OH HOW HAPPY I AM! about all your reviews and comments! Thank you guys so much. I feel like I have found a good pace to the story now, and don't worry, Jon Snow will appear very soon ;) ENJOY!

It had turned night, and Samaya was solemnly staring at the stone ceiling. Around her, steam rose from the bath she was soaking in. It had been a long and exciting day, and after their return, she had asked for this luxury. She liked the foreign scents perfuming the air in the spacious room. Myrrh and sage, but also something exotic, something sweet made her head feel blissfully dizzy.

If somebody would have told her a few weeks ago that she would be riding a dragon and meeting her half-sister, she would have laughed in their face. Now, it was her reality. Daenerys was small in stature, but there was a dominance around her that was evident from the first glance into those violet eyes. It was clear to Samaya why she had achieved so much. A knock on the door startled her. She looked at the direction of the sound and saw her half-sister enter. Slowly, she walked over to the edge of the stone tub.

"Forgive me, but I wanted to speak with you privately," the younger girl started, and Samaya gave her a reassuring smile. She would have tried to cover herself were it anybody else, but she knew she did not have to hide anything from Daenerys.

"Of course. What is on your mind?" she said and sat up straight.

"Tyrion told me your story, and I am still quite… puzzled by your existence," Daenerys started hesitantly.

"I understand. It must have come as a shock to you," Sam tried to encourage her.

"When I saw you riding my dragon… I thought my eyes were playing me tricks. They hardly take to anyone, I always thought I would be the only one riding them. But yet, there you were. I guess I instantly knew that we had to be related, and not only because of your hair colour," she said and looked Sam in the eyes.

"I had to hide my true hair colour all my life," Sam said, stroking through the short strands on her head. They had been cut a few weeks ago, but already, there were growing back fast. She had looked like a boy, but now, the ends were already kissing the top of her shoulders. "It feels liberating to not having to dye them anymore," she finished with a small smile.

"I had to run my whole life. Why is it such a burden to have Targaryen blood?" Daenerys answered in a sad tone. Sam positioned herself at the edge of the tub and took her hand.

"It is a burden to carry any famous name. But ours will be lifted soon. Look at what you have achieved! You've liberated cities and you've amassed an army. Soon, we can go back home, and you can take what's rightfully yours. I will support you every which way I can," she said in a strong voice, locking eyes with her half-sister. After a few moments, Daenerys sighed.

"Thank you, but I have to ask: why? What are you looking to achieve?" she asked. Sam swallowed and thought of what to reply. She was not quite sure herself. Why had she come clean after so many years? Her family would be in danger when word got to Westeros. Was it because she wanted revenge? Power? No, it had a different reason.

"I do not want to hide anymore. I have lived in a cage my whole life. There is this whole other side to me that I cannot show anybody, not even the siblings I grew up with. I have had enough of carrying this secret, even if it means that everybody will know that I am a bastard. My life is mine to live, I am done letting other people decide it for me," she answered, holding Daenerys' gaze. After a few moments, the other girl smiled and squeezed her hand.

"It seems we have more in common than only our blood. I have felt like this before, when Viserys was still alive," she explained. Sam waited a moment, reading her face, before she asked what she had dreaded.

"The madness… it was in him, wasn't it?" she enquired in a whisper. Daenerys nodded solemnly.

"He was my brother, but he never treated me right. And in the end, he followed neither sense, nor reason. My husband, Khal Drogo, did not take lightly to threats… and that was his undoing," she explained.

"I am sorry to hear that. It must have been hard for you," Samaya told her. Daenerys nodded and looked into the distance.

"It was for the best. Though sometimes I wonder if the same madness will take hold of me. If the power and strength will get to my head," she replied silently.

"I will do my very best to keep that from happening, sister. But you have to promise to do the same for me. I fear that there might have been glimpses of it in the past," Samaya told her with furrowed brows.

"Agreed. Promise me to always tell me the truth, and to keep no secrets from me, and I will do the same for you," she said and Samaya gave her a relieved smile.

"Always."

A few days later, Tyrion was sitting with Daenerys in the council room, twisting a small piece of parchment between his fingers. He had just told her the news, and neither of them knew what to say.

"They are all dead?" she asked again in a low voice.

"Her sister, her brother, mother and father. They had been present. Her grandmother and older brothers not, they have barricaded themselves in Highgarden, their home," Tyrion answered.

"And this was your sister's doing?" came the next question.

"I assume so. It seems she has lost her mind completely," he sighed. This was most grievous. He had seen Samaya react to the death of a loved one, and that was only a man she had known for a few moons. He could not imagine how it would be with such close family, and so many of them.

"How should this matter be handled? What are you proposing?" Daenerys said after a few moments, having composed herself a little bit.

"When her husband was murdered, Samaya killed the man who had done it and jumped off a cliff. The look on her face was… frightful. I do not know how she will react to this news. I fear the worst," he answered slowly.

"You think we should not tell her?" the Queen asked.

"I think it should not be us to tell her. Her reaction might be different if it came from someone closer… her grandmother, at best," Tyrion suggested.

"Do you think we can keep it from her until we get to Westeros?"

"I sincerely hope so," he answered and the two exchanged nervous looks. Just then, a knock sounded on the door. Greyworm opened it a moment later, panting heavily as he entered.

"My Queen… ships on the horizon. A whole fleet," he reported, holding his ribs where he had been stabbed.

Daenerys shot out of her chair and walked over to the balcony, followed by Tyrion. He had to stretch up on his toes to see far out to the sea, and he did not like the look of the black sails. When had black sails ever meant something good… After some time, however, he could make out the symbol painted on them. It was not the master's chained goddess they bore, but something quite familiar… and curious. It was the Kraken of House Greyjoy.

Samaya stood quietly in one of the side entrances to the audience chamber, observing the scene before her. The Greyjoys had come to ask for an alliance, and she did not know what to think of it. Sansa had mentioned Theon, Ned Stark's warden, a couple of times, but from what she could see, he was nothing like she described. His sister was strong and outspoken, he on the other hand, seemed shy and timid. She wondered what had happened to him.

After they left, there was a triumphant mood in the air. Sam stepped out from her hiding spot and walked up to the small group gathering around her half-sister.

"Can we trust them?" the Queen asked Tyrion silently.

"I would advise never to trust a Greyjoy, but given their current situation and ours, I'd say they are our best option. The Iron Fleet is feared all over Westeros, and they certainly have the capacities to take on all the Unsullied and Dothraki," he answered straight-forwardly. Daenerys mulled it over for a minute.

"Ser Jorah?" she looked at the knight now.

"Never trust anyone that worships a God that drowns its supporters… but I have to say that I agree with Tyrion. They are our best option," he stated in a gruff voice.

"Samaya, what do you think?" Daenerys turned to her now, surprising Sam by being included in the verdict.

"People only talk badly about their House, but they do the same about Targaryens… Everybody deserves a chance, and Asha seems very capable. I think we should give it a try. Worse comes to worse, your armies still outnumber them. I think they need us more than we do them," she finally said after some time. Daenerys smiled at her.

"I agree. We accept their deal, but always keep a close eye on them. Should even one of them fall out of line, I will withdraw all support. Tyrion, bring them the good news. Missandei and Greyworm, make sure everybody is ready to depart as soon as possible. Daario, a word in my chamber," she informed them and one by one, they filed out of the room.

Samaya walked through the pyramid, deep in thought. She hoped they were doing the right thing in trusting the Greyjoys. Without noticing, she arrived in the lush gardens at the bottom of the massive structure. The air never smelled fresh in this city, even though Meereen was by the sea. It reminded her of King's Landing in that sense. Casually, Samaya started strolling around when a loud roar, followed by an earth-shaking thud, disrupted her. She turned around to find the dragon she had ridden sitting in the grass, watching her intently.

She couldn't help but smile as she walked towards it. Daenerys had told her that his name was Rhaegal, after their brother. The Mother of Dragons had wondered why it was this one that seemed to like her the most, but then Sam had told her the story of when she was a babe and Rhaegar had come to Highgarden. They both understood then: he was named after a person that only Samaya had ever met. Somehow, he seemed to know that.

Rhaegal put his head on the ground when she neared, and she carefully stroked his snout. She loved the way the dragon felt, like fire made solid, and radiating from deep within. It made her feel safe, and whole.

"Now, I really am curious as to who you are," a voice startled them both and Rhaegal immediately flashed his teeth at the intruder. Sam had to poke around his massive head to see who had spoken. Asha Greyjoy stood a few feet away, her hands in the air in a manner of surrender.

"It's okay, she is a friend," Sam said soothingly and stroked the dragon's neck. Slowly, he eased his stance, but not after nudging her into the side in a protective way.

"Never thought I would see a live dragon, let alone almost piss myself in fear," the other woman commented dryly and Sam had to laugh. She came closer, stepping between the animal and the newcomer.

"First time I saw him I almost did. A few minutes later, I was riding on his back. That was something," she said and the woman grinned.

"Can't say I have any intention of doing that. But then, I probably have the wrong hair colour anyways," she said and they both grinned in silent recognition.

"I am Asha Greyjoy, but you probably know that already. I've seen you lurking in the corner during our audience with the Queen," the Islander said and regarded Sam with a watchful eye.

"Samaya, formerly of House Tyrell," she introduced herself and gave a short nod with her head.

"I have heard of you… the Maid of Highgarden. They say you killed the Mountain," Asha said with a dangerous spark in her eyes.

"That is true. But to be fair, he was already wounded at the time and did not fight back," Samaya confirmed.

"Still… that is a good kill. That man was a monster."

"Yes. Yes he was," Sam answered, her eyes turning dark at the memory. Asha sensed her sadness and anger, and changed the topic swiftly.

"Why did you say formerly of House Tyrell?" she inquired. Sam sighed deeply. She was dreading this conversation and the many times she would have to explain.

"My mother is married to Mace Tyrell, but my father was the Mad King. Therefore, I am a Targaryen bastard," she explained. Asha's eyebrows rose up to her hairline.

"Well that's interesting… Though I suppose good for us. Now there's not only one Targaryen trying to get back her birth right," she said cheerfully.

"Oh, but I have no birth right. I am only a bastard. I've come to support my half-sister in her claim to the throne, but I do not expect to get any of the glory or power for myself..." Samaya explained, but Asha interrupted her with laughter. Behind the two women, Rhaegal gave a low growl.

"You know, that's what we all like to tell ourselves. But in the end, only if your cock's been cut off and your spirit broken, is it safe to say that one doesn't want power," she said with a defiant tone in her voice.

"Is that what happened to your brother?" Sam heard herself ask. She had no intention of bringing up the subject, but Asha was talking to her so casually, she felt like she could be blunt.

"Aye… that and much more. I feel sorry for him, but at least now I can trust he does not want the Iron Throne for himself. How could he when he can't even speak up in a room full of people? When he can't have an heir?" she said quickly. Sam could tell that she was angry about her brother's state.

"Who did this to him?" she asked.

"A shit excuse for a man called Ramsay Bolton. But don't worry, he will pay. The Iron Price," Asha answered and both women smiled triumphantly.

"Oh, I do not doubt that."

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