Game of Thrones Tales: Back to the Throne Room…
Summary: There's only one solution when Tyrion and Sansa have found the new King as mad as the Mad Targaryen and cynically evil, once on the throne, as Joffrey. So evil he's happily allowed the world to be invaded by unspeakably hideous creatures from some little planet out on the spiral rim of the Galaxy, to secure his reign of terror.
Part XXI…
Isolated, wind-blasted corner on the top of the Wall, early morning…
"Kendrick?!" Samwell howled over the wind to the hapless young recruit, lanky and thin but looking nearly as large as Sam in heavy winter coat, extra fur, and boots, fresh from a couple of not entirely generously allowed hours of rest after his night of scrubbing the Hall floors. After all, discipline must be maintained, Sam had noted to himself that night…With no little satisfaction, he had had to admit to himself… Setting Kendrick to his task after offering him a chance to redeem himself in the eyes of his superiors.
With a minor feat of courage and flex…er, ability…He noted solemnly to the boy.
"…Are you ready?! Is your harness secure?!"
Kendrick in said harness, rechecking, nodding, offering a thumbs' up….
Interesting that was once our way of declaring a man what the Dirters call a homosex…homosexual, Samwell thought. But it's caught on with us as an "all's well, ready" sign since their coming.
At least I hope Kendrick meant to indicate all's well…And was not surreptitiously trying to indicate availability.
"Ready, sir!" Kendrick resolved the issue, giving nervous smile.
"Just pull the center rope when you want Drogon to let you down!" Sam called. "He's been trained and he's very bright! He'll understand! And don't worry, he's fond of people! He's always careful with us!"
Well, with those he knows who feed and play with him, Sam did not say…
"Yes, sir!"
"You have the photo-graph…The portrait…Of Dr. Sin-clair?!"
"Yes!" Kendrick waved the photo. "But…?!"
"It's just to help you judge his size and build! Anyone you see heading out at this hour should be him, especially North!" Sam cried. He looked down though blown previously fallen snow and fresh, now moderately falling, to the structure far below, projecting out on the North side. A fairly new one, built to accommodate the Wall's most famous and recent tenant…Its roof now slowly opening.
"Here he comes! Get ready!" Sam called. "Remember, there'll be a bit of a jerk at first!"
"Aye, sir! Thanks, sir!" Kendrick nodded. Fixing hands on the harness ropes which fell far below to the structure from which something was now emerging and rising…Rapidly in spite of the cold and wind and snow…To their level.
"You sure you know how to use the camera device?!" Samwell, anxiously pointing to the camera, a reverse- Maestered bit of Dirter technology allowed to the Watch for its surveillance work and now being put to especially good use.
"Yes, sir…I have one at home! This is just a bit more complicated with the special lens! But I just set it, point, and click!"
"Right! Good! Good luck! Don't stay up too long, I know it can be grand but you don't want to be spotted!" he shouted, struggling to be heard.
"Yes, sir! But, sir!" Kendrick began… "What should I do about….?"
"Yes?! Oh…" Sam blinked as Kendrick was lifted suddenly off the Wall, Drogon soaring by in a rush…
"…my fear of heights?!" Kendrick finished as he found himself aloft, trying not to stare down.
Wonder what he was trying to say just then? Sam pondered, staring up.
Well, can't worry about it now…
Drogon's in fine fettle anyway…What a great take-off, especially in this weather.
…
Bravvos…The Governmental Palace of the Queen and Sea President…
"Madam President." Varys bowed to Danerys, seated at a rather ornate desk, who struggled to repress her usual involuntary shudder and offer a gracious smile and hand which he bent to kiss, making the kiss as hasty as etiquette allowed, clearly aware of her discomfort.
Never comfortable with that man, especially alone, she sighed. Still, he is a more than capable minister prime…His ideas are usually clever or even brilliant…His intelligence the best we can hope to obtain…
Yet…Gods…
Even if he has been the truest if most secretive supporter of our House for decades…
Something about him always makes my flesh crawl.
Well, at least I don't entirely play by appearance…My half-brother earns the same response from me, handsome and charming as he can be. Whereas I am very fond of little Tyrion Lannister, scars, dwarfism, and all.
"It's good of you to see me…I promise not to take up too much of your precious time." Varys rose, smiling, arms folded in robes.
"Hardly precious, Minister Prime…" she sighed, with winning wan smile. "I don't exactly have a host of pressing duties."
"It is our task as your ministers…And the Senate's task as your legislature…To ease your burdens, your Grace." He noted smoothly.
"My burdens are few and far between these days, Minister." She smiled. "But I suppose that only means you and my Senate are doing your jobs only too well."
"I am pleased to hear you say so, your Grace."
"Well? You wished a few moments' conference?" she eyed him. "Is it about the meeting of the Senate? Lord Harvon's opposition to the new treaty?"
"In part, your Grace…" nod, gracious bow. "But I suspect we have as yet little to concern ourselves with regards the opposition…Words, mainly."
"Words can be dangerous, Minister." Danerys, carefully. Glancing past him out the huge windows behind him, set in carved wood and stone frame, to the sea beyond. "Just words kept my House's dreams of a return alive until, with your help, my brother King Aegon and I resumed our rightful places."
If perhaps not the one I had expected…
"Indeed, your Grace…" nod. "But, words utterly without foundation, to give men the pleasure of seeming courageous…"
"I'd not be able to see Harvon as 'courageous'…Though I know he has fought in the Wars." Wan smile. "He's of too practical a turn of mind."
"So he is…And I feel, for the sake of reliving you of any concerns, that I should inform you…He is practical enough to be a voice for us in the Senate."
"He's one of yours?" she eyed him. "I thought for a time he was, but this recent opposition…"
"To learn what those truly opposed are doing or simply thinking, it is necessary to run with them…" Varys smiled thinly.
"Another lesson…" she eyed him. "I do learn so very much from you, Lord Varys."
"Not so much that your own gracious nature should ever be compromised, my Queen and President…" he bowed low. "But that you should be knowledgeable about any potential threat…"
"To me…Or Aegon?" she eyed him.
"A threat to King Aegon is a threat to your House and thereby, to you, gracious lady." Smile.
"Indeed…" calm tone, full-eyed stare. "And a threat to the Terrans…?"
"They are well able to deal with any such to themselves. We…Your other Ministers and I…Concern ourselves with threats to your House and to the Republic of Bravvos of course."
"I'm glad that you consider your adopted country equally worthy of your care…" she noted quietly.
"I was a slave once myself, my Queen… An land of freed slaves, grown to greatness, must win my admiration and devotion."
"And yet you back our House…"
"For the good of the realm…Once just Westeros, now the world."
"Is it?" she eyed him. "The good?...Just what good have Aegon and I and our mighty allies brought the world, Minister Prime?"
"Peace, your Grace. New wonders…Stability." Calmly.
Peace, indeed, my child. You are not untouchable, now, he thought, inwardly anxious.
"There are many who would add other words to your list…" she sighed.
"Perhaps…But such may only see their own corner of the picture, not the whole." Faint smile.
"Why House Targaryen, Minister Varys?" she looked at his solemn face. "What joy has our House ever brought that you should so devote yourself?"
"Your House brought peace and prosperity for centuries my Queen. And an end to the conflicts of the petty kings…For common folk, like myself, that is a very fine reason to support your House."
"We've betrayed the world and its people, Minister Prime. Even if I didn't agree to welcome the Terran Occ…"
"Madam President…" Varys, quickly. "You blame yourself too much for things you cannot control." Stern look. "You and we, your ministers, are bending every effort to improve the lot of the common folk. You must not be too impatient with yourself or the nature of things." Glance about the room…
So…I am watched…Even here…Danerys thought. Noting silently Varys' quiet look of respect as he realized…
Nice to know the Mother of Dragons still commands some respect from these gods-like conquerors, even if they surely do possess the power to destroy my children…As even the last of the Baratheron did, on that woeful day… Woeful, not only in the loss of my child, but in what I learnt of my stepbrother and what dark bargains he was willing to accept to have his crown. But dark bargains I acquiesced in and benefitted from, to my eternal shame, whatever I, like my chief minister, claim were my motives.
Not to mention, a little from her Minister Prime…
"As you say, Minister Prime." She graciously nodded. Rising from her desk and slipping quietly pass his rapidly moved form to stare out the vast window again…But not at the sea, this time.
"Is there word of Ser Jorah?" she asked not looking back at Varys.
"He sells in the markets, as a merchant of cloth, as I last told you. Not too bad at it, my little birds tell me." He paused.
"If you did wish…"
"No." she turned back to face him, hastily. "I've no wish to see Ser Jorah. I'm simply curious and pleased to hear he is well."
"Of course, your Grace." He nodded. "Naturally we maintain surveillance on him for the good of the Republic as well, given his past."
"He's not to be harmed, ever, without my sanction." She noted quickly, with sharp tone.
"We have no such intent…Kahlessi. Even if we feared him, I and my little birds are bound by the Republic's laws." Varys noted, smoothly.
Indeed not…He thought.
"We merely watch and observe…He is neither accused of crime nor dismissed as irrelevant. It is only common sense to do so." calm tone.
"More lessons?" Wan smile… "None have called me that in some time…Kahlessi."
"You will always be that as well…" genuine smile.
Meaning I've betrayed my Khago's Dothraki, as well as all who follow me here, she thought. All for House and this diadem of pearls on my shamed head. Even the despicable Cersei died with honor, while I live on…Telling myself I do so for the good of all, to save lives…
Oh, Jorah…How ashamed of me you must be…She closed her eyes a moment. How could I ever bear to face you in these stolen robes, with this false crown? The pretty face of the puppet of the Dirters…
Even the lowest brothel wench gives only her body…I have given my soul…
"Minister Varys. I thank for your information and your efforts to protect the Republic. When you can, in the proper ways, inform Harvon I appreciate his 'service'." Faint smile.
"It's sincere enough but he remains a practical man…" returned smile.
And I…A 'practical' woman…She stared at his face.
Do you despise me as well? Even you…? She thought.