"What are your orders?" Dacey Mormont asked. Jon Stark, Jorah Mormont, Smalljon Umber and Ser Barristan stood with her looking at the stoic and silent Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. King Robb Stark looked up, his blue gaze burning with determination as he made his plans instantaneously.
"I must speak with Queen Daenerys at once. These men cannot know that I am here, or we will face certain war. Jon, Dacey, Smalljon. It is an impossible feat I ask of you now, but go. Hide my sigil; hide our presence as best as you can from these envoys. Ser Jorah, you must bring these men to the Great Pyramid and stall them whilst I speak with the Queen." Robb's commanders did not linger to bow their heads, they all knew time was off the essence. Jon, Smalljon and Dacey hurried away in three different directions, watched by Robb, Ser Barristan and Ser Jorah.
"What's going on here, Stark? What troubles you so? Aegon Targaryen is dead, is he not?" Ser Jorah asked in a confused tone as Robb turned his gaze back over the walls to the six thousand sellswords.
"He is. Dashed against a wall by the Mountain. But that boy out there was raised to believe otherwise. Queen Daenerys must know what I know at once." Robb said, walking down the wall walk with Ser Barristan by his side. He could see his men slowly start to lower his standards and disperse quickly from sight into whatever shelter they could seek, most flooded back towards the docks. He hoped that they had enough time.
"King Robb?" Daenerys rose from her seat in her private quarters in the Great Pyramid, where she had invited Bran, Tyrion Lannister, Jojen and Meera Reed to join her and Missandei. Ser Raynald Westerling, knight of the Kingsguard, stood dutifully behind the Lord of Winterfell, whilst a dozen Unsullied were gathered to protect the Queen. "What has happened?" Daenerys continued as Robb marched into the chambers hurriedly with Ser Barristan at his back. Both men were out of breath, having clearly hurried to the Great Pyramid with all haste from the walls of the city.
"Are they attacking?" Tyrion asked, only for Robb to shake his head.
"Not yet. But they might if they know that anyone from Westeros is here. Especially me." Robb sighed, before turning his gaze to Daenerys once more.
"Does the term Red Council mean anything to you?"
"No? At least…I don't think so…" Daenerys replied, her brow furrowing for a moment.
"Think back to your childhood. To Ser Willem Darry, did he ever mention those words. Did he ever speak of Olenna Tyrell, Doran Martell, Varys, Jon Connington and Illyrio Mopatis?"
"I-…Maybe…but Illyrio, I first met him when I was thirteen. Ser Willem had died long before that." Daenerys approached Robb as he frowned and sighed again.
"When I came into the Iron Throne, I discovered something most sinister had been going on in the shadow of the throne for over twenty-years. Long before you and I were born, and even before the Rebellion. It was not my wish to explain this you in this situation, but if you do not know what I know…then I have sailed my men into a slaughter." Robb said, clenching his jaw as he finished. Daenerys looked utterly taken aback for a moment before her features hardened and she took on the mask of the Dragon Queen herself.
"You promised me aid when we had no knowledge of who was marching on my city. I believe you are a good man, Robb Stark. So tell me what you know, and I will listen fairly."
"Your father was beginning to lose his mind years before the Rebellion. Ser Barristan, I believe, can attest to this. He saved the man from the Defiance of Duskendale after all."
"You did?" Daenerys breathed, looking to the old knight behind Robb Stark who nodded sadly.
"I did, Queen Daenerys. It was my greatest achievement, and perhaps simultaneously my biggest failure. What came after was only horror and destruction." Ser Barristan said woefully, averting his gaze as he did so.
"Ser Barristan, it seems, was not the only person in Westeros to feel that way. Your brother did as well."
"Rhaegar?" Dany asked in surprise.
"Aye. It seems that your brother had been gathering supporters to lay his claim to the Iron Throne. They wanted to install Rhaegar as King peacefully, as Aerys was no longer fit to rule. But those plans went to tatters when your brother took my aunt. They tried to protect those of you they could, they smuggled you and Viserys away, and they tried to get to your brother's children, but the Mountain got there first…" Robb trailed off, shaking his head slightly at the horror that had befallen the real children of Rhaegar Targaryen. "They had planned to replace Aegon with the son of a tanner that they had bought for a jug of Arbor Gold, the tanner had other sons but had never tasted Arbor Gold, I am told." Robb sighed, rolling his eyes slightly. Daenerys remained silent, waiting for Robb to continue.
"After the Rebellion, many powers still supported you and they formed in the shadows to fight for the red dragon. They called themselves the Red Council. Olenna Tyrell, Doran Martell, Lord Varys, Illyrio Mopatis, Jon Connington and Ser Willem Darry." Robb glanced to see that Daenerys's violet gaze flickered with recognition of he names she heard. "This…council took it upon themselves to craft the perfect Targaryen dynasty to return and take back the Iron Throne from Robert Baratheon. You were sent with Willem Darry to be protected and hidden, raised to be a Queen. Viserys was promised to Arianne Martell to seal an agreement that Dorne would rise for the Targaryens. But when Ser Willem died, they lost track of you both for some time until Viserys made a name for himself."
"The Beggar King. I remember. I wouldn't call it much of a name." Daenerys said with a tone of distaste.
"Well, whatever the case was, Illyrio waited for Viserys to come to him. You however were not the only pieces being used by this council. Jon Connington stole away with the tanner's son. The boy's mother had been a Lysene whore, blonde hair and eyes so blue they looked purple apparently. The boy too had her features, and the council plotted to use him as yet another piece in their game. They have raised this boy to believe that he is Aegon Targaryen, son of Rhaegar." Robb declared, causing Daenerys to raise her eyebrows, before Robb continued.
"Until I won the war, and the council splintered, that is. Most of them saw that I was what was good for Westeros, some didn't. At my orders, those who came to my side when I took the throne ceased all their activities behind the shadows to manipulate the Crown. Jon Connington led the dissent, and he fights for a boy that has not a drop of your blood in his veins, or blood of any nobleman to name. And that boy who falsely calls himself your nephew is outside your walls with six-thousand sellswords."
"What?" Daenerys asked sharply, before pressing a few fingers to her temple as a headache suddenly set in. So much was beginning to happen in such a short amount of time, and Dany still marveled that she had once been a wandering, homeless exile in the Red Waste. She blinked a few times, before looking up to see Robb Stark gazing at her with a clenched jaw, waiting for her verdict on his story.
"I know it is not an easy story to believe, Queen Daenerys. But it is one you should know, for the Golden Company have sent three envoys ahead on behalf of this false prince. They await you below. I have ordered my troops to retreat to our ships, in fear that my banners would incite war. I do not want bloodshed, I've made that plain." Daenerys observed the Young Wolf for a long moment, before she silently picked up her skirts to walk past him and out of the chambers. She stopped just at the archway entrance, turning to look over her shoulder at him.
"Well? Will you join me?"
Queen Daenerys Targaryen sat upon her ebony throne with Missandei by her side and six Unsullied soldiers around her for protection. Several more Unsullied were stationed around her audience hall as silent sentries. They could have been statues for their inhuman like stillness. King Robb Stark hovered in the shadows at the back of the hall with Ser Barristan by his side. He had elected to remain unseen by the envoys until Daenerys thought the time was appropriate. It was most certainly a risk, for Daenerys could choose to believe 'Aegon's' envoys and offer up Robb's corpse as a token of alliance. Or she could choose to believe Robb and side with him. The Young Wolf hoped that he had given the Dragon Queen enough cause for her to do the latter.
Ser Jorah led the three envoys into the audience hall, and judging by their attitudes, none of them had yet seen the sigil of House Stark. The envoys themselves were garbed in riding silks and leathers that Robb could see were stained with both dirt and blood. As they removed the silks, he could see that the armors they wore were freshly scratched and worn.
"They've been in battle." Ser Barristan whispered quietly beside Robb. "Recently." Robb merely nodded at his Lord Commander's observation, choosing to keep silent as the envoys kneeled before Daenerys. Jon Stark and Daario Naharis crept into the audience hall to linger unseen with Robb at the back. Ser Jorah climbed the many steps to stand beside Daenerys's throne as her guard, placing a hand on the hilt of his sword as he did so.
"You stand before Queen Daenerys of the House Targaryen, First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Breaker of Chains and the Mother of Dragons." Missandei, ever dutiful, announced to the envoys in the same manner as she had announced to Robb a few days ago. The middle of the three envoys, a big-bellied, shambling hulk of a man with a seamed face crisscrossed with old scars, rose from his kneel to step forward and speak.
"Queen Daenerys. I am Ser Franklyn Flowers, a Captain in the Golden Company. A free company formed by Ser Aegor Rivers, the bastard son of your own ancestor King Aegon the Fourth."
"Formed to fight for House Blackfyre and depose House Targaryen." Ser Jorah pointed out, earning a glimmer of appreciation from Robb and Jon Stark in that moment.
"Aye, in days of old the golden skulls flew in the wind against the red dragon. But the Blackfyres are gone, and the company's purpose remains true; black or red, a dragon is still a dragon. We fight for House Targaryen, and to prove our loyalties to you, I have been sent with a token of fealty." Franklyn gruffly turned to his fellow envoys, who had heavy bags draped around their shoulders. Bags that Daenerys could now see were stained with dried blood. Her stomach turned slightly whilst her features remained impassive.
"At the behest of our dragonlord, we marched for you down the demon road, knowing that we would face certain death. We marched anyway with speed and determination, for we knew that Yunkai had dispatched three companies in their service to besiege Meereen. We first found the Company of the Cat not ten leagues out from Volantis, lingering as they raided villages for plunder. We defeated them soundly in the name of House Targaryen. Next we found the Brave Companions near Mantarys, a city of monsters fit for the Bloody Mummers, and now serves as their eternal resting spot. Last, we found the Windblown, and through our forces, persuaded them to abandoned Yunkai and fight for you. They remain on the demon road to fight off any possible attack from the west. The Golden Company has lost over two thousand lives to reach you, my Queen. But every man laid down his life willingly for this cause. Our tokens of loyalty are the heads of the commanders of the companies sent to attack you." Frankly gestured to his companions who placed the heavy sacks they carried on the ground before the steps leading up to Daenerys's throne. Daenerys clenched her jaw, feeling a storm of conflicting emotions. On one hand, this company had in fact defeated thousands of swords marching for her. On the other, they could be harboring an imposter. She moved her violet gaze from the bloody sacks to Ser Franklyn Flowers.
"You say you did all of this at the behest of your dragonlord. I do not remember giving you these orders, Ser Franklyn." Daenerys challenged, earning a smile from Robb and Jon at the back of the hall. Ser Franklyn shifted uncomfortably where he stood, exchanging a glance with his companions as he did so.
"It is-…um. It is-…I should not have said-…I apologize, Your Grace. I was ordered to be more concise about what I said, but I failed. Our dragonlord is a Targaryen, your blood, your nephew. Our dragonlord is Prince Aegon of the House Targaryen, son of Rhaegar and Elia Martell." Ser Franklyn declared, clearly expecting a reaction out of Dany, and looking most put-out when the Queen continued to stare at him for a while.
"My nephew, along with the rest of my family, are very much dead, Ser Franklyn. Aegon had his head dashed against a wall by the Lannisters, whilst his sister was stabbed half-a-hundred times."
"It grieves me to say that Princess Rhaenys did perish that day, but Prince Aegon was smuggled out of the capital on your father's orders by his most trusted friend; Lord Jon Connington. Your Grace, the Prince Aegon and Lord Jon both beg audience with you, for the Prince wishes to reunite with his last surviving family member to reclaim what is yours, and to reclaim what the Golden Company have been fighting for since their inception."
"And what is that, Ser?"
"Westeros, my Queen. Westeros." Ser Franklyn said determinedly, appealing to a side of Daenerys that still yearned for the Iron Throne. She chewed her lip for a moment, looking over Franklyn Flowers's head to exchange a glance with Robb Stark. The way he looked at her, with anxious trust, reminded her of only a few hours ago when he had agreed to help her from an unknown threat without a second thought. He had not lied to her since he first made contact, she had no reason to doubt him now. She had no reason to turn on him, besides a relatively unfounded desire to reclaim the Iron Throne. She gave him a small smile of reassurance before flicking her purple eyes back to Franklyn Flowers.
"I will meet your Lord Connington and this boy you claim is my nephew. But I will only allow them through my walls. The Golden Company may remain encamped beyond."
"That is fair, Your Grace." Franklyn smiled, bowing his head.
"She will see you, but only you and the lad." Franklyn Flowers said, slightly breathless as he walked into the Captain-General's tent where Jon Connington, Homeless Harry Strickland, 'Aegon Targaryen', Septa Lemore and Haldon Halfmaester were gathered and waiting. Jon Connington and 'Aegon' rose at once, both grinning.
"How did she like our gifts?" 'Aegon' asked eagerly, causing Haldon and Lemore to exchange one of their unseen glances behind everyone's back. Franklyn Flowers shrugged and shook his head.
"She didn't. I was only in her audience for a short while, but I can tell ye' now. The rumors of her being a bloodthirsty monster are not true. She seems wise, shrewd. The tales of her beauty are entirely true however." Franklyn reported, causing 'Aegon' to smile somewhat perversely.
"Good. She will make a fine consort." 'Aegon' said in that snotty of way of his that Jon Connington was entirely oblivious to. Harry Strickland and Franklyn Flowers however exchanged a meaningful look, for the Captain-General had understood Franklyn's words plain enough; Daenerys was no man's consort. She was a Queen in her own right. "She also wants our Captain-General to come along as well. She will allow you some guards, but she wants the men to remain out here." Franklyn said, looking back to Jon Connington, whose smile abruptly wiped away at this revelation.
"Why would she want to see Strickland?" Franklyn merely shrugged at Connington's question.
"I believe she said something about wanting to understand the army that is camped outside her walls. A fair request from her place, I'd say."
"Very well. Harry saddle up. We ride into the city." Jon Connington said brusquely, before striding out of the tent with one arm around 'Aegon'. A move he would later regret, for he left their highest counsel alone in the tent to speak freely for the first time.
"The boy's a fool." Harry Strickland said first, causing all eyes to whip towards him.
"He's no Targaryen, believe me. Once you see what a real Targaryen looks like, that boy looks more and more like a tanner's son." Franklyn agreed. Haldon and Lemore looked at each other for a long moment.
"The stories are true." Haldon said finally, Harry Strickland and Franklyn Flowers whipped their heads up sharply.
"Connington lies with every-!"
"Ssh!" Lemore stepped forward to place her hand over Strickland's mouth, silencing him quickly.
"Do you want war to break out in your camp, Strickland? Gods be good…" Lemore said quietly, before stepping away from him. Franklyn Flowers however looked furious.
"We lost two thousand fucking men, friends, to that little shit's orders. And you tell us now that he's an impostor? You've been with our camp for weeks. And now you speak?" Franklyn stepped closer and closer to Haldon until he had the Halfmaester's linen robes clenched in his fists.
"We have never had chance to speak as candidly as we do now. Connington goes to make the boy look princely, a hopeless task if I've ever known one. I taught the boy since he was a babe, and he is not worthy of being king. Strickland, the Golden Company fought for House Targaryen. For her." Haldon pointed towards the general direction of the city where Daenerys was waiting, not even bothering to try and pry himself away from the raging Franklyn Flowers.
"Let him go, Frank." Harry ordered with a growl after a moment.
"Two-thousand boys, Harry. Two thousand of our boys lost to a lie!"
"Not a lie. Go to her, go to her side. Prove your loyalty." Haldon said urgently, placing his hands atop Franklyn's large, scarred fists.
"You must play the game. Play their ally until you can tell Queen Daenerys the truth." Lemore urged to Harry Strickland.
"After all these years by his side, why are you two so eager to turn cloak?" Harry demanded after a moment, glaring at both of them.
"We thought we were aiding House Targaryen." Lemore said.
"We were wrong." Haldon said, managing to finally get himself out of Franklyn's grip. "But it's not too late to fix our mistake. The true dragon, the Mother of Dragons is beyond those walls, and we can finally all do what we promised to do."
"And what's that, you shit?" Franklyn barked at Haldon who took a deep breath before looking at Franklyn.
"Serve. House. Targaryen." Franklyn exhaled through flared nostrils, gritting his teeth as he wished to punch the Halfmaester right there and then run a sword through Connington's back after, but he couldn't deny that the man had a point. It wasn't his call though, so he stepped back to look at Harry Strickland. The portly and balding Captain-General did not like betrayal, but he knew that he promised his men that they served the dragon. He had to make good on that promise.
"Very well. Flowers, you'll ride with me. Bring Black Balaq, Tristan Rivers and Lysono Maar. Tell them, but make sure they know to go along with our game until the time is right."
"You'd better be right about this, Harry." Franklyn muttered in a low growl as he shouldered Haldon aside to leave the tent.
"We should go before Connington realizes he has left us alone." Lemore said to Haldon, who rubbed his chest painfully and nodded.
"Be wary, Captain-General. Connington is still dangerous, and the boy fights as well as any knight." Haldon wheezed, before leaving the tent with Lemore.
Daenerys wrung her wrists as she stood on the platform of her throne, watched by Robb Stark and Jon Stark. Ser Jorah, Grey-Worm and Daario Naharis stood around the platform as her guard, eyeing her protectively.
"I've gone from being the last Targaryen to having two nephews." She said finally, turning to face Robb and Jon.
"I know saying that our claim is true and theirs is not does nothing, but it is the truth." Robb said, causing Dany to sigh.
"You are biased, of course. And there is no real way to prove either of you are Targaryens, but I suppose after all this time it doesn't really matter. Not after what happened to Viserys. What was that old saying? The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb." Daenerys said, looking up to one of the slit windows that poured golden light into the audience hall. "I shall have to see which of you I can form a stronger covenant with, I suppose. I hope you do not fault me in at least speaking to this boy. I must know for myself."
"Of course not. But I hope you don't fault Jon and I for electing to remain in audience."
"No. But I believe as before, it will be most wise for you to remain unseen."
"Agreed. And you remember what I said of the Golden Company?"
"I do." Dany confirmed with a nod and a smile.
"Excellent." Robb said, nodding once before turning on his heel with Jon to walk down the steps of the throne platform, just as Missandei opened the grand double doors of the audience hall.
"Your Grace, shall I bring them in?" Missandei asked, her gentle voice carrying across the hall. Dany waited until the Starks were standing at the very back of the hall, unseen by anyone who walked in, before nodding. She swallowed away a thickness in her throat as she took her seat upon the ebony throne, looking as elegant as ever as she waited.
Ser Franklyn Flowers returned with a Summer Islander with white hair, a Lyseni man so slender that she almost mistook him for a woman, a strapping man with long red hair and red stubble on his grizzled face acting as guards for the three men behind them. The first was a portly, balding man who wore many gold rings on his arm like Franklyn Flowers and his fellow guards. The second was a lithe, lanky youth who was admittedly very handsome, even despite the gaudy shock of blue hair that he sported. The third and last man was older and weathered with a similar shade of blue hair that did not suit him at all.
There was a strong moment of tension as they caught sight of each other for the first time, only thickened by the silence of the audience hall as the men filed before the steps leading up to Dany's throne. Missandei walked up several steps to stop and clasp her hands in front of her.
"Queen Daenerys, I bring before you Captain-General Harry Strickland of the Golden Company."
"Your Grace, I live to serve the dragon." Harry said reverently as he took a kneel before her. Dany smiled and nodded her head to him.
"Lord Jon Connington of Griffin's Roost." Missandei said, with Connington stepping forward to incline his head to her.
"Your Grace, I served your father and your brother. I serve them still, and will do so until my dying breath. If it please, I would be the one to introduce this young man beside me. Queen Daenerys, it is my honor to introduce you to your nephew; Aegon of the House Targaryen, son of Prince Rhaegar and Princess Elia, Rightful Heir to the Iron Throne."
"It seems every one has a claim to the Iron Throne." Dany said wryly, earning a silent chuckle from Jon Stark at the back of the hall.
"Aunt Daenerys, I have long wished to meet you and join together to reclaim what is ours. I am your nephew, by all the graces of the Gods. I was smuggled by forces loyal to my father away from the Red Keep before the Lannisters could take me. I was sent with father's most loyal friend across the Narrow Sea. Lord Jon protected me, raised me and guided me here to seek you out, so that we may claim what is ours. So that House Targaryen can return to Westeros. We can rule together as King and Queen as our ancestors have done for three-hundred-years." 'Aegon' stepped forward, not showing Dany the respect of a Queen, and instead climbed up the steps to walk past Missandei. He did not think himself so lowly as to look up at his aunt. Dany bristled silently at this disrespect and said nothing as her protectors stepped forward to stop Aegon from taking the final step to stand on the platform of the throne. Aegon glared at Jorah, Daario and Grey-Worm before looking between them to Dany.
"Will you tell these men to move so that I may speak to you?"
"No. You may return to stand by your companions and speak to me, 'nephew'." Dany said pointedly, her smile razor sharp. 'Aegon' blistered slightly, clenching his fists by his side.
"I am a Targaryen, I believe we should be on equal level when we speak to one-another."
"You say you are a Targaryen. But saying that you are one does not make it so. My brother Viserys saying he was King of the Seven Kingdoms did not make that so. But you come to me with no proof, show me no respect and expect me to…what? Marry you? Serve as your Queen and give you my dragons and my army?" Dany asked, slightly angrily. Jon Connington could see that this situation was not going his way and so stepped forward to call to his ward.
"Come back down, lad. Don't be so rash, the Queen is right to question you." Jon said to the arrogant young man who stomped back down to stand by Jon and look up at Dany.
"This is quite a tale. Spirited away in the dark of the night, hidden for generations. I was much the same, but everyone knew I was a Targaryen. My nephew was killed, are you telling me that you rose from the dead?"
"No, Your Grace. I and my fellow allies loyal to your House had long made plans to get you, Viserys and Aegon away from the Crownlands as the Rebellions raged."
"And what of Rhaenys? Was my niece not important?" Dany asked, poking a hole in Jon Connington's rehearsed story.
"Rhaenys-…she-uh-…she-…was. Rhaenys was not accounted for. We never thought they'd harm an innocent girl. We were wrong. You were important because you were the King's own daughter, and your life was considered more at risk than hers. We thought there was still enough love for Rhaegar to spare her and Princess Elia. We were wrong." Jon Connington said, recovering fairly quickly to settle into a new lie. Dany took a deep breath through her nose, waiting for the rest of the story.
"We found a tanner in Pisswater Bend, he'd just had a son and we knew we needed to leave a babe in Aegon's presence. The tanner willingly gave his son for a jug of Arbor Gold, and the switch was made. I sailed before the Lannisters could attack with Aegon in my arms and a Household to protect and raise him in your brother's name. This boy is your nephew, Your Grace. Rhaegar's son." Jon Connington said the words so sincerely that Daenerys raised her eyebrow. The man believed his words so much, perhaps there could be a truth to them…? Dany flicked her gaze back to 'Aegon'.
"What is it you want from me?"
"To join us. Together Westeros cannot stand before us. We will conquer it together just as our ancestors did, with fire and blood. The people will rue the day that they forgot our names." The boy said viciously as he stepped forward once more to address her.
"Over my dead fucking body, you'll do that." Robb muttered quietly at the back of the hall, unheard by 'Aegon' and his companions.
"You would have the people suffer more after what happened?" Dany asked after a long moment of silence.
"Those who forgot where their loyalties should lie should suffer, yes." 'Aegon' said confidently up to her.
"My father burned people alive and saw Westeros to the brink of destruction. Before him Aegon the Unworthy brought countless generations of strife with his insatiable loins and many bastards. Maegor the Cruel executed all the builders of the Red Keep as well as torturing his own nephew to death. The Dance of Dragons saw my House rip each other apart for power. Perhaps once in a while a good Targaryen ruler came along, and now I am here, ruling Meereen."
"You are on the brink of war yourself. We helped you by killing those companies who were on their way here to kill you." 'Aegon' said, snotty as ever.
"Perhaps I am, but I've made a home for myself here in Essos. And if I were to return to Westeros it will not be with fire and blood. It will be in alliance with my friends, the Starks of Winterfell. King Robb?" Dany looked over 'Aegon's' head as Robb and Jon walked out of the shadows, watched by the flabbergasted Jon Connington, 'Aegon' and men of the Golden Company.
"Join me." Dany said to the Stark men, who waited respectfully at the bottom of the steps before climbing to stand in places of honor on either side of her.
"You see, 'Aegon', the Starks arrived only a few days before yourself. I have learned that Robb Stark rules Westeros, I have learned he rules it well. I learned that Westeros is on the brink of death from a power that is more significant than any you could comprehend. I may be a Targaryen, but fire and blood is not what I intend to bring to Westeros when it needs aid."
"The Starks killed your family!" Harry Strickland said aghast. Dany shook her head.
"No. My father killed Rickard and Brandon Stark. He brought about the Rebellion that led to his death and the end of my dynasty. Ned Stark," Dany glanced to Robb with a slight nod before continuing "Ned Stark rose to defend his people, his family and his life. Robert Baratheon killed my brother. Jaime Lannister killed my father. Tywin Lannister ordered Aegon and Rhaenys to die. I blame those men, not the Starks." Dany said, looking back to see that Jon Connington had gone white as a sheet.
"YOU ARE MAD! YOU WOULD HAND MY THRONE TO THIS USURPER WITH A SMILE!" 'Aegon' screamed, his pinched face turning red with fury as he took a step up.
"I heard another story, a variation of the beautiful tale you just spun, Lord Connington." Dany said sarcastically, her eyes narrowing dangerously as she spoke. "A tale of how a despondent lord who had failed my brother plotted to use a tanner's son as an impostor. When Aegon truly died, you had a spare baby, why not pretend the plan had succeeded? Why not craft your own King? That boy is a tanner's son. He is as much a Targaryen as the mud on my shoes." Dany said, causing 'Aegon' to flush angrily.
"HOW DARE YOU?! IT IS A LIE! I AM AEGON TARGARYEN, SIXTH OF HIS NAME. RIGHTFUL KING OF THE ANDAL-!"
"Oh shut up, you annoying little sot!" Franklyn Flowers barked over the boy's screaming.
"It is no lie. Queen Daenerys, may I speak?" Harry Strickland walked forward after throwing a vicious glare at Jon Connington. He roughly pulled 'Aegon' aside and pushed him back towards Jon Connington before turning to look up at Daenerys.
"What you said is true, for that tale has spread far and wide across the Known World. It would have been impossible to prove if Jon Connington did not have dissenters amongst his own party. There are two people who have raised this boy since he was a babe. A Septa and a Maester, both of whom admitted that the boy is no Targaryen. They admit that Connington is a liar. I only found this out this very day, and were it not for the fact I was coming before you, a real Targaryen, I would have had my men slaughter this boy and Jon Connington where they stood."
"And now, what will you and your men do, Captain-General? Do you serve this…this…Pisswater Prince? Or do you serve the dragon?" Daenerys asked fiercely, rising from her ebony throne to look every bit like the Queen she was. Homeless Harry Strickland looked to Franklyn Flowers, Black Balaq, Lysono Maar and Tristan Rivers who nodded their heads to him. Strickland withdrew his sword and knelt before the steps.
"The Golden Company is yours, Queen Daenerys!"
"TRAITORS!" 'Aegon' spat fiercely as Jon Connington placed a hand on the boy's chest. The exiled lord's mind had snapped in face of the enormous odds against them. Though no-one could see that Jon was now truly mad, for he kept a calm and collected façade. He merely licked his lips, as he clutched at one last desperate straw.
"The dragons will prove him!" Connington declared, with every eye turning to look at him at once.
"Take him to the dragons, and you will see that this boy is a Targaryen. And you will rue your words against the son of Rhaegar Targaryen, the Last Dragon."
Daenerys's eyes narrowed angrily as she looked from Jon Connington to 'Aegon'.
"Very well. If it is fire and blood you wish for, then fire and blood is what you shall receive." Dany said darkly, before beginning a descent down the steps.