GoT: The Blessed and the Cursed

On the 18th day of the 6th Moon, Queen Arianne Martell gave birth to a pair of twins after fighting death in the birthing bed.

The pregnancy was on time, there had been no complications at all during the last nine moons, and yet, she nearly gave up when the pain stole away all her strength.

Thankfully, Azaerys was in the room with her, holding her hand, whispering words of love and encouragement in her ears. And he was the only reason why she survived.

After a labour that lasted the entire afternoon, two cries resonated in the room, and Arianne swore in her heart that she would not give birth to another child.

She fed her beautiful babies, who had dark grey hair, and their eyes were indigo, deep, and beautiful. They did not have the Targaryen features, but just one look at them was enough to announce that they were Valyrians.

It was hard to determine their skin tone at this stage, but they were a couple of shades darker than what Elaena, Rhaegar, and Shaena were at their birth. They were still of a lighter skin tone than hers, and if she was being honest, she had never seen more beautiful babies.

Perhaps, it was just her motherly love that had enchanted her. However, these were her true thoughts.

"Their names, Arianne?" Allyria, her good sister, excitedly asked, and the Martell Queen affectionately smiled at her babies.

"Maelor and Maena Monfaeryen." She announced the names that she and her husband had already decided.

It was also the Announcement of the new House of Dragons, House Monfaeryen, the future rulers of the Kingdom that was called Dorne.

The brother and sister were born healthy, smiled a lot, and cried even more.

Their cries would even make Rhaegar and Shaena start crying, and as much as Allyria wanted to keep them in the same room, it was decided to keep them separate for a while.

In the following days, seeing how difficult it was to be a mother, Arianne swore her vow again in her heart that she would never give another birth.

She could not go through this ordeal again even if her husband begged her on his knees. She was grateful to Gods for giving her a son and a daughter, so, her duty was done now.

Thankfully, a moon later, things became easier for her. And she was immensely grateful that she had Elia, Lyanna, and Ashara to guide her through the process of being a mother.

Oberyn did not stay long after the birth of his Grandnephew and Grandniece. His absence was noted in the Seven Kingdoms, and it was time for him to return home with his Paramour and Children.

And a sennight after the Martell Prince left, Azaerys prepared to leave for New Ghis with Laeha, Laena, and Lyanna.

The Dame had insisted that he take her along on this expedition, and since he had no reason to refuse, given how good of a fighter she was, he allowed her to come with him.

On the night before they were to leave, Rhaenys approached her brother and knelt to him, begging him to take her along. Though Ashara refused her request, in for morning, after she stayed outside her Brother's Chamber all night, he agreed to take her with him.

Since they were not taking their Dragons with them on this expedition, both went to meet Aerylyx, Nefaerion, and Draegon in the morning.

Azaerys left the Dragons in Daenerys' care since she was the only one Aerylyx and Nefaerion would listen to other than him. In fact, all the dragons in their household listened to her.

On the other side of Essos, on the same day, a very important event was taking place.

Early in the morning, the Good Masters of Astapor were gathered in the Plaza of Pride, waiting for a man who had become increasingly famous in Essos in the last few years.

His name was Gremm the Griffin, a tall and menacing man, who had his own Mercenary Company, over 2000 strong, including 1000 Unsullied whom he had purchased over the last couple of years.

He was famous for his riches, and his Sky Company had never lost a battle. But more than anything, he was famous for riding a Griffin, a beast that had not been sighted in the world for thousands of years.

The Good Masters had seen him with his Griifins the last time he came to their city.

Today, he was returning to Astapor to make another purchase of the Unsullied.

When the guards spotted a Beast Flying high in the sky, and then saw the Sky Company nearing the City Gate, they sounded out the horns, announcing their arrival.

An hour later, Gremm, atop his massive Griffin, landed in the Plaza and jumped off it with a wide grin on his face.

He was tall and majestic, and every step held great power behind it.

"Master Grazdan! Master Kraznys! We meet again!" He enthusiastically greeted them, and the Good Masters matched his warm smile with their own.

"Gremm, your beasts are larger, and your company is stronger. The time has been kind to you," said one of the Good Masters as he stepped forward and hugged the man. "We are happy to have you here."

"I hope to make my Company larger too," he laughed, and so did the Good Masters.

Gremm then ignored them and walked over to the 1000 Unsullied, who had been chosen for him, and carefully inspected each of the ten legions.

"Good! Good!" He beamed as he nodded his head in satisfaction and waved his hand.

Soon, the men in his company started bringing sacks of jewels, a hundred bolts of Yi Ti Silk, and two chests, which, when opened, revealed extremely beautiful pearls...

When the price was finally equal to the value of 1000 Unsullied, Gremm turned to look at the Good Masters.

"Are you satisfied?" He asked, and Master Grazdan happily nodded his head.

"Of course."

"You are being too kind to me today, Good Master. Need some help?" Gremm asked, and all the Good Masters laughed, which made him smirk in his heart.

"We do need your help, Gremm. Our Friends in Mereen and Volantis have expressed their desire for the Griffins, even their Eggs would do..."

"My Griffins are rarer than your Unsullied, Good Master. They are beasts of majesty, pride, and sign of Old Gods. And sadly, I don't have many of them. The Pureborn of Qarth want them too." He meaningfully added the last sentence.

"Name your price. We are interested in the two smaller ones," One of the Good Masters pointed at the two Griffins who were flying in the sky above Astapor.

"Looks like you have been promised a fortune, Good Masters," He laughed and then looked around the Plaza.

"Name a price, Gremm. We won't disappoint you," Kraznys assured him when he saw him looking at their Unsullied.

"How many more Unsullied do you have?" He asked after giving it a thought, and they immediately beamed a smile.

"We have 7000 more Unsullied."

"7000?" He frowned and raised his brow. "Where are the rest?"

"We sold 2000 of them to a Company of Sea Merchants a few moons ago. 1000 to you just now."

"And those who are under training?" He asked, and they all immediately shook their heads.

"Not for Sale," said Kraznys. "We never sell Unsullied who are still under training. It's a matter of our reputation."

"How many Unsullied are under training?" He asked again.

"3408. They are not for Sale Gremm. We will give you 2000 for two or your Griffins..."

Gremm laughed at those ridiculous words and shook his head.

"I can come back here next year and buy those 2000 Unsullied without giving away my Griffins, but I won't find more Griffins for years to come. It takes six years, at least, for a Griffin to reach adulthood," he informed them. "The Pureborn of Qarth offer me way more..."

"We will triple it. 6000 Unsullied for those two." Grazdan pointed at the creatures in the sky.

"7000 Unsullied for those two," He nodded his head and then brightly smiled. "3408 Unsullied under training and 200 of finest horses, Chargers, for two Eggs. You will have to agree to it all or we have no deal." He said as he walked over to Grazdan and grabbed the whip for his new 1000 Unsullied.

Already familiar with the routine, he ordered them to join the ranks of his men.

By the time the Unsullied switched places, the Good Masters made up their mind.

"We agree," Grazdan informed him, and Gremm called out to his trusted to bring the chest with the Eggs.

Once the Good Masters saw the Griffin Eggs, they immediately summoned all the Unsullied, including those under training, reformed them under a new Whip, and also helped Gremm reform the Unsullied already in his ranks under one Whip.

They did not even for a moment consider the possibility that Gremm would betray them. The grins on their faces were wider than they had ever been when the man called down his two smaller Griffins.

"How do we control them?" Kraznys asked as he approached one of the Beasts, expecting the man to reveal the secret, and Gremm smiled a smile that made some frown.

"Let me show you." He cryptically said, and then spoke in High Valyrian. "Ossēnagon zirȳla."

Kraznys froze and stumbled back when the Griffin in front of him reared and let out a screech.

It was followed by a blast, which caused the Good Master's face to explode, killing him on the spot.

Everyone in the Plaza of Pride was shell-shocked at what they just witnessed. They did not make sense of it until they watched Gremm climb up his Griffin and fly to the sky.

"Unsullied!!!" He called out to his forces when he was high enough. "Ossēnagon zirȳ ry! Kill the Good Masters. Kill every man who is over fifteen years old and wears a Tokar. Kill every woman who orders her Slaves to fight you! Kill the slaves who try to protect their Masters! Break the chains of all the Slaves in the City. Set them all free! Close all gates and let no man with a Tokar escape! Do not burn the City! Do not destroy any Statues and Sculptures! Kill anyone who sets fire! Kill every slave who pushes himself on a Free Girl or a Slave Girl or any Woman..."

Those commands, when they fell in the ears of the Good Masters and other people in the Plaza of Pride, caused them to nearly faint in fear.

The Unsullied did not respond, but before anyone could take a sign of relief, believing that they would live, they watched the soldiers in black march forward...

And all hell broke loose in Astapor...

A few hours before sunset, when all the Good Masters and Free Men had been put to swords, 11,408 Unsullied Soldiers gathered in the Plaza of Pride again.

Other than them, the City's 60,000 Slaves, and about 20,000 Free Women and their Children were present.

The Slaves, who had survived, were eyeing these Free Women and the children with murderous eyes. If it was not for Gremm's clear orders, the Slaves would have put these Free Women and Children to death as well.

Some had tried, but the Unsullied killed such people, and now, every single person obediently stood in the presence of Gremm the Griffin, who was standing on the Fountain, under the statue of the Astapori Harpy.

By his side, his Griffin was standing, and a step lower, two more Griffins, smaller in size, stood at guard.

The Sky Company, except for the 1000 Unsullied, who were sent by Gremm to man the Walls and Gates, stood in rows and columns like trained soldiers, wearing their battle helms.

"My name is Gremm Gryffonn," His voice was mysteriously very clear and heard by everyone in the Plaza. "And I am the City Lord of Astapor from this day onwards."

He gave them a moment to digest his announcement.

"I want the Slaves who helped the Unsullied today to step forward!" He loudly said, making the people flinch, and the said Slaves timidly stepped forward.

After the bloodbath they had witnessed, where nearly ten thousand free men and a few hundred slaves had been slain, they did not dare to take a gamble with their lives.

There were about ten thousand of them, and all stood with their heads lowered.

Some were too weak to stand because of the injuries on their bodies, but Gremm was not bothered by their state.

"From this day onwards, you are the Free Men of the City of Astapor. You are no longer Slaves. Except for the Pyramids, you can claim any residence in the City for yourself and your family. If you have families amongst the people who are standing behind you, take them with you. They are Free as well."

His words shocked everyone other than his Sky Company, and they looked at him in disbelief.

"We are free?" A young man asked.

"Do you want me to repeat myself?" Gremm dangerously narrowed his eyes at the man, who flinched and immediately shook his head. "Good. Go now, take anything from the Pyramids to make your residences liveable. However, you are not allowed to touch any jewels and valuables. Anyone who destroys the places and creates a mess will be punished or killed. No infighting! Food is all yours to take, and so are the clothes. None of you are allowed to keep more than a single weapon on your body. Do not wear the Tokars or I will have you put to sword. Wear the clothes in styles that show that you are different from the Free Men who have been slain today. Go!"

As soon as his words fell, the ten thousand newly freed men and women grabbed their family members and then rushed towards the Pyramids.

"Unsullied! I want 5000 of you to spread throughout the city to keep order, prevent fighting, and make sure that the people do not hoard food or clothes. Do not allow them to take any Jewels and Valuables! Anyone who creates trouble, be it a man or a woman, kill!"

Even the people who were rushing towards the Pyramids heard his words, and their steps immediately slowed down.

Once the 5000 Unsullied in the Plaza left, Gremm looked at the Slaves, who now numbered half of what they previously were.

These were the people who had not helped the Unsullied and were not the family of those who had helped take down their former Masters.

A lot of them were young, quite of few of them were children, and more than half of them were women. Most girls were pretty, and it was clear what kind of Slaves they were.

"Sky Legion!" Gremm called out to the Thousand Soldiers in his Company, who acknowledged his command by letting out a battle cry.

"Hoo!!"

"Step forward. Take a woman or two as your bed slaves if any of these bed slaves catch your eye. But keep in mind that you will be responsible for those whom you choose. Do not take anyone against their will! Once you claim someone as your bed slave, you are forbidden from exchanging or selling them. You are forbidden to make them bed other men. You are forbidden from mistreating them and starving them! If you have any children from them, they will be acknowledged as your children. Know that you will be punished if you are found in disobedience to my commands!"

Acknowledging his commands and understanding the terms, the men in his Sky Legion immediately stepped forward and started making their picks.

Almost everyone managed to find a bed slave or two. There were a lot of good-looking Slaves, some even beautiful, taught the way of the seven sighs and sixteen seats of pleasure in the City of Yunkai.

Most of these women, who had not known another life, had nowhere to go, were more than willing to find new Masters after hearing the conditions that the new City Lord had announced.

It was almost like a dream to them.

Once the men in Sky Legion stepped back with the girls they had chosen, Gremm issued another command.

"Now, pick some servants for your household, one or two or three, whom you are willing to take responsibility for and who are willing to serve you. Captains can pick five or six or seven Servants. All with their consent."

This time, the men in Sky Legion, as well as the women, stepped forward. Even Gremm picked servants for himself, fifteen in total.

Most chose the young kids, and some chose older women, not trusting the grown men in their households.

After their picks, about twenty-five thousand Slaves remained in the Plaza.

There were many able men amongst them, a few elderly, and quite a lot of women.

"Slaves!" Gremm smiled at them. "Those able men amongst you, who do not wish to return to slavery, I offer you an opportunity! Step forward and announce your desire to become the soldiers of Astapor. Make yourself useful to me and this city!"

Unsurprisingly, not many stepped forward.

They realised what becoming a Soldier meant. It meant risking their lives to protect the city.

Only around three thousand slaves, mostly young men, stepped forward, willing to take a gamble with their lives for freedom.

"Grey Wolf!"

"Commander!" A tall young man, who was leading the ranks of Sky Company, stepped forward.

"Note their names. Give them food. Give them a weapon. Those who are injured, have the Healers see them. All these Soldiers will start training under your authority from tomorrow. Tonight, let them sleep into the Fighting Pits, and transform all the Fighting Pits into Barracks within the next five days."

"Yes, Commander!"

Gremm nodded to him and turned to look towards his 6408 Unsullied.

His eyes landed on a young Captain, who was tightly holding his Spear.

"Hero!"

The man was surprised that his New Master called him out by his name, and immediately stepped forward.

"Take a Thousand Unsullied. Your Legion will be called the Hero Legion, and you will be responsible for assisting Grey Wolf train the Soldiers of Astapor and keeping them in check. You are free to kill anyone who causes dissent and expresses reservations against Grey Wolf's Training Regime."

"Yes, Master!"

The man acknowledged his command and only took a minute to form his Hero Legion, which followed Grey Wolf and led the New Soldiers to the Fighting Pits.

"Now then, the opportunity to gain your freedom is closed." Gremm looked at the nearly twenty-one thousand slaves, who had their heads lowered in desolation. "However, you still have an opportunity to earn yourself food, clothes, and shelter."

His words made them all look at him in surprise.

What more did they need other than food, shelter, and clothes?

"Be honest with me, and you will not regret it." He softly said, but everyone heard his words. And by now, they knew that Gremm could use Mystical Arts. "Those of you who know how to sail and fish, step forward and stand there..."

"Those of you who are farmers, fieldhands, move there..."

"Those who can cook..."

"Those of you who are scribes..."

"Those of you who are craftsmen..."

"Those who are tutors..."

"Those who are stable hands, grooms..."

...

...

...

For the next two hours, Gremm, together with the key people in his Sky Legion, created the Slave Units to keep the City functioning. And to keep a check on each Unit, he assigned a Battalion of 200 Unsullied.

When the Plaza was cleared of all the Slaves, Gremm gave the Pyramid of Nakloz to his Sky Legion and their bedslaves and servants, and they left as well.

Now, only 3408 Unsullied, some key figures of the Sky Legion, and the fallen Noble and Free Women and Children remained in the Plaza.

For hours, these Fallen Nobles of Astapor had been kept standing, and they were swaying on their feet as hunger weakened them.

The Gryffonn lazily looked at them and then ordered the two smaller Griffins to fly away.

"Now then, what should I do with you?" He asked and watched them freeze. "You are all useless..."

"We have families in Mereen and Yunkai. Send us to them..."

Gremm's Griffin suddenly screamed at the woman who had cut the words of its Master, and she dropped on her ass in fear.

"Do not cut my words again. I will feed you to my Beast." He grimly said and glanced at all of them.

Most of these people were ugly, with broad noses and obese figures, but there were some families who were nobler and better looking. Some were even beautiful, having been bred with care over several generations.

His eyes landed on three such beautiful girls, likely sisters, and one of them had a child in her arms.

He recognised them and knew that they had Nobles in Mereen as their families.

"Come forward," He spoke to them, and they heard his words close to their ears.

Surprised and fearful, they did not dare to act willfully and obediently walked over to him.

Gremm first looked at the girl who had the child in her arms.

"How many children have you given birth to?"

"One," She answered, and when he raised the question to the other two girls, who were around fifteen and fourteen years old, they claimed that they were maidens.

"I will give you an opportunity to become my concubines. You can choose to remain in Astapor by my side, in the Pyramid of Ullhor, or return to the ranks of these Hostages. Know that their fates are undecided and what happens to them depends on how the negotiations with Yunkai and Mereen would go."

The three girls worriedly looked back towards their family, a mother and two little brothers, and he understandingly smiled.

"I will allow you to bring your close family with us."

Once they agreed, he asked his servants to lead the three girls and their family to his new residence.

As for the rest of the Nobles, he sent them to the Plaza of Punishment, where the bodies of the Free Men were littered and piled up.

He decided that they would stay in the Plaza of Punishment until a word came from their relatives in Yunkai and Mereen.