After the battle, when they had landed back on the ground, he asked her if she meant to march on King's Landing and take the Iron Throne now that Cersei was dead. Daenerys said she no longer wanted to go to King's Landing. She had decided to make her seat of power there, in Dragonstone.

"The truth is I've never even been to King's Landing. That was always my brother's dream. But this is where I was born. And I find living near to the ocean to be peaceful, in its way."

Tyrion was surprised by her change of heart, after such strong dedication to a single path. Then again, the Dragon Queen had been surprising him a lot lately. "I also have no strong desire to return to King's Landing, to tell the truth. I have few happy memories of my life there. And really it does not seem that either the Lannisters or the Targaryens were ever quite happy living in that city.

Daenerys shrank from his gaze as she looked out at the ocean. "Tyrion…" she asks quietly. "Do you really think that I'm mad? I know what everyone always says about Targaryens. That at our birth the gods flip a coin to decide if a Targaryen will be brilliant or mad, but I'm not sure if I'm either.

Hearing the sadness in her voice, Tyrion hated ever having contributed to her doubting herself. "In Westeros, the Septas often say that the gods give all their children gifts. Though I'm not sure if it's true. I've never liked Septas very much."

"I don't know. You were given to me in an actual box. That seems pretty on-the-nose, even for gods."

"Maybe the gods are just fucking with us at this point."

"Maybe…"

He turned to her and looked up at her violet eyes. "I don't think you're mad, Daenerys," he said, "But even if I did, I would still love you. Besides, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for misfits and broken things. I suppose that's one reason why I've always liked stories about dragons."

"I have a soft sport in my heart for broken things too," said Daenerys archly. "Like wheels, chains and vows of chastity made by brothers in black before they meet the Mother of Dragons."

"Oh so it's brooding brothers in black you prefer?"

"Graddakh, Tyrion!" she said, swearing in Dothraki. "It's a fantasy. Don't tell me you've never dreamed of seducing these Septas of yours away from their holy vows. Oh, so that's only me too now?

"No, mostly it's dragons I dream of," said Tyrion somberly.

"It's mostly dragons I dream of too."

They watched the waves of the ocean while the dragons behind them flapped their wings.


It was announced throughout the Seven Kingdoms that a tournament would be to held on Dragstone in the summer, to celebrate the nameday of Daenerys Targaryen and the defeat of Cersei Lannister by the Mother and Father of Dragons.

The tournament would be a cyvasse tournament. Whoever won would receive the honor of crowning the Queen of Love and Beauty.

Players from throughout the Seven Kingdoms and beyond came for a chance at glory and renown. The Dornish, the Tyrells and the Martell all made fine standings in the contest. Sansa Stark even managed to conquer the board for a few rounds before falling to Varys's hand. In the end, the tournament came down to the two competitors most intent on impressing the queen present- Jorah Mormont and Tyrion Lannister.

Like others who grew up in the long nights of Bear Island, Jorah was well versed in the game of cyvasse. Jorah somehow managed to make it past round after round even when it seemed like he might lose to more refined opponents.

However, Joarh kept trying to use all his other pieces to protect his dragons, while Tyrion was willing to put them into play. Tyrion's gameplay was bolder and more reckless than the Bear's, countering every attack with a cunning counter-attack.

In the end, Jorah was just another contender who went down on Tyrion's path to victory. The lords cheered as he took the crown of roses and walked to the seat of honor, to lay the rosy wreath on Queen Daenerys's head before the the assembled lords and ladies.

"You were the only one who could have defeated me," he whispered in her ear as the assembled lords clapped.

As she smiled in her blue gown with her hair done up in delicate curls and with a maiden-like blush on her face, Tyrion wondered if perhaps Daenerys had already defeated him at whatever game she was playing, not that he particularly minded.


Later that night, she waited in bed until the door to her chambers opened.

In he walked, dressed all in black with a thick cape trailing behind him.

"Who is it that comes to my bedchambers at such an hour?" she said in a girlish voice full of feigned surprise.

"It is I, Hugor Hill! Brother of the Nightswatch! Living out my lonesome days on the Wall as penance for my crimes! I am here to protect you from the dangers and terrors of the night!"

Daenerys tried not to laugh as she replied with a naughty twinkle in her violet eyes. "And what crimes would those be, Hugor Hill?"

"Oh, terrible, horrible crimes. I was placed on trial for the murder of the king, my own nephew. I was told if I confessed, the court would show me mercy and allow me to take the black and embark on a lifetime of repentant celibacy."

"And did you do it? Kill your nephew?" she asked, her voice full of prurient curiosity.

"Of course I did it, that little bastard had it coming! No offense to bastards everywhere!"

"So now," he said, with great angst, "I spend my nights on the Wall, in bitter cold, with no company but that of fellow miscreants and ne're-do-wells... and alas, deprived of life's greatest pleasures…"

"Lands to hold, Lords to serve?"

"Ladies to serve, my grace."

"That is a great shame Hugor," she said, as she positioned herself near to him on her bed. "for I am much in need of lord to serve me on this most cold and dreadful night...

He dramatically placed a hand over his eyes while gesturing the other hand in the air. "Please, desist from your insinuations, woman! I am the Sword in the Darkness! I am Watcher on the Wall! You cannot expect me to break such a sacred and honorable vow!"

"Well, suppose I wouldn't expect anything but the very best behavior from a 'sword in the darkness'… or, um, a…watcher…on the wall…"

She winked at him and they both began laughing at the ridiculousness of the seduction.

"Yes, absolutely not! I must remain steadfast in to my ancient vows."

"But surely it was not mentioned in your vows whether or not you could not simply be in the same room as a young maiden….while she was undressing…"

"Well, no, I don't remember that being in the vows."

"Or that you could not touch her here..." she said, placing his hand against her breast.

"Now, that you mention it, that was also not directly stated either way…"

"Or to do this..."

They continued with their play until she stopped teasing poor Hugor Hill of the Brothers Black and began crying his true name in earnest.


The next morning, Tyrion met Daenerys at the dragon pit, where she was feeding Rhaegal, Viserion and Drogon. He greeted the dragons in Valyrian and pet them each on their noses, spending extra time checking in with Viserion.

Then, he let Daenerys know that he had one more gift for her on her nameday.

The gift was an import from Dorne, brought to Dragonstone in a roomier box than the one in which Tyrion had traveled across the Narrow Sea.

Inside the box was a fuzzy lion cub with golden fur, tawny spots and brown eyes. The cub rolled around as it pawed at a toy ball. Tyrion scratched the lion cub on its stomach and it purred and flicked its tail.

"Who is this?!" said Daenerys.

"Do not worry. Joannen's claws have been trimmed. He is very friendly, if a touch persnickety."

"Joannen?"

"I named him after my mother- if you like that name?"

"It is a perfect name," said Daenerys, already completely enamored by the small cub staring up at her with its brown eyes. "Oooooh, he is so beautiful!"

Her dragons approached, settling in a circle around the new addition to the family.

"But…Tyrion…" said Daenerys, "I don't know anything about training lions."

"I believe I could help with that," Tyrion said.