CHAPTER 21. DRAGONSTONE
DAENARYS
Dragonstone, it is the place Aegon Targaryen launched his invasion of the Westeros and it is the place where Daenarys was born. It would seem she had come full circle; as a baby she fled with her brother from the Usurper. Not that she had a choice in the matter. Daenarys steps out of the long boat and onto the beach; she bends down scooping up some sand. She closes her eyes imagining her ancestors on Dragonstone for the first time. Overhead her three Dragons fly to the fortress.
"My Queen!" Her thoughts are interrupted by Grey Worm and some Unsullied with spears pointed at Baratheon men. They are forced to their knees. "We found them hiding in the cave…"
"You men will be spared…If you fight for me…"
"We will fight for you Dragon Queen…" A man says and the rest add their consent.
"Rise! Now what are you doing here?"
"We were sent to mine Dragonglass, but Stannis died in single combat in the North."
"Why were you mining Dragonglass?" Tyrion asks.
"It kills White Walkers…"
Daenarys follows the man into the cave and is showed the drawings on the wall. The Baratheon men have a stockpile of weapons made of Dragonglass; arrowheads, spears, and daggers; enough for several armies. Afterwards Dany explores the fortress alone and then she goes flying on Drogon while her army settles in. The next day Varys arrives with Elia Sand the new ruler of Dorne and Olenna Tyrell. It is raining and Daenarys stands in the opening of the map room.
Behind her waiting on Dany to begin the meeting are Tyrion Lannister, Gery Worm, Missandei, Varys, Elia Sand, the Sand Snakes, Olenna Tyrell, Rodrik Harlaw, Yara, Victarion Greyjoy, and the Dothraki Lord Myn Kosar.. "I am indebted to all of you…Because of you I am here in the place of my ancestors…"
"I am with you Dragon Queen for one reason and one reason only…" Olenna says speaking up, "I want to watch your Dragons devour Cersei's whorish body…That bitch stole the future of House Tyrell and I will not rest until she is dead…"
"You do not stand alone in that regard…" Elia says.
Dany turns to face them, "Shall we begin?"
Victarion takes a Cracken marker and places it near King's Landing on the map, "Our scout ships have spotted the Crow's Eye heading towards King's Landing…"
She looks at Varys, "What news?"
"I am still reestablishing my contacts throughout Westeros…I have had some news from the Riverlands…House Tully once again rules the Riverlands…but Edmure Tully has declared for House Stark…They have a small but formidable army…The Wind Blown use to serve Stannis Baratheon…Now they serve the Tullys; their leader Yonish is now Lord of the Twins…Petyr Baelish rules the Vale and he too has declared for House Stark…"
"The Starks grow more powerful by the day…" Yara says.
"They will bend the knee or I will end them…"
Tyrion sighs, "I thought we discussed this…Burning people is not the way to get them on your side…"
"And I suppose you would have us spare your rotten sister…Lannister…" Elia asks.
"My sister can burn in the seven hells for all I care…" Tyrion looks at Daenarys, "Your father tried to rule through fear and look what happened to him. We have a plan let us see it through…" She nods, "Houses Tyrell and Martell will assemble their forces at Bitterbridge, then march on the capital and surround it…" He places Tyrell and Martell markers near King's Landing. "Meanwhile the Unsullied will march on Casterly Rock…"
"What of the Crow's Eye…" Victarion asks.
"Queen Yara and Lord Victarion will take command of our naval forces…" Tyrion looks at Olenna, "Will Lord Redwyne support us?"
She nods, "He will…He is mobilizing his fleet as we speak…"
"With the combined might of the Dragon, Martell, and Redwyne fleets you will outnumber the Crow's Eye two to one…If everything works out we will either starve Cersei's forces out or she will surrender…"
"How do you plan to take Casterly Rock?" Elia asks.
Tyrion smiles, "I have a plan…The Rock will fall…"
"Queen Yara will escort you home Lady Elia…And Lord Victarion will take you home Lady Olenna…"
"What of the Night's Watch?" Rodrik asks.
"As a token of good will we will send the Dragonglass weapons North and hopefully it will open up negotiations with the Northerners…"
"We will move when the Tyrell and Martell forces are in place…" Dany says, "If there is nothing else…Dismissed…"
Everyone, but Olenna leaves, "Lady Olenna?"
"May I offer you some advise my dear?"
"By all means…"
"Be the Dragon Queen…You have three Dragons…Use them…They call you the Mother of Dragons…The Unburnt…Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea…Breaker of Chains…You earned all those names by the things you have done…" She takes a drink, "You know what they call me?"
"The Queen of Thorns…"
"Yes…Do you know how I got that name? I got it by being smarter than all the men around me…Even my father who wanted to give me to your Uncle Prince Aemon and I wanted Lord Luthor Tyrell…I took what I wanted…I was young once and just as beautiful as you…That is my advise…Be the Dragon Queen…"
Later Daenarys finds Tyrion staring up at the Dragons. "Here you are."
He smiles, "Here I am…"
"Varys told me what you did in Meereen."
He looks at her, "I did many things in Meereen…Some I am not proud of."
"The one when you went down to my Dragons and released them…"
"Oh that…Not one of my brightest ideas…"
"They didn't roast you alive…No one ever approaches them without me being there…You must be part Targaryen…"
Tyrion laughs, "In my youth I use to dream about Dragons…I don't know why?"
"Me too…Then after I married Khal Drogo…I had a vision as I stared into the fire in our tent…I saw my eggs hatch…"
They start walking towards the cliff on the side of the Fortress. "Did Mopatis ever tell you where he got those eggs?"
"I'll ask him next time I see him…" When they reach the cliff Dany summons the Dragons.
"What are you doing?" Tyrion asks.
When Rhaegal lands the Dragon walks up to Tyrion and sniffs him. He reaches his hand out and touches the Dragon. "Would you like to ride him?" Dany asks
He looks at her, "I am not a Targaryen…"
She kneels down beside him, "Look…I don't know all the rules of being a Dragon Rider…I do know…that you my friend; know more about Dragons than anyone…You have a connection to Rhaegal…He likes you…and I can think of no one else who I would like to see ride him. Just promise you won't give him any wine."
He laughs, "I will try not to…" Tyrion reverently climbs onto the Dragons back with Dany's help. Then she climbs up on Drogon's backs and they take off. Tyrion screams at the top of his lungs in joy. After hours of flying they land. "That was amazing…"
"I'm glad you liked it…" They hug.
THE IRON SHARK
Euron divides his fleet into two and gives command of the second fleet to the Iron Shark Idyn Tross. Tross is as tall and big as Victarion, but he fights with a huge broad sword. They call him the Iron Shark because he likes to hunt sharks with an Iron spear. Tross leads his fleet to the Arbor and attacks the Redwyne fleet.
The sun is rising and with it the Iron Fleet attacks. There are ships being loaded with men and supplies. Men start pointing and getting ready for battle as a hail of flaming jars and rocks hit the first ships. The Redwyne forces are caught off guard by the onslaught. Ships are rammed and boarded, men die on both sides, but the Redwyne forces are overwhelmed.
To add injury to insult Torass has his forces storm the island and set fire to the vineyards. For three days the Iron Shark and his men attack relentlessly. They take prisoners mainly women and steal a few ships from the Redwynes before leaving.
YARA
Yara is in the lower deck talking with Elia. There talking turns seductive and they start kissing and fondling each other. "Ship ahoy!" A man screams from the upper deck.
"Stay here…I'll be right back…" Yara rushes up to the top deck and is joined by the Sand Snakes. "What is it?"
The Man points, "There a Ship!"
"What sigil does it bare?" Obara asks.
"All hands on deck!" Yara commands.
"What's happening? Who are they?"
"Its my Uncle…Signal the fleet…"
"My Queen we should try to outrun them…" A man says.
"Iron Born do not run…We stand and fight!"