Since she was a little girl, Viserys taught her she would rule the Seven Kingdoms one day. There was not much for them in Essos. It was a foreign world, and instead of adapting to it she learned to long for an unforgiving throne she had never seen in her life. Years later, when her brother was dead and she birthed dragons from fire and blood, Dany realized for the first time that the Iron Throne had been Viserys' dream and not hers.

All she wanted was the house with the red door and the lemon tree by its side. Where would that be? Pentos? Myr? Sunspear?

"We will be there soon, Dany," Aegon said.

He was smiling, as was his way. By looking at him Daenerys found the strength to go on even when she wanted to land and rest in the wilderness of her Kingdom. Instead, she shot a look at Aegon.

His eyes were fixed in the King's Road, where the snow had already melt and the spring took hold of the land. It was a beautiful sight of green grass and yellow flowers.

"I don't want to be Queen," she confessed suddenly, surprised at the audacity of her words. Everyone who had rallied to her cause, all the soldiers that died for her and all the blood shed... Her words became ashes in her mouth. "If you want the Iron Throne, Aegon, I won't oppose."

Aegon didn't react. He kept looking ahead, where King's Landing could already be seen in the distance. She kept her eyes straight ahead too.

"I was raised to be King, Dany," he said. Dany could feel the resignation coming through his voice and wondered if it would be better to leave the Seven Kingdoms at the mercy of any other ruler? Aegon was not the Conqueror, Daenerys was not the Good Queen, and Jon was not the Unlikely. "But I don't wish for a crown anymore. I have seen what it brings and it's not a life I want."

Dany agreed. Of all the wars, the only one that mattered was fought well away from the Throne with no crown to be earned.

"Yet you were right before," Aegon continued. This time he did look upon her eyes. "If the dragonriders of Targaryen blood don't want the Throne it will be ripe for picking and war will return. The lords are afraid of another Field of Fire and we are the cause. As Kings and Queen, we can have their allegiance but as Lord and Lady of Dragonstone we will be prey."

Dany nodded and Aegon smiled sadly. It was a hard predicament and her insecurities made it worse. She had been Khaleesi and her husband, son, and brother paid with their lives. She had been Queen of Mereen and the city crumbled to the ground.

"Besides, can you really imagine Tyrion as King?"

The jest on his voice made her lips quiver with a smile that hid tears. She knew Tyrion could be a capable king, but the people would never love him, and never fear him.

"He would rule well," Dany said, defending her chosen Hand. That would have to change now. There couldn't be three positions of power in King's Landing, no matter how much tradition decreed they should have a Hand. "I have been thinking of granting him lands from the Riverlands to assimilate into the Westerlands."

She saw Aegon frown. The Riverlands should be another bargaining chip for them, but in his eyes shone anger for some reason.

"Do what you must, Dany," he said bitterly. "I will support you."

Dany didn't want them to fight anymore. It was hard enough knowing he and Jon had been thinking of abandoning her to the mercy of the high Lords and court life. She was thankful that he didn't argue her decision, but his hesitation brought doubts. Was she doing the right thing by favoring a Lannister after all the family did to Westeros?

Tyrion had worked hard to mend his mistakes, and Aegon knew that. Both of them had spoken about meeting the other and being impressed. Jon and Tyrion had met too, years before, and agreed that the other was a good person and highly honorable.

"Do you think I'm wrong?"

He said nothing for a few moments, and when he spoke again it was not of the topic.

"We're closer now. Maybe we should speed up and see what Tyrion achieved."

Aegon and Viserion hurled forward, leaving her behind for seconds until Drogon caught up with them and surpassed Aegon's dragon. She felt the thrill of speed again, with the fresh wind hitting her face. It didn't last. When they arrived at the city, the smell of smoke and feces reached them.

She had forgotten how crude the city was, and wondered if she would rather arrive at a clean but slaved city like Qarth.

"This is awful."

Aegon didn't hear. He was almost at the Red Keep and going down to the delight of the few peasants out on the streets. She followed him but let him land first.

There was no one there to greet them. Maybe the news hadn't traveled as fast as them and the people thought their monarchs dead and gone.

Aegon chose not to wait for a welcome and extended her hand to him.

"Umbagon kesīr," she told the dragons. Viserion looked over to Aegon as if trying to confirm the order. She smiled when Aegon nodded and brought her hand to his.

The Castle was silent, and those who saw them hurried to attend them. Cloaks were brought to cover them and Dany noticed only then that her body was shivering. She felt elated, though, and when the Throne Room was opened for them she lost all her doubts.

The metal creation of her ancestor stood in the middle of the room with its back against a partially destructed wall. There was no snow falling but Dany could see the similarities to the dream she had long ago when her path took her to the Undying Ones.

"This is it," Aegon said at her side, equally mesmerized by the throne. He took a hesitant step forward and she followed him, her hand still warm in his.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness."

Tyrion was there, and with him came the court. It was strange to be in front of them, underdressed for the occasion. Still, every man and woman stared at them in awe. Without prompting, their subjects kneeled.

When they rose and Dany saw the sad faces and hopeful eyes, she understood that they didn't see them as mighty Targaryens but as the chance of peace. Letting herself go from Aegon's hand, she walked among the thirty or so people in the room. There were serving maids and cooks, and a handful of lords and ladies. They were equal then.

Everyone's equal when they're dead.

She vowed to never let them die a bloody death. War would be kept away from her and Aegon's rule. She would rule with peace instead.

"You have lost so much," came the words from her mouth and her eyes watered. Aegon was immediately at her side, holding her in a sweet embrace. "I have seen war. I have led soldiers, but I had never seen..."

"The truly face of war? It's a gruesome thing the highborn doesn't experience as much as the lowborn, Your Grace."

Tyrion's words cut deep in her soul.

"Let us hold court for the first time, Lord Tyrion," Aegon said. His eyes were shining with determination.

Daenerys straightened herself. Their rule wouldn't begin with their coronation or when people came back to the capital. Their rule would begin with those who stayed and waited for them; with the man and woman who held hope for a new day.

"If you don't mind me asking, who will sit on the Throne?"

Aegon and Daenerys looked at each other with complicit glances. "We have an idea for that," Aegon told Tyrion with a smile.

Two chairs were brought from the kitchens that day, and the King and Queen of Westeros sat on them.