. But first, I shall kill every Lannister that I can get my hands on. I will strange his sons before his very eyes before I cut off his head, tie it to my horse's tail, and let the shit defile him even in death. That is my only price and once I have that, I will consider your debt to my family paid."
Argella was inclined to agree to the terms, if not for how disrespectful Konno was just moments ago.
"I'm afraid that there is a line to what you're asking for, Master Haru," Orys held up his left hand. "Loren Lannister tortured me and cut across my body. I have as much claim to his head as you do."
"But regarding the caste," Argella pulled out the deed and laid it on the table. "It is now yours. You can keep it or sell it. Do what you want with it. It is not longer our concern."
Orys silently thanked her for finishing that issue up cleanly. Or at the very least make the conclusion final.
"And you want me to be a lord?" Konno asked with some disdain.
"I know that you have a very low opinion on nobility, Master Haru," Argella said. "But in Westeros, the only voices that matter are from ones that hold a title. As unfortunate as it is, no one will give you any regard if you are just Konno Haru. And I can tell that nobility is also highly-regarded in Yi-Ti, so in regards to those that wronged you, you have to admit that they held power that you could never have had in your current station."
Konno continued to listen, prompting Argella on.
"If not for yourself," Argella decided to switch direction. "Then think about your son. You might not care for yourself, but what about him? It's evident that there is no practical reason for him to go back to Yi-Ti and that he and whatever children will have will stay here in Westeros. And I know that you love your son, because how can you explain your hatred for Loren Lannister for killing your eldest?"
Konno blinked. Now we're getting somewhere.
"It seems we're now talking about the meaning of lordships," Konno remarked slightly.
"Practically everyone in Westeros will have heard of what your family did after Casterly Rock," Argella continued. "You have the potential to start a new house, a new line, here in Westeros. People will only start caring after you take on a title and lands of your own, and what you've brought from Yi-Ti might live on in your descendants."
"And confine myself to a set of rules that will suffocate me and my son," Konno stated.
"We are all confined in one way or another, Master Haru," Argella responded. "I'm a woman, so I fully know what it means to have limits placed on you. But nobody will respect you if you have nothing."
"Besides, 'Lord Konno Haru' does have a good ring to it," Orys quipped.
"So, don't consider this castle as your possession," Argella said. "Consider it a start for your family. I won't deny that my ancestor Durran Godsgrief might have done questionable things while building Storm's End up from the ground, but from that point on, the Durrandons steadily rose in power before obtaining crowns. Maybe a crown is not in your future, Master Haru, but your son could bring your line to new heights. Great families have to start from somewhere."
"If Kenzou is anything like you, Master Haru, then your family will be in good hands," Orys added.
"But as we said, sell the castle or keep it. It's your choice, but think about what will happen to your family after you're gone," Argella leaned back in her chair. "As I learned from my father, the only thing that lives on is the family name or the memory. What do you wish for your family remembered for?"
"And you think that this castle will put my family in a good station?" Konno asked.
"Maybe, or maybe not," Argella admitted. "But the choice is up to you and families don't start out of nowhere."
Konno reached for the deed across the table and unrolled the deed before passing it on to Taygor, who read it for him.
"I'm a foreigner," Konno explained. "This continent will not accept me or my family."
"If you think about it," Orys answered. "This continent is full of foreigners. The First Men, the Andals, the Rhoynar, and now the Valyrians. As you pointed out, the lords who now hold power in Westeros did not ask nicely. And I know that being nice is not among your natural abilities, so you should do fine."
"So now what?" Konno put the deed in his robes.
"Your choice… my lord," Argella addressed Konno in regards to his new station for the first time.
Before the moment could sink in, a servant came up to Orys and Argella.
"Lord and Lady Baratheon, Lord Aegon is asking you to join the war council if you're able," the servant whispered.
Argella looked at Taygor and Lord Konno, who also had a servant whisper the same thing.
As Taygor and Konno, now holding a lordship as per the deed, Argella helped Orys up.
"You think you could swing Thunderfist anytime soon?" Argella asked.
"You better believe it," Orys slowly stood up.
"You better. Otherwise, I might have to take it from you and do the fighting myself," Argella jested.
"Won't stop you from doing that," Orys shrugged. "But first, I must have words with the stormlords and let them know who is in charge."
"Don't they know that already?"
"Apparently, they don't. Nobody gives my lady wife trouble without me knowing about it," Orys declared.
Argella smiled while kissing his cheek. "Let's teach them some manners then."
Orys nodded as they walked towards where the war council would be.