Dany drifted in and out of consciousness for days, weeks, perhaps months. She didn't know. Always, when she woke, Viserys would be there, wiping her brow with a cool damp cloth or talking quietly. "We're rich now, rich enough to cross the seas with all our armies."

"The soldiers are talking. They say that there's a Targaryen pretender crossing the Narrow Sea with the Golden Legion. He says he's Aegon. What if he is? We wouldn't be the rightful rulers, then. But don't you worry about that, Dany. He can't be Aegon, our nephew is dead."

"We have seven more dragon eggs Dany. From the ruins of Pentos. One of them could hatch, perhaps more. But I don't think they will, and perhaps we shouldn't try to hatch them, not yet, not until we have children. Even Rhaegal doesn't have a rider yet."

He would tell her of the dragons, of the Unsullied and the freedmen, of how they were on the march to the Narrow Sea. He reassured her that Viserion flew alone, or with Rhaegal: he never left her side, not once. "I'm going to make you get better," he said once. "You'll heal."

One day she awoke to blue skies overhead, a gentle rocking motion beneath her. "Viserys?" she croaked.

Instantly, he was there, bending over her. "You're awake!" he reached for a glass of clear, pure water. "Here, drink. I had them bring barrels of pure springwater onto the ship for you. It'll make you strong again."

"Where are we?" she asked, obediently drinking.

"The deck of one of our ships. I thought the air would do you good." He smiled at her bewilderment. "We're crossing, Dany. We're leading our army across the Narrow Sea to Dorne. Prince Doran sent his son, Quentyn, as an ambassador. He's a bit of a lackwit, but it's a good gesture on the part of Dorne. But Dany, we've done it, we've truly done it! We're going home."

"Help me up," Dany said. "I want to see."

Viserys gently helped her to her feet, and guided her to the rail of the deck. Dany looked out at the wide blue-grey ocean. "Where are the ships?"

Viserys pointed. "Look behind."

Dany turned, and gasped. Fanning out behind them, as far as the eye could see, were warships, flagships, galleons, every kind of ship.

Viserys smiled. "We've gained even more followers. People are flocking to our banners. They think we herald a coming better age, when the dragonlords rule once more."

"Where are they?" Dany asked, just as the ship lurched, sending her flying. Viserys caught her and cradled her against his chest, laughing. Dany looked out at the still ocean. "What was that?"

"Watch," he pointed out to the sea again, as a fountain of steam erupted and Viserion exploded upwards out of the water, beating hard into the air over the ship, sending seawater down to drench the sailors, who cursed good-naturedly at the dragon. Dany gasped. "They swim?"

"Yes," Viserys said. "Look. There's Rhaegal."

Dany look, and saw Rhaegal swimming powerfully through the water, her pointed head splitting it like a knife, her wings and legs propelling her forcefully forwards through the water. Dany smiled for joy. "And Drogon?"

Another burst of seawater drenched them then, as Drogon's long, graceful neck reared out of the water, arcing over the ship as he looked down at Dany, who stretched out a hand to him. "You have grown, my sun-and-stars."

Drogon made his rattling noise and carefully pushed the very tip of his nose against Dany's extended hand.

She breathed deeply and looked around them. "Viserys…we…we've done it."

He kissed her on the mouth. "I know. Together, together we did it. We'll sit the iron throne, you and I, and Westeros will be safe again."

"And – you did all this," Dany smiled wonderingly. "You bought us here."

Viserys laughed. "In truth, Ser Barristan did most of it. Organised the ships and the boarding. I haven't left your side. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, couldn't even breathe when I was away from you. I just – I couldn't leave you. So little and defenceless." He smiled again. "But its over now. You're awake. And everything is good again."

Drogon dipped his head to her, dropping his eye to her level. Dany smiled. "He wants me to fly with him."

Viserys frowned. "You only just woke. You've been fever-dreaming for two weeks. Are you sure you're strong enough?"

"I am a Targaryen," Dany said proudly, tossing her head. "I shall find the strength."

"Very well," Viserys laughed. "But for today, I ride behind you."

"Very well," Dany mimicked him. "It is agreed."

He helped her to mount, and then climbed on behind her. Drogon hissed a little at this and lashed the water with his tail, but calmed when Dany spoke to him.

"Have him fly level," Viserys warned. "He's wearing no saddle."

Dany laughed aloud. "Are you afraid?"

Her brother's denial was lost in Drogon's roar as he propelled himself upwards out of the sea, into the sky. Viserion and Rhaegal roared back and hastened after him, settling into their usual flight formation, with Drogon leading and they flanking him. Drogon swooped low over the ships, and the crews cheered to see Dany and Viserys a-dragonback once more, hale and whole.