The Dragon and The Lion

Daenerys was standing at the front end of her flagship, watching the dragons play. Rhaegal flying around Drogon – he did some spins as well, of course – while at same time getting chased by Viserion. The times when Viserion actually caught up to him, he would slightly nip at the end of Rhaegal's tail. And Rhaegal would speed up – not before hitting Viserion on the nose with his tail first though…

"Ah, I see you're watching your dragons play this lovely afternoon," Tyrion said, whistling as he came up beside her. "Yes, it calms me," Daenerys said with a distant expression.

"Well, I'm sorry to interrupt, Your Grace. But we saw it fitting to have a meeting discussing a matter of strategy," Tyrion said while turning to her, "and it would be very fitting of the Queen to show up at this meeting."

Daenerys was quiet for a few seconds, "You decided to hold a meeting, without asking me first?"

"Yes, Your Grace. Is that not allowed?"

Daenerys looked at Tyrion with an unreadable expression, "I guess I can allow it, this time – but next time you ask for my permission first…" Daenerys said in the end, her voice full of annoyance. "Yes, Your Grace," Tyrion said as he walked away.

Daenerys watched the dragons play for a while more – to calm her nerves – and when the dragons flew higher and higher, and further away, and one could barely see them in the distance, she turned around and walked across the ship to the poop deck (Why the fuck is it called that?), where they would hold their meeting.

When she turned up at the poop deck, the others were gathered around a table with a map of Westeros on it; Daenerys took her place, glanced at the others with an authoritative look, and said, "So, what are the concerns that call forth this meeting?"

"The concerns, are that we have no idea where to land this massive fleet," Tyrion said as he looked at the map with a pondering look on his face. "Can't we just land the fleet at Dragonstone? And plan the rest of the conquest of Westeros there?" Daenerys asked Tyrion.

"No, we can't. The fleet is too big to ever be able to land at Dragonstone," Tyrion answered, pointing at the map, as to prove his point.

Daenerys looked at Missandei and Grey Worm, and asked, "Do any of you have anything to come up with as a solution to this issue?" Missandei and Grey Worm stood there quiet for a while, then Missandei answered, "We've never been to Westeros before, My Queen; we can't really give any input on the matter."

"Me neither," Daenerys began as she shifted her gaze back to Tyrion, "That means you have to figure it out, and if you do… I'll be in my cabin."

Daenerys turned around, "Missandei, will you follow me down to my cabin, to give your Queen company?"

"Yes, Your Grace," Missandei answered as she walked up beside her. Then both proceeded down deck, and into her cabin.

"Missandei, can you be take these insects out of my hair? For some reason, these sea insects seem to love it…" Daenerys said, "Yes, My Queen," Missandei said as she took out a chair that Daenerys could sit on as she fixed her hair.

Missandei began to take out insects – as well other things Daenerys didn't want in her hair, while at the same time fixing it into the hairstyle Daenerys wanted – in complete silence. "My Queen, I noticed that Ser Jorah didn't return when you and Daario did, even though he set out with Daario to find you," Missandei said after a while, curious.

Daenerys was quiet, "Did you banish him again?" Missandei asked, "Or did he die? Or leave?" At this point, Daenerys felt a strange sadness in her chest, although she did not know why.

She then said with a slightly tremulous voice, "No, I did not banish him. He didn't leave either. Or die for that matter."

"What happened then, Your Grace?" Missandei asked, even more inquisitive than before.

"I sent him away," Daenerys began, her voice growing more confident again, "but not to banish him, but to cure his," Her voice became tremulous again, "illness…"

Missandei stopped fixing her hair for a moment, she might as well have been frozen in place for a few seconds, "What is this illness you speak of?" She asked in the end.

Daenerys seemed to slightly quiver for a second, then straightened out her posture, "He has been smitten by Greyscale, while he was banished."

Missandei gasped, "Greyscale? But there's no known cure for it." Daenerys nodded, and said with a slightly quivering voice, "I know…"

And that was the end for that conversation – actually for all the conversations for a while to come, since from that point it was completely silent between them…

When Missandei was done with fixing Daenerys' hair, there was a knock on the door.

"My Queen, I seem to have figured out a way to do this in a very strategic way," Said a voice that clearly belonged to Tyrion. "Go and get Grey Worm then, I want everybody to hear what you have to say," Daenerys answered. "Yes, Your Grace."

Daenerys stood up, Missandei put the chair back into its rightful place, and then both walked back out of the cabin, and back up to the poop deck.

They had to wait for a minute before Tyrion and Grey Worm showed up, "So, what is this magnificent plan of yours?" Daenerys asked Tyrion.

"The plan is that we split this massive fleet up into, well, different fleets," Tyrion said.

"And weaken our strength?" Daenerys asked. "No, we will take one part of the fleet to Dragonstone, which, as you know, is located to the east of Westeros, then the other part of the fleet will sail to the western border of Westeros, to carry out any attacks there. This would mean that the enemy has to focus on 2 different fronts at the same time," Tyrion said breathlessly, "And while you seize Dragonstone, the other fleet could capture Casterly Rock."

Daenerys looked at Tyrion, and smiled, "I approve of this plan," She said, then asked, "Grey Worm, you're the commander of the Unsullied. What do you make of this plan?" Grey Worm seemed to ponder the plan for a few seconds, then said, "I approve, My Queen."

Daenerys looked at her advisors and said, "This means we have a plan for the coming conquest of Westeros. There are, however, some positions that need to be filled."

"What positions?" Missandei asked. "Who it is that will lead the second fleet," Tyrion answered.

"Tyrion is correct," Daenerys said, then looked at Grey Worm, "Grey Worm will lead the second fleet." Daenerys noticed that a spark of sadness appeared on Missandei's face, before quickly regain her normal serious expression.

"Missandei," Daenerys said, Missandei shifting her eyes from the map on the tablet, to her Queen's face, "Yes, Your Grace?" Daenerys smiled lightly, "You will accompany Grey Worm, for translation purposes, as well as for company."

Missandei's posture immediately signaled happiness – although not very noticeably – and then she said, "Yes, My Queen. I would be delighted to."

Daenerys nodded slightly, and then said, "Dismissed." The others bowed, and then walked down deck, presumably, towards their cabins – or in Tyrion's case, towards the wine!

Daenerys herself stood watching the dragons, which had started to grow bigger in the distance, starting to cover the dark clouds behind them.

The conversation she'd had with Missandei previously made her wonder, was it really right of her to command Jorah to cure his Greyscale, after all, if he didn't succeed he would probably die thinking that he had failed his Queen – or in his case, failed his Khaleesi.

Had she taken Jorah with her, it could have led to an epidemic among her troops, and advisors. Could it have affected her? Even though she has the Blood of the Dragon flowing through her veins, presumably making her immune to diseases – Greyscale is more like a curse than a sickness after all.

But if she had taken him with her, maybe she could have helped him to the Citadel – the Citadel being the best in all things knowledge, really.

The cure for Greyscale was still unknown, however, and if the Citadel knew of it, then it wouldn't be unknown, right?

Daenerys shook her head, trying to free it from all these thoughts. Maybe I could return to Essos and get him… No. You've made your choice Daenerys, now you have to live with it, Daenerys thought, solemnly; her head filled with what ifs.

She sighed.

It were moments like these she wished she could be like Tyrion – drunk pretty much all the time, although that wouldn't make much of a responsible Queen, would it?

Daenerys thought about it for a few minutes, One night of drunkenness wouldn't be that irresponsible, after all, it might even help to clear my mind.

She proceeded down deck, asked one of the Unsullied – actually, it was more like demanded to know where Tyrion went. "Down to his cabin," He'd answered, emotionlessly.

She went down deck, and knocked on Tyrion's door. "Who is it?" She heard, "Your Queen, open the door."

Before she could blink, the door was open.

"Your Grace, what has brought you here, to my humble cabin and me?" Tyrion asked, smiling at her.

"I wanted some company – and you were the best person whom would give me that, as well as suit my needs," She answered him and walked in, Tyrion behind her, closing the door.

"My Queen, I don't think it wise to engage in such… activities, with your Hand," Tyrion answered, slightly chuckling. Daenerys was not amused by his joke, "I meant your... fondness of wine."

Tyrion laughed and nodded at her as he walked past, "Yes, that is definitely my area of expertise."

Daenerys looked at him as he took out a crate of wine bottles from under his bed.

"Dornish Red, my last few bottles," Tyrion said, handing her a full bottle of wine, "I believe that will satisfy your needs."

Daenerys turned the bottle around in her hand, "Do you have any goblets nearby?"

Tyrion laughed.

"Goblets? That's for when you need to be well mannered, down here in my cabin, you just drink straight from the bottle," Tyrion said, popping his bottle open and taking a sip.

Daenerys was slightly hesitant, every fiber of her screaming at her that this was not how Queen was fit to act; it's only Tyrion though, she thought, and then popped the bottle open.

When she had drunk half her bottle – and Tyrion, one and a half – Tyrion asked, "What brings you down here to drink anyhow?"

Tyrion could probably see her tense up a bit, "Too many thoughts at once," She answered after a few seconds.

Tyrion nodded his head slowly – tipsily even – then asked, "What kind of thoughts?"

Daenerys looked at him with a stern expression that read, "None of your fucking business."

Tyrion shook his head, "Forget I asked."

Then both of them just sat there, more or less just sulking in silence, then after Daenerys had drunk her second bottle – Tyrion his third – she said, "You wondered what I have been thinking about," She turned to him, and he gave her his full attention – which was not a lot, "I've been thinking about choices I've made, if they were right or wrong, and what would've happened if I made a different choice."

Tyrion looked at her, "We all do sometimes, but then we move on."

Daenerys said no more. She just drunk wine, then walked out, and back to her cabin.


The Summer Sea


Daenerys woke up to the light shining on her face through one of the cabin windows, the curtains somehow seemed to have moved since last night, but Daenerys didn't mind, probably just a servant that had dragged it to the side – probably the same one who of which had placed a tray of food and wine on the table.

But that was not the only reason she didn't mind, however, it was also contributed to by the fact that her sleep had been plagued by nightmares recently, and so, for the time being, Daenerys completely detested sleep – with a passion.

She stretched her legs and arms, then rose from the bed, walked over to the wardrobe, took out her black – and her most concealing – dress (the one from season 7, if you couldn't guess), and put it on. Then she walked over to the tray with the food and wine, it was just a buttered bread, with a thin slice of cheese, a soft-boiled egg, as well as some delicious, crispy bacon. (PS, I have no idea what they eat for breakfast, but this was mentioned in the show… So, let's roll with it.)

She just stood there for a second, contemplating if she would eat it here alone, or invite someone to her cabin for company – preferably Tyrion or Missandei, of course. Grey Worm and the other Unsullied are not really… communal.

In the end, she decided to invite Tyrion to her cabin, after all she had left quite suddenly the day before – although she would not apologize for it, a Queen does not apologize for her actions.

Thus, she walked over to the door, opened it, then told the nearest Unsullied, "Maghagon nyke se mība vala."

Then she closed the door, and walked back to the table to wait for her company.

She had to wait for what seemed like an hour for Tyrion to show up – even though it was more like ten minutes…

Tyrion knocked on the door, "Your Grace. You requested my presence?" Daenerys answered with a loud and authoritative voice, "Yes. Come in."

Tyrion opened the door, and walked to sit in the on the opposite side of the table, "So, what matter is it that requires my expertise?"

"Who said anything about needing your expertise? I just wanted you here to keep me company while I break my fast, and at the same time you could tell me more about this country we will soon arrive in," Daenerys answered as she picked up a piece of bacon.

Tyrion laughed, "The company I gave you last night wasn't enough? You left so suddenly, I thought you were trying to escape me…" Daenerys smiled and answered, "Well, you are an expert at drinking and talking, whereas both can be quite hard to endure sometimes."

Tyrion looked at her with another smile, "Well, good to know that My Queen can note my expertise in these particular areas."

Daenerys chuckled slightly, then kept eating, "Nevertheless, you wanted to know more about Westeros, what would you want to know?"

To answer this, she just looked at him, then said, "Do you think Dragonstone will be heavily defended?"

Tyrion slightly raised his right eyebrow, "I don't think it will be heavily defended, in fact, I don't think it will be defended at all."

At this Daenerys furrowed her brows, "Why wouldn't Dragonstone be defended?"

"Because there's no reason for it."

"And why not?"

"Well, Stannis Baratheon has most likely left it at this point, and Cersei and Jaime, probably don't care enough about it to realize what a strategic position it is."

At this Daenerys should've been grateful, the fact that they could just walk in and capture a very valuable strategic position without having to risk any men at all, should be a godsend; but strangely she just felt rage.

The house seat of the Targaryens, thrown out like it was nothing, did they not see what a sacred site it was? It was most likely just abandoned like any old ruin. Her ancestors seat of power, forgotten.

What gave them the right to do so? They should treat it like a monument from a great age, because that's exactly what it was! It was greater than Casterly Rock could ever be. With the histories of House Targaryen, echoing through its empty halls.

Tyrion had seemed to notice that the fire in her had grown, "My Queen, what is it that troubles you?"

Daenerys snarled and stood up, "The fact that your family havethe stomach to forsake such a sacred site, a monument to House Targaryen is what it is; they should worship the ground it was built on!"

Tyrion jerked backwards at the sound of her voice, and a hurt expression flashed on his face when she said his family, but Daenerys didn't care.

In return he snorted and said, "Don't talk about them like I belong to that family still, 'cause I do not."

Daenerys turned to him, her eyes filled with rage, "Do not talk back to your Queen."

At this Tyrion just huffed, "Of course, My Queen," his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Daenerys' glare just rose in intensity at the sarcastic use of her title, Tyrion, however, wasn't done yet, "I thought I was invited to elaborate on the situation in Westeros, not to argue like children."

"And now you have the stomach to call me a child?"

"No, I called both of us children."

Daenerys just rolled her eyes, "Same thing," then she let out a deep breath, "but nonetheless, you are correct, this is not a manner fitting of a Queen. I guess I'm just have a lot on my mind."

Tyrion looked seriously at her, "Now then, I have just one question… Can I have some of that wine?"

Daenerys shook her head and a smile started to spread on her face, "Okay, but don't drink it all, it's mine after all."

At this Tyrion just laughed and said, "You know very well that I can't promise that," At which Daenerys answered, "Just drink the damn wine."

'On a second thought, maybe I should've invited Missandei instead…' Daenerys mused, while at the same time letting out a big sigh.

Tyrion saw this and asked, "What are you thinking about now, Your Grace?"

"Nothing of importance."

"Are you sure?"

Daenerys shook her head, once again becoming agitated, "Yes, I'm sure. And do not ask me about it again, because if I wanted you to know, then I would tell you."

Tyrion snorted, "Of course," then he saw the look on Daenerys face and quickly said, "My Queen."

Then there was silence, Daenerys eating, and Tyrion drinking – somewhat timidly.

After a while, Tyrion looked at Daenerys with an expression that reminded of that of melancholy, "Your Grace, maybe you should've invited Missandei instead if you wanted company. I'm after all not the best at that sort of thing as you can see," Daenerys actually smiled at this, "You know, you're not all that bad company," Tyrion looked doubtfully at her for a second, "Today is not the best example."

Tyrion laughed at that, "You could definitely say that, mostly we have been quiet, and if we weren't, we yelled at each other…"

Daenerys snickered, "That about describes us, after all, you're the one who insist on arguing with me on every point."

Tyrion grinned, "That's one of my three callings, drinking, knowing things, and arguing with you pointlessly," Daenerys grinned back, "Of course it's pointless, I'm not one to usually change my mind."

Tyrion shook his head, "Yes, but maybe you should start doing so, maybe then you wouldn't make such hasty decisions – some of which seems to haunt you to this day.

Daenerys grin immediately disappeared, that struck her hard. After all, she knew that was one of her weak spots, her fierce temper – but at the same time it was one of her strengths.

In the end Daenerys decided to retaliate with, "It's their fault that they awoke The Dragon, not mine," although she didn't say it with much conviction.

Tyrion nodded hesitantly, "Yes, of course, Your Grace," then nervously sipped more wine.

Then there was silence again, until an Unsullied knocked on the door.

"Ñuha dāria, tegun ēza issare ūndegīon," the Unsullied said stiffly.

"Skoros tegun?" Daenerys answered questioningly.

"Īlon pendagon ziry iksos, dorne."

Daenerys looked at Tyrion, "They say they've spotted the coast of Dorne, how much further?"

"Well, that depends on a lot of things, My Queen, many things can happen on a journey such as this," Tyrion answered niftily, while standing up to walk out the door, "But you should walk out and see it yourself, it will soon be out of sight again…" Then he walked out, not even bothering to close the cabin door behind him.

This would be the first time Daenerys saw Westeros – her home – with her own two eyes.

Thus, Daenerys followed.