Daenerys

The silence within the Red Keep brought with it a cold stillness that Dany had never felt before. Everywhere she has gone up until this point has been filled some form of sound. Whether it was the people that conversed in smalltalk inside the great pyramid of Meereen or the screams of her Dothraki bloodriders charging into battle on the Blackwater Rush, there was always noise. But this silence was unsettling, and it made the castle feel like a ruin similar to Harrenhal.

I suppose they aren't too different now save for when I restore it to its original glory. No more of the usurpers' ilk corrupting these halls.

Dany was alone with none of her Unsullied by command. She wanted to see the entirety of the Red Keep by herself. To walk through the history Aegon the Conqueror began when he, Visenya, and Rhaenys had left Dragonstone to unite Westeros under one banner. While Maegor was the one that built the castle itself, it stood as the physical embodiment of House Targaryen's feats on the continent. To walk among these halls felt odd to a certain degree. For so long, Dany has been on the path of making it back to Westeros in the desire to restore her family name. And now to see it through her own eyes feels almost like a dream. A dream that she fears she will wake from and find herself still in Meereen or with her brother in Pentos.

I hope you can see me now brother. It wasn't you that would restore our House, but me. For all your words of taking back the Iron Throne, you will be forgotten like the traitors and usurpers that forced us to flee when we were children. I will ensure my name and our family will last a thousand generations and beyond.

Climbing up the main staircase led to all of the major vicinities of the keep including Maegor's Holdfast, the White Sword Tower, and the Tower of the Hand. The Maidenvault and dungeons were separate and would be seen to later. With Tyrion held in the dungeons currently it seemed best to ignore that sector for the time being. The one portion of the keep that Dany had Drogon aim specifically for was the Traitor's Walk. Although Dany abhorred traitors, putting up their heads in display for the public wasn't the method she preferred. Enemies should burn and ash is all that needs to remain of them.

Eventually she reached a divide where it separated the staircase into three different paths. Dany didn't know the layout of the keep so it was best to just learn as she went. Picking the left since it was the most intact, it led up to the White Sword Tower. This was the headquarters of the Kingsguard and their barracks. Reaching towards the door at the top of the tower, Dany pushed it open to find the room having minimal damage from the attack. Several different sets of armor were on display as well as high quality swords that befitted a Kingsguard. As she kept walking further in, it opened to another chamber and at the center of the room is a table in the shape of a hexagon. The only item on it is a thick book with the emblem of the Kingsguard on the cover.

This must be the fabled Book of Brothers, for all Kingsguard to be honored for their service.

Flipping it open, many were names that she had no real knowledge of. The ones that did included Duncan the Tall, Gerold Hightower, Aemon Targaryen the "Dragonknight", Arthur Dayne "The Sword of the Morning", and Sandor Clegane.

One name that stood out above all the rest was Ser Barristan the Bold, her former Queensguard that died in the worst possible way. In an ally, surrounded by snakes that wanted her to suffer for abolishing slavery in Meereen.

The old knight had brought a new perspective to her council when he first arrived. Coming straight from King's Landing to Astapor to give Dany knowledge of what had happened between her time in Pentos to Qarth and to pledge his loyalty. He also provided a better picture of Rhaegar compared to the version that Viserys tried to portray. A somber prince that loved music and helping the people instead of the kidnapping rapist the rest of the world believes him to be. Barristan was honorable, kind, and loyal to House Targaryen to the very end and his stint as Lord Commander of Robert's Kingsguard didn't change that.

Flipping the page, she saw Jaime Lannister's entry. Compared to the previous members, his portion was surprisingly sparse.

Ser Jaime Lannister

Ser Jaime of House Lannister. Firstborn son of Lord Tywin and Lady Joanna of Casterly Rock. Served against the Kingswood Brotherhood as squire to Lord Sumner Crakehall. Knighted in his 15th year by Ser Arthur Dayne of the Kingsguard, for valor in the field. Chosen for the Kingsguard in his 15th year by King Aerys II Targaryen. During the Sack of King's Landing, slew King Aerys II at the foot of the Iron Throne. Thereafter known as the "Kingslayer". Pardoned for his crime by King Robert I Baratheon. Served in the honor guard that brought his sister the Lady Cersei Lannister to King's Landing to wed King Robert. Champion in the tourney held at King's Landing on the occasion of their wedding.

Dany didn't know how to feel about the Kingslayer. When he first arrived, all she saw was the man that took everything from her the moment he stabbed the Mad King and forced her and Viserys to live on the run. She wanted him executed for that but Sansa's swornsword, Brienne of Tarth, vouched for him based on his honor. It was difficult to grasp from all the events that happened in quick succession. Their first encounter was on the Blackwater Rush when he tried to stab her with a spear while she was trying to remove a scorpion bolt from Drogon. Next was the summit in the Dragonpit where Cersei lied about sending troops north to aid against the Night King.

Yet despite all the terrible crimes he committed against House Stark and House Targaryen, he still came up north to fight against the dead to honor his pledge, knowing full well he could die before the battle against the Night King occurred. So many conflicting views made it hard to understand a such a complicated person whose allegiances shifted for both good and evil. Tyrion did everything in his power to save Ser Jaime and it didn't matter in the end when he found the knight buried alive with Cersei.

Dany knew that her father was evil and was rightly killed for his madness. She might have held a grudge against Jaime for indirectly causing her to live the life of a beggar, but she understands that he thought what he did was right. To then be labeled as Kingslayer and hated by the people he saved surely jaded his opinion of people that didn't know the full story. The Book of Brothers was created to highlight the heroic deeds of the Kingsguard and his entry deserved more than what was shown, no matter what Dany thought of the man himself.

Closing the book, she proceeded out of the White Sword Tower and back down the steps to the division area. Making a left turn up the center stairwell, this area was covered in rubble. Holes and burn marks littered the way up to an open area. On the floor was a painted map of Westeros covered in dirt and rock. There was a small staircase in the back but it led to a drop due to the area being destroyed. Looking around, there are several doors that led to rooms with beds and essential living items. No doubt this is Maegor's Holdfast, where the royal family resided. Walking into a large room, the interior was exquisite with lavish designs and furniture all about. The aesthetic had a heavy focus on the Baratheon stag and Lannister Lion.

Redecorating will be a hassle with how large this place is.

With nothing left of interest, Dany headed towards the last staircase and it barely led anywhere before the cloudy sky was visible. The Tower of the Hand was here and she had swept past it first on the initial attack on the Red Keep. She would need an architect to rebuild it from scratch but that will be later after her campaign.

Thinking of her former Hand, Dany decided to stay here to collect her thoughts on how to proceed now that Tyrion has chosen to be her enemy.

I'll need to find a new Hand soon if I'm going to liberate the world. Who can I trust at this point?

When it came to the people she could still trust, there were few on that list that qualified. Grey Worm was Master of War and would be on the frontlines. Yara Greyjoy was reorganizing the Iron Islands and didn't have the political savviness to handle the Seven Kingdoms, no one in the Dothraki was suitable, and she didn't want Jon to be second fiddle even after he told the Starks the truth. She wanted him by her side in this mission of establishing Targaryen rule across all of the realms of men.

The one person that had a chance of filling Tyrion's shoes was Sansa, but with all the conversations they've had ending in conflict, it seemed impossible to sway her to the cause.

I've tried to connect with her and she has undermined me at every possible opportunity. Even if she accepted the position, nothing will be accomplished with how different our views are. If Olenna wasn't dead, she would be the best candidate and I could have been ruling Westeros by now if I followed her advice in the beginning.

Dany began pacing unknowingly across the stairs trying to come up with someone to be her new Hand. More than ten minutes pass and still no one comes to mind. It wasn't until she saw a silhouette down below the keep sitting in the gardens did she stop. No matter how high up she may have been, she immediately recognized Jon from his brooding expression taking a seat overlooking the bay.

Her mind went back to their last conversation. He finally admitted his love for her but it felt hollow. She wanted more than what was given and pushed him away by doing so. The love she wanted had to be from his heart in its truest form as well as the hearts of the Westerosi. But that was folly and she now understood that the love the Essosi people's gave her is unique and wouldn't be found here. Fear is the only way to get the hesitant kingdoms in line. The reality is harsher than childish dreams of different peoples agreeing in a single day.

Even if Jon may disagree with what happened here, she needs to convince him that this is necessary. That together they can rule this world the right way, keeping each other safe from traitors and deceivers that have stopped them at every turn. As the last Targaryens, it is their destiny for greatness and they were meant to be together.

Moments later, she sees another person walking to the chair next to Jon. The only other person in Jon's council that came to King's Landing was Ser Davos Seaworth. From what she saw, Jon trusted Davos completely, more so than Sansa.

When they first arrived on Dragonstone, Jon was the humble king that cared little for his titles and flaunting them. Davos in contrast stepped up and demonstrated why Jon was a good king and leader. He stood against her in that first face to face stare down and showed his faith in Jon. Rather than keeping quiet, the smuggler turned advisor had grit and refused to see his king belittled by another monarch of equal standing. He made logical arguments and respected everyone in the council meetings. Any sign of conflict, he tried to pacify so that violence was avoided. His accent hailed from Flea Bottom meant he grew up in poverty and knew what the poorest of the poor experienced. Davos was never officially referred to as Hand but he did the job like any other Hand if not more.

If Jon is to rule with me, it makes sense for Davos to be our Hand. No one else is as qualified. You seem to always have the answers to my questions Jon.

With a final look and smile, Dany made her way down the stairs.

Only one more room of importance remained, the Great Hall. This journey has led her through the expanse of Essos across the Narrow Sea. Stretching from the frozen north beyond the wall down to King's Landing. She woke dragons from stone and freed slaves from cruel despotic masters. All of the hardship and struggles would finally end the moment she reached the Iron Throne.

Approaching the giant double doors, her nerves started tingling from excitement and fear. Each second felt like hours and she remained still. Steeling herself with a deep breath, she pushed the doors open.

The scene in front of Dany is identical to the vision she had in the House of the Undying. The Iron Throne sat in the center of an elevated platform with steps leading up to it. Snow and ash blanketed the floor and spiked braziers around the pillars. The only difference was the wall behind the throne was more or less destroyed unlike the one in the vision where it remained standing.

Taking her first step towards the throne, the only sound present is the crackling of the snow under her feet. Each step closer, its presence becomes more overpowering. The symbol of all the good and bad that followed Aegon's conquest. She couldn't even blink as the throne grew bigger as she approached.

She stood before it in its entirety and she hoped that this isn't another vision. Reaching out with her left hand slowly, she felt the cold snow and metal within her grasp.

It's not a dream. I finally made it here.

She let out a small sigh, as an invisible weight has been lifted off her shoulders. Dany was in the Red Keep, in front of the Iron Throne, and it was real.

Behind her, she heard the door shifting and footsteps approaching. Dany turned herself around to see the only other person that should be here and she couldn't stop herself from smiling.

"Jon."

AN: We all know what's next. If you find Dany to be odd in how she isn't all that startled about what happened, don't worry, it's by design. Please leave any feedback or questions and I'll be happy to answer them. Thanks!