Angela ───── D. Targaryen

XXV

"I would not say stray." Coren brushed that off, continuing his prodding questions. His ancestor, in the wizards home, had told him that Jorah had not told him of his house's potential because of his wife, so now, Coren wished to know more about the wife. "What house was your wife before she married you?"

"Hightower from Oldtown."

"Hightower?" Coren tried to remember if he had heard of them before, shrugging his shoulders. "I am not familiar."

"They're one of the oldest of the Great Houses so it was good for my family that I married her."

"Thorne, my house, they were a Great House were they not?" Coren looked at the man, who had tensed.

"Once, long ago, perhaps, Coren, but I am not sure of your house." Jorah shook his head giving the answer that he had always given Coren whenever the boy wanted to know more. "I did not come from the Crownlands, so I am unfamiliar with it."

"But you must have heard some stories. House Thorne was a great house, that I know, so..." Coren trailed off. "I am old enough to know, old enough to hear the stories."

"All I know of House Thorne is that they meddled in something dark, something that was considered disgraceful to the Seven and the house ended up never being as powerful as it used to be and then, your father chose the wrong side to fight for in the rebellion. Coren, that is all I know."

"I see." Coren had an inkling that the blood oath was what had brought scorn onto his family, knowing that most still spat on that tradition. He knew that if it was used for the wrong purpose, it would be disgraceful but he doubted that his family would ever do such a thing. "I have to go and find something to eat. I am hungry."

"I wish I could tell you more, Coren, but I do not know anything else." Jorah told him and for a moment, Coren thought that he might be telling the truth, but something was nagging at him and his intuition screamed that Jorah was lying. Disappearing, Coren headed to find some food, before locating another area to sit away from people to process his thoughts. 

Now, not only did he have to find out his family history, but with Daenerys kissing him and Jorah lying about something, there was a lot on Coren's mind.

"You must be the famous Coren I've been hearing so much about." Coren turned, hand reaching for a dagger as he caught sight of the old knight, Ser Barristan Selmy. "Easy, I'm not here to disturb you. I merely wish to introduce myself."

Coren let go of the dagger.

"Princess Daenerys speaks highly of you, says you're one of her most loyal companions." Coren fought a blush. "She also says that you seem to be one of the best sword fighters we have. I thought, perhaps, I'd offer a chance of training. I would be honoured to fight with you."

"As would I." Coren nodded, as the man sat beside him. 

"I apologise if this is prying, but your last name is Thorne, from the Crownlands."

"Yes. That's my family though it is only me."

"Well, in that case I am even more excited to fight with you. Selmy is from the Crownlands also, though not as renowned as Thorne." Ser Barristan chuckled. "I know of the Thorne prowess with fighters as all in the Crownlands do. I assume you are no different."

"I was not raised at Alterwoode, so do not hold out much hope." Coren shook his head, taking another bite of food. "I do not wish to disappoint."

"Well, your father was an incredible person to fight with, I doubt you will be any different."

"Funny, from what I heard, my father's fighting skills is what doomed my house." Coren shook his head. Everything was confusing and his brain could not focus on anything but the kiss. The feeling of Daenerys' lips on his, her perfume clinging to every bit of his memory until he was sure that he could smell her walking towards him again. Ser Barristan was saying something, and Coren managed to drag himself out of his thoughts. "I'm sorry, I did not quite catch that."

"I was merely saying that it is a surprise to hear that your father doomed your house. From my understanding, your house was cursed long before that."

"My house was cursed?"

"Aye. There's a story of it, a warning of sorts. If only I could remember it-" Ser Barristan trailed off, eyebrows furrowing before he huffed. "I'll have to think on it. Perhaps I'll remember when we fight. Old age makes the memory slow."

"I'd like that. Finding things out about my house is proving tricky." Coren muttered, as Ser Barristan hummed. If Jorah kept lying to him and not telling him, perhaps Ser Barristan would. That was if he could remember it.

Then, the problem of his house was solved and he would just have to find the courage to speak with Daenerys and talk about the kiss. He did not know if it was strange for him to be thinking that perhaps it meant something to her? But if it did, what would that mean and how would they continue? He was her guard.

Maybe he should put a stop to it before it could even get to that point.

Hiya,

So, Coren's just had a chapter of thinking because he has no clue what to do with anything and now he's just avoiding everyone because he thinks he can. Also, just love Falkor who is so protective over his favourite human and I'm excited for Coren and Dany to talk about the kiss. And, we've had Jorah's wife's old house revealed and there's some clues to the backstory of the Thorne house.

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx