Cast (in this chapter)
Rose Leslie: Rachel Lannister
Inés Targaryen: Emilia Clarke
Daario Naharis: Ed Skrein

Rachel entered the dining hall for breakfast that morning with a smile on her face. Robb had already been gone when she'd woken up, but she knew she'd see him soon enough. And that made her feel ridiculously excited.
"I told you", Inés said in amusement when she saw the look on her friend's face. "So I guess you've already gone through the first two phases. Kiss and bedding. And now all that remains..."
Is nothing", Rachel said. "It's not like we can ever be together. I'm a Lannister, he's a Stark. That's always the way it's going to be. And besides, I don't think he even loves me. You don't need love to sleep with someone."
Inés smiled. "Well, with all due respect, I think that you might be wrong in this."
Rachel rolled her eyes. "We'll see. So. I think we have to get going soon. I'm sorry that our trip never really happened. I have my duties elsewhere."
"As do I", Inés nodded. "But it was a nice dream."
"It was", Rachel said. "You could come with us though. For a little while."
"To Westeros, back to the war?"
"Daenerys could rule in your stead while you're gone", Rachel said. "I want you to meet my best friend."
"Oberyn, the Red Viper? Gods. I've heard a lot about him."
"He's not all bad things, I promise", Rachel smiled. "What do you say?"
"I can't just leave everything, Rach", Inés said with a sigh. "My life is here just as much as yours is in Westeros."
"Don't say no yet", Rachel ignored her. "Say you'll think about it."
"I'll think about it", Inés smiled. It would be nice to see her birthplace again. "But don't you think a Targaryen arriving in Westeros will raise some sort of a rebellion?"
"You don't look like one", Rachel shrugged. "And you don't want to start a war, do you?"
"No. There are enough kings in that place anyway. Speaking of, which one do you support?"
"What?"
"Do you support Tommen? Or Stannis? Or Robb?" Inés smiled a little.
Rachel shrugged. Tommen was her nephew, Stannis was her cousin (her mother was a Baratheon) and Robb....
"Robb", she found herself saying. "He's a good king." And she was falling in love with him, which had never been a part of the plan.
Inés nodded. Her eyes drifted over to the other side of the room, where Daario was walking towards them with a smile on his face.
"My queen, my lady", he nodded his head before sitting down next to Inés. "A beautiful morning."
"It is indeed", Rachel smiled, knowing the two of them wanted to be alone. "I'll leave you to it. I think I'll go clear my head, walk on the beach", with that she stood up from the table and walked out of the room without a second look.


"Did she leave because of me?" Daario smirked.
"I don't think so", Inés said. "She wants me to go with her to Westeros."
"Leave? You're the queen", Daario pointed out.
"Yes. I can't just leave", Inés muttered, staring at her plate.
"You are the queen, like I said. You can do whatever you want", Daario smirked. "If you want to visit Westeros, visit Westeros. Leave your sister to rule in your stead. And when you are done with that place, come back. You can do whatever you want."
"Maybe I will visit", Inés said after a moment of silence. "For a little while. But on one condition. That you come with me. I need my best advisor and fighter with me."
"I am yours to command", Daario smiled. "It would be my honor, my queen."
"Call me Inés", Inés smiled back at him. She felt very comfortable and safe with him. She felt like she could do anything, be anything when he was around. And it was his sense of adventure that made her want to say yes to Rachel's request in the first place.
She had had feelings for Daario for a while now, but had never acted upon them. But she knew the feelings were mutual, for sometimes she would catch Daario looking at her from the other side of the room with a look of desire on his face, and it was as clear as anything.
"Inés", Daario said before standing up. "Shall I get someone to send a raven to your sister, to inform her of our departure?"
"Yes. Tell her to come rule herself, or send someone she trusts completely to do it instead. I will not have any riots while I'm gone", Inés said.
"As you wish", Daario nodded before giving her one last smile as he walked out.



Inés found Rachel on the beach and told her she'd be coming with them.
"Oh, this is brilliant", Rachel smirked. "Surely there's room for you in the ship. Will you be taking many men with you?"
"Only Daario", Inés smiled. "He'll protect me."
"Only Daario", Rachel chuckled. "Be careful. He seems a bit... well, like a.... a man you shouldn't trust."
Inés raised her eyebrows. "Says the woman trusting the man who is fighting for the opposite side in a war against her family."
"I never said I trusted him", Rachel snapped.
"No, you didn't. But you do trust him."
Rachel said nothing, just turned to look away.
Inés sighed. "I'm sorry. I just..."
"No, I'm sorry. If you trust Daario, that's your business. I'm glad he makes you happy."
"He does, Rachel, he really does", Inés said. "I'm happy. Are you happy?"
Rachel smiled bitterly. "No. My family is at war. Did you know that Cersei accused Tyrion of killing Joff?"
"No", Inés said.
"Well, she did. And the only reason Tyrion got away was because Oberyn was his champion in a trial by combat. He saved my brother. From my own sister. That's not right."
"I know", Inés said. "If you want to talk about crazy families, do you remember mine?"
"Of course I do", Rachel sighed. "I guess we both have our problems."
"We do", Inés chuckled. "Which means we can relate. It took a long time for me to find happiness. And Daario is a big part of that. So even if you don't trust him, can you try to like him?"
"Of course", Rachel nodded. "But... if you care about him so much, why not wed him? Or at least bed him, as you call it?"
Inés smiled. "I'm a queen, he's a sellsword. I have standards that I have to live up to."
"He's the captain of your guard", Rachel said. "If you were to marry him, no one would ever question that decision."
No", Inés agreed. "But who's to say he wants to marry me?"
"I see the way he looks at you", Rachel smiled. "I have a pretty good idea of what he wants."



As Inés headed back to the castle, she almost ran into Daario as she entered her bedchambers.
"Oh, my queen. I'm sorry", he said with a smile on his face. "I sent the letter. Now all we have to do is wait for your sister's reply."
"Yes", Inés nodded. "Daario, why are you fighting for me?"
Daario's eyebrows rose. "What do you mean?"
"You told me once that you decided to defend me instead of killing me because you thought I was beautiful. But surely that is not the only reason. Why do you fight for me?"
Daario smiled, stepping a bit closer. "I fight for you because you're strong. You're charismatic, you're a good leader. You're brave. And from the moment I met you, I knew that you were special. I fight for you because I want to. That's why", Daario leaned a bit closer, and for a moment Inés thought that he might kiss her, and perhaps he would have, if Inés hadn't stepped back herself.
"Thank you. We'll speak again later", she said, watching as he nodded, a hint of disappointment in his expression, and she kept on watching as he walked out of her chambers. Had that been a mistake? No. It couldn't have been. She was a queen, she couldn't afford to lose her heart to someone like him. She sat on the bed, burying her head in her hands. Why did she feel like she'd already fallen completely in love with him, then?