Borona opened the wooden box Ser Barristan had brought, and Daenerys surveyed the head inside, saying, "Is this Jon Connington?"
Hearing this, Ser Barristan, kneeling on one knee, looked up and replied, "Indeed, My Lord."
Daenerys nodded slightly. She raised her hand, signaling Borona to call a servant to carry away the wooden box.
After a moment of silence, Daenerys moved closer to Ser Barristan. She tilted her chin slightly and said, "Ser, thank you for your contribution."
Barristan respectfully lowered his face, his tone sincere: "My Lord, my path of atonement has just begun."
He looked up at Daenerys: "I request that I may serve you for the rest of my life."
After a pause, Daenerys called, "Borona."
Hearing this, Borona turned and left. Soon after, she reappeared in the small hall, a longsword in her hand.
Taking the longsword, Daenerys looked down, briefly examining the gleaming blade, and said, "Ser Barristan, it has returned."
Ser Barristan solemnly took the sword with both hands. When he saw the longsword, he said with emotion, "This… it…"
A gentle smile appeared on Daenerys's beautiful face. She said, "Yes, it has returned. You once cast it at the Usurper's feet (Chapter 168). When you left the Red Keep, Count Green left it behind."
She paused, then continued, "I hope you will take up the holy Oathkeeper once more and restore your glory."
Tears welled up in Ser Barristan's eyes: "Ser Barristan needs no glory. He will walk the path of atonement for the rest of his life."
"Rise, Ser. I appoint you as my Kingsguard."
"I swear to the gods, I will faithfully protect you until the end of my life."
Daenerys nodded gently, repeating, "Rise, my Kingsguard."
Ser Barristan slowly rose, his brows, furrowed for months, finally relaxed, and his eyes gained a hint of sparkle, as if he had suddenly become several years younger.
Unconsciously, Daenerys also felt a sense of ease: "Ser Barristan, for safety, both you and I need to conceal our identities from outsiders. My public identity is Princess Rhaella of Summer Isles (Chapter 212)."
Ser Barristan nodded and said, "My Lord, your decision is wise. I will continue to use the name I used in Essos, White Beard A Stan."
He paused, then added, "I will also prepare a visored helmet."
Daenerys smiled, pursing her lips. She nodded slightly and invited, "Ser, walk with me. I want to hear your stories from Essos."
...
The back garden of Mermaid Port Hall of Office.
After listening to Ser Barristan and the others' experiences with the Golden Company, Daenerys praised, "Ser, a knight is fearless. You are an extraordinary warrior."
After a while, she stopped, suddenly saying, "Tomorrow, we will leave here by boat, heading for Eyrie."
"I have heard of the war in the Vale."
Ser Barristan hesitated, then asked, "Has Count Green become the new lord of the Vale?"
He paused, then added, "I want to know if he is legitimate…"
He stopped mid-sentence. Ser Barristan bowed slightly and said, "Please forgive Ser Barristan's foolishness. You are the heir of Targaryen. As long as you permit it, everything Count Green does in the Seven Kingdoms is legitimate."
Daenerys smiled, her gaze shifting to the blooming flowers. She said, "This place is not like the Seven Kingdoms Viserys spoke of. He told me… when he led his troops onto the lands of Westeros, the lords big and small throughout the Seven Kingdoms would rise up to serve him. They would unleash a righteous roar, fighting the Usurper for the Targaryen Iron Throne."
Her long, pale fingers gently brushed over the flowers: "My brother always believed this, and I believe he still believed it before his death… But I know now that my brother's was a beautiful dream he fantasized. This place… this land… after more than ten years… the Seven Kingdoms have already recognized the Baratheon Iron Throne."
She sighed softly: "Perhaps… the gods' mercy did not want King Viserys to personally experience betrayal. If he had faced the cruel reality, he would have gone completely mad."
Ser Barristan spoke to comfort her: "As you said, more than ten years have passed. The Usurper's power has grown strong, and the lords who favored Targaryen were forced to submit or hide."
He added, "Even if another ten or twenty years pass, Baratheon cannot hide the Usurper's identity. No one mentioning it… does not mean it is forgotten, My Lord."
Daenerys walked for a while, then stopped and looked at Ser Barristan: "Ser, do you want me to reclaim the Iron Throne?"
Ser Barristan pondered for a moment, then said, "I confess to you, as an atoner… I truly wish to see this world return to its original state. The struggle for the Iron Throne represents danger, yet as an atoner… I wish even more to see your peace."
He performed a hand-on-heart salute: "If you wish to reclaim the Targaryen Iron Throne, I will charge into battle for you without fear of sacrifice. If not, I will guard your safety day and night with my sword."
He nodded slightly: "Barristan Selmy is at your command, Princess Daenerys."
"Thank you for your honesty, Ser."
After a pause, Daenerys added, "My fiancé told me that he will publicly announce my true identity, Daenerys Targaryen, at our wedding. He also told me that this will happen within a year."
The steady Ser Barristan could not help but be startled, saying, "From what I understand, your fiancé is not an impulsive person. He should be well aware of the consequences of such an action. I admit your fiancé is a powerful knight, but even the most powerful knight cannot withstand the siege of the Usurpers."
Daenerys's lips curved slightly: "I had worries too, but his love gave me courage."
The usually composed Ser Barristan was startled again. He had to speak frankly: "I mean no offense, but the Usurpers, who are currently vying for their own interests, will reunite because of the appearance of Targaryen. Count Green is not their match."
Glancing at Ser Barristan, who looked worried, Daenerys asked, "Ser, can the Usurper's army conquer the swamps and valleys of the Crab Claw Peninsula?"
Without waiting for Ser Barristan's reply, she continued, "Can the Usurper's army break through the Blood Gate of the Vale?"
"Ser, I am Stormborn. My impression of my family comes from Viserys's words. I confess… I have not forgotten the hatred of Targaryen, but I do not feel intense hatred within me."
"However…"
With a swirl of her skirt, Daenerys turned, her violet eyes looking at Ser Barristan: "If they disturb my life, once my three children grow up, then there will only be blood for blood."
Ser Barristan opened his mouth, surprised: "Children… children? Three?!"
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