AN: Surprise! I had a paper and exam and another exam and more work. Finally getting this chapter out.

Just a note. My Ellaria Sand is based off the one from the books not the show. Show Ellaria was just silly. Also the Dorne stuff is mostly based off the books.

Disclaimer: I dont own Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire

Warnings: Eh, not much

Enjoy!

People of the Past

Daenerys POV

Dragonstone was full of mixed emotions for her.

On one hand it was the seat of the Targaryen powerhouse that started the hundreds of years long dynasty that shaped Westeros forever. It was where Aegon, Visenya, and Rhaenys planned the conquest of Westeros. It had been the seat of Targaryen power, besides King's Landing, for hundreds of years. Lastly it was her birthplace. The place where she and her brother fled for Essos.

On the other hand Dragonstone meant little to her. Sure, it was where she was birthed, but she didn't remember that or the storm that took place. It was where her mother died birthing her. It was a bleak blackened rock fortress. It wasn't colorful like the cities in Essos or the estates in Pentos. To her it was just another castle.

She tried to take it in. The damp sand, the long winding staircase, the ornate dragon statues, and finally the table map of Westeros where her ancestors planned the taking of the country.

She turned away from the balcony for a moment, away from her thoughts.

"Call my allies." She told the bald man Varys. "We have strategies to discuss."

"Of course, My Queen." Varys said as he bowed.

One of her new advisors turned away from her and exited the map room. Lord Tyrion was walking around the table, observing the intricate mapping, a cup of wine in his hands. Daemon sat not too far from her his eyes straying out to the sea watching her armada approach Westeros. Missandei and Grey Worm chatted in a far corner, far closer than just friends, Daenerys just smiled at her old friends' infatuation towards the the Unsullied man.

She turned away from the room and back to the sea just like her brother. She thought about her two new advisors and the allies she brought with her.

First there was Varys. One of Daemon's old teachers when he was growing up in King's Landing. She remembered how Daemon told her about the bald man with enthusiasm. Even now, many years later, Daemon still trusted the man. She had her own reservations about the Spider. She remembered how the Usurper sent hired knives to kill her when she was young, no doubt the Spider was involved in that somehow.

She'd have to question him soon.

Tyrion Lannister was less of an enigma compared to her other new advisor. He was sarcastic, witty, and most of the time buzzed or drunk. She'd been working on lessening his wine intake, especially while in stressful situations. He was smart she had to admit. He was also someone she could look to when she sieged King's Landing and Casterly Rock. He knew the capitol quite well, Varys included, they would be a big help in making sure she took King's Landing swiftly.

The Greyjoy siblings were quite the pair. On one hand she had to deal with the fiery and outspoken Yara Greyjoy. She commanded most of Daenerys' fleet and was the heir to the Iron Islands. Theon Greyjoy was quieter and solem, bearing the scars of his grisly torture on his face and likely on the rest of his body. Both judged Daenerys with sharp dark eyes, only Yara willing to make her opinion known, while Theon seldomly spoke to those who weren't his sister. Both were smart, she knew that, but she was worried about the cunning Yara Greyjoy, not the quiet Theon Greyjoy.

Arianne Martell, Ellaria Sand, and the Sand Snakes were much welcome allies, bringing the majority of Dorne along with them. Doran would have joined her but with the current unrest in Dorne and his health Doran deemed it better if they kept the southern tip of Westeros stable for Daenerys. Doran sent the Sand Snakes to Daenerys to push away their disruptive nature from Dorne so he could settle Dorne. The Sand Snakes present, according to Dae, were different parts of Oberyn Martell's personality.

The oldest Snake was Obara, she was quick-tempered and strong, preferring a man's clothes as they were easier to fight in. The second oldest was Nymeria who was more beautiful than her eldest sister Obara but was just as dangerous, concealing a multitude of knives and other blades on her person. The third oldest and most beautiful of the present Sand Snakes was Tyene, she was soft spoken and well mannered, but was one to watch for as she was a master of poisons. The fifth oldest, as the fourth oldest Sarella was away, and final Sand Snake on Dragonstone was Elia Sand. She was brash and arrogant, she was found at the Dothraki stables as her love for horses outweighed her need to greet her new Queen.

Ellaria was of a much different mind than her fellow Dornish. Ellaria didn't want revenge for her paramour Oberyn's death. She was even against the war in general but she was here with the Sand Snakes anyway, maybe to try to keep them in check. Ellaria understood that the Lannister queen should be overthrown but needless violence was something she greatly opposed, she was probably a large reason why Myrcella Baratheon was still alive in Dorne. Unfortunately for her the Sand Snakes were of a very different mind than her own, wanting violent revenge against all golden haired Lannisters, they missed their chance with the Princess in Dorne, now they want a piece of Cersei. .

Arianne Martell silver-tongued and beautiful, one of the most beautiful people Daenerys had ever seen, she was also very very smart. She was a manipulator, a seductress, a power player. Arianne seemed very much in support of Daenerys but her focus was more on her own ambitions in Dorne than Daenerys' campaign. The only reason Daenerys could think of as to why Arianne was here was to somehow further her goals in Dorne.

Daenerys would have to keep an eye on her. She'd have to warn Dae as well.

Ellaria and the Sand Snakes, barring Elia, greeted Daemon with fierce hugs while Arianne just watched with Elia, a smirk planted on her beautiful face. They cited their shared family through Oberyn as well as their times together in Essos for the reason of their affections. She remembered some of the stories Dae told her that involved his run-ins with the Prince of Dorne and his daughters as well as his paramour.

On to the Tyrells who withdrew their forces from the Riverlands and the Crownlands back to The Reach after Cersei burned Margaery Tyrell in the Great Sept of Baelor. The Tyrells and Lannisters were officially at war furthuring the already growing cracks between the Kingdoms of Westeros.

Olenna Tyrell was especially supportive of her intentions for the Lannister queen. The older woman was a much needed breath of fresh air compared to some of her other advisors who ask her to use words and political savvy to gain the throne when she would much rather march right up to the damned iron chair. After her precious granddaughter went up in emerald flames the older woman had been especially thorny and bitter. Daenerys couldn't blame her.

Egg or whatever his real name was, maybe Griff, she'd even heard Aegon. It was clear from his features that he was of Valyrian descent. Daemon had skirted around the subject of Egg's origins quite a bit, saying that he was from an old line of Essosi Valyrians. It made sense but she couldn't get the old nagging voice out of the back of her mind saying that there was more to this boy that meets the eye.

But she trusted Daemon. Whether it came to Varys or Tyrion or Egg. Especially when it came to the Iron Throne.

Everytime she approached him with the subject of taking the Iron Throne he had been adamant that he wanted nothing to do with it. Dae believed that the Iron Throne corrupts whoever sits upon it, no matter how good or bad. How it corrupted their father, especially after his imprisonment at Duskendale, making him a monster hated and feared by all.

He told her that every moment he spent in the Red Keep and in the Throne Room felt like he was reliving his old life. Like he could see ghosts of his younger self running the halls with Rhaenys or stuck in the Throne Room while their father burned men and women alive. With the news that Cersei Lannister blew up the Great Sept with wildfire significantly darkened Daemon's thoughts on the newly crowned Lannister Queen.

Daenerys could understand her brothers unwillingness to sit upon the throne. He grew up in a small village in the Riverlands with a bastard knight. His worries were not about who was going to rule or any matters politically. In the Riverlands growing up Daemon was more worried about planning his hunts when the weather was calm or how much coin they would have at the end of each day or how can I help the village today. Where as Daenerys was told over and over by Viserys that she would be watching him ascend the Iron Throne and that ruling Westeros was the most important thing in the world.

Sometimes she wished Rhaegar or Viserys were still living so they could take the responsibility of the throne from her. The closer and closer she got to the Iron Throne the less and less she felt like she wanted it. She wished her mother was alive, wished the rest of her brothers were alive and slightly less mad. Maybe she would go mad herself when she ascended the Iron Throne.

It troubled her greatly.

"What's on your mind?"

She turned to the voice to see her brother still lounging in the chair but was observing her intently.

"Just wondering what I'll be like after this is all over." she mused to him.

"What happens when you sit the throne?"he asked.

She nodded. "What will I be like, changed, happier, what?" she wondered frustratedly.

"You mean whether or not you'll be mad?" he asked, the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice told her that he had been thinking about this himself.

"Yes" she nodded again. "I don't want to find myself changed or twisted. I just want to be me. The best queen I can be."

"I think you'll just have to find out." he said simply.

"What do you mean?" she asked looking at him questioningly.

"Well let me explain." he said as he shifted in his chair. "We all have our moments of madness. It depends on whether or not we let it take us over or we suppress our ancestry." Daemon told her. "Obviously Aerys the Second, father, was completely insane. The mutiny at Duskendale solidified his madness. From what I remember of mother she never had these moments of madness, she was pure through and through. Rhaegar wasn't mad like father, but his moment of madness came with his unadulterated obsession with the prophecy of Azor Ahai and that he was to be born of the Targaryen line of Aerys and Rhaella. We all know how that turned out. Viserys, from the few times I observed him and I'm sure you can attest, he was quite mad and unfiltered. Illyrio Mopatis didn't help his madness much." her brother paused for a moment. "I guess my moment of madness started in the Riverlands. How I felt such immense satisfaction in the deaths of those who I thought deserved it. Even later in Essos it became to a point where I could barely control myself, it's like I saw red and would kill anyone or anything in my path. Thank the gods I overcame that madness. Who know what I would have been like if I hadn't been stopped." he said all this with a grimace, it was a hard subject, especially when talking about yourself.

"And mine?" she asked. "What was my moment of madness?" she asked again, almost desperate to know the answer, she hated the pleading she heard in her own voice.

Dae just looked at her kindly. "That's something you'll have to discover on your own little sister."

She felt frustrated and relieved at the same time. She hadn't been terrible this far, surely she must be doing something right.

"What about mother?" she asked her brother. "You said she never had a moment of madness."

Daemon thought on it for a moment. "As long as I remember our mother was never angry or mad. Maybe there was a point when she was younger that she had that moment but I don't remember anything distinct from my childhood. She had to have overcome it." he said proudly.

"She was good then." she stated sadly, silently wishing she had memories of their mother, Daemon could obviously hear it in her voice with the sad look her gave her.

"Mother was sweet and kind. Strong in her own way, like you." he said. She smiled at that. "It was hard for her to have so many children running around Westeros. I know Aunt Elia made it easier for her while she had to deal with Aerys on the rare occasion." he grimaced but quickly wiped the look from his face. "She would have loved you." he said smiling at her, she couldn't help but smile back. "Would have been proud of what you have become and how strong you are."

She felt like she wanted to cry but no tears were shed. She was happy. She barely ever heard of her mother, sometimes from Viserys or Barristan, a little from Dae for the time he was in Pentos

"Thank you." she said happily. Imagining the strong but kind woman her mother was.

"Of course." Dae said back simply.

Daemon soon stood from his chair, preparing for the coming meeting, as her advisors started entering the room behind her.

She reluctantly pulled out of her fantasy and soon turned to the present.

Daemon POV

He breathed a heavy sigh of relief when the meeting finally adjourned. As good as it was to see Ellaria and her daughters again he had no desire to remain in the dusty castle while Dany questioned each one of her advisors to ensure their loyalty. Of course he didn't blame her but he had no inkling to watch her do it.

He knew Egg felt the same way by the way he was shifting on his feet while Daenerys' words cut through thin excuses and weak words.

The storm had mostly died down but it was still raining when he exited the castle. The feeling of the cold rain drops sliding across his face was a comfort compared to the heated interior of the castle. He had walked a ways down the winding stairs to a small outcropping in the path where he could look out on the sea and think.

She had watched his sisters' questioning of loyalty from Varys. He understood but it miffed him a little that she didn't trust him enough to trust Varys, he brushed it aside as it was nothing to worry about. He knew his sister trusted him and that sometimes she needed to make herself trust someone instead of following someone else's trust in someone.

He heard quiet steps approaching him from behind. He turned to see Varys, his arms folded over his chest as he stepped carefully down each slick step.

"Greetings, My Prince." Varys said as he finally joined Daemon on the outcropping.

Daemon nodded back. "Better out here isn't it." he stated.

Varys hummed his agreement. "Though I do not take pleasure in having my clothes dampened." Varys told him.

Daemon chuckled at that. "Don't forget the risk of breaking something when your walking down those stairs. I almost slipped once or twice." He saw Varys crack a small smile. "I hope you know Daenerys didn't mean anything by it."

"Of course not." Varys said amicably. "I understand to question the loyalty of myself and any others within her inner circle, it's only natural she would want to be sure herself."

"Good." Daemon said nodding. "What do you think of Arianne Martell?" he asked his bald mentor.

"She's more of a snake than Prince Oberyn's Sand Snakes." Varys told him lightly. "She's probably after something. She's quite good at making opportunities for herself."

"I agree. The way she speaks, how she looks at certain people, how she talks about herself. It's all very…" he paused for a moment thinking. "... doubtful."

Varys nodded his agreement. "She is something of a manipulator in Dorne, notable for going against her father's wishes, acting on her own terms and conditions." Varys said. "Dorne is her top priority as of now."

"The only reason she came to Dragonstone is to further her interests in Dorne." Daemon said

"Yes, Tyrion and I already surmised that her plan is to increase her support as the potential heir to Dorne." Varys told him. "Prince Doran is not getting healthier and Arianne is still young. Dornish customs are much different than the rest of Westeros. She has a good chance of leading Dorne if Doran were to pass soon." Varys explained.

"But ultimately what does that mean? When my sister takes the throne we'll have guaranteed support from the Reach, Dorne even if it is ruled by Arianne, and the Iron Islands. With my connection to Sansa and Talisa, as well as the long wars endured, the Riverlands, Vale, and The North are likely to seek a peaceful resolution with us rather than try to fight." he said to Varys. "Thus leaving a broken Stormlands and a weak Westerlands to oppose us."

"Barring the fact that we have no guarantee whether or not the North, the Riverlands, and the Vale will oppose us, I am inclined to agree." Varys said. "If Daenerys is to succeed in reclaiming her throne we are likely to retain Lady Arianne's loyalty. The people of Dorne are split with Doran being the stable leader, the Sand Snakes being their means of revenge, and Arianne being the young leader, a new one, someone the Dornish might find more appeal in then the aging Doran."

Daemon nodded agreeing with Varys, besides the Vale stuff. "But what about Ellaria?" he wondered. He didn't want to find his pseudo-aunt caught in the middle of all the in-fighting.

"It's hard to tell." Varys said mildly. "On one hand she would support Doran because he is Oberyn's brother and the most logical leader of Dorne. She would support the Sand Snakes because they are Oberyn's daughters and she feels like she is responsible for them. As for Arianne, I don't have any definitive answers, but I'm sure she would fine some kinship in ar woman who wants to be the leader of Dorne."

Daemon shrugged moodily. He was unhappy to find that his aunt would be caught in the middle of those vying for power in Dorne. He didn't want to see his family fight, his aunt Elia told him many years ago that seeing your own family fight is always hard, obviously Viserys didn't agree with this sentiment. He felt like everyone past his aunt Elia was his family, whether it be her brothers Oberyn and Doran, her brother's paramour Ellaria, her brother's daughters and sons.

The times in Essos with Oberyn, Ellaria, and the Sand Snakes made them his family. Although he had never met Doran and just met Arianne early today, he still wanted to get to know them as they were closely connected to his Aunt Elia.

Varys interrupted his thought when a scroll was presented to him. "A letter from Lady Sansa and new from the Riverlands."

He opened the scroll containing the Riverlands report. It seemed that after Cersei burned several Tyrells at the Sept of Baelor the Tyrell forces were not so happy to be with Lannister forcers anymore. Fighting had broken out leaving both sides bruised and battered, the Tyrell forces had removed themselves from the Riverlands and the Crownlands to regroup and recover back in the Reach, to support a new Queen.

As for the Lannisters they were weakened severely during the fighting, there were also mentioning of chaos being caused in the camps by an unknown assailant, some saying the Devil was back in the Riverlands. He chuckled at that part. The blows to the Lannister forces allowed Robb to sally out of Riverrun and chase the Lannisters all the way to Ashemark before returning. And finally the death of Walder Frey who was on his deathbed when his sons started fighting each other. Allowing the Blackfish to storm The Twins and take over the castle killing all male Frey's within and cutting open Walder Frey's throat.

He hand the scroll back to Varys. "All good news." he thought for a moment. "Though my sister might not see it that way."

Varys nodded his agreement. "When I presented her the report she expressed her unhappiness that the Riverlands and the North have become stable again. She said that the stable Riverlands entered a powerful alliance with the North and the Vale. While I am inclined to agree I believe we'll have some leeway when it comes to negotiations."

Daemon nodded. "I doubt the North or the Riverlands are strong enough to oppose us and I'd rather not go to war with the Vale after all the shit we pulled to get Sansa into a position of power there." he said to Varys.

"We will see soon enough. Your sister is going to invite the leaders of the North, the Riverlands, and the Vale to Dragonstone to discuss a treaty." Varys told him.

He nodded. "Yeah she told me. Who do you think would come?" he asked. Secretly hoping Sansa would be here. He still had her letter clutched in his hand.

Varys must have read him easily. "I am sure Lady Sansa will be the first to choose negotiation." the bald man said smiling coily. "From what I heard Jon Snow is King in the North and Robb Stark is still crossing the Neck as the Ironborn have abandoned Moat Cailin in favor of following Euron Greyjoy." Daemon shivered at the mention of the Crow's Eye. "I think Lord Stark would be weary after a long war away from home. The most likely two would be Jon Snow and Sansa Stark. One being a king and the other being the leader of the Vale. Lord Robb holds neither of those titles."

Daemon sighed deeply. The rains finally slowing to a light drizzle.

He then opened Sansa's letter, his back towards Varys.

Dae,

It pleases me greatly to hear you are returning to Westeros. Jon and I have the North well settled and if it wasn't for your help I wouldn't be sure if Jon could have taken the North on his own. Jon and I are eternally grateful to you.

I have missed you, I miss our times out on the balcony away from all the ruling, I miss you talking to me and soothing my mind, I miss you so very much and I know you miss me too. It feels different without you. I know I have my brothers with me, Robb, Arya, and Mother coming here hopefully soon. Even so, I still miss you differently then I miss them. I'm not sure what that means now or what it means for the future, I just wanted to let you know. It could be a good thing or a bad thing, it feels good, I hope it's good.

Sorry, I'm rambling. I hope to see you soon.

Love,

Sansa

He smiled as he tucked the letter into a pocket.

Yeah, he missed her too.

"Good news I take it." Varys said, commenting on the grin that had formed on his face.

"Yeah, it was." he said absentmindedly.

"Lets head back to the castle." Varys said.

He just nodded, they both started up the winding staircase, careful not to slip on the still slick steps.

They both entered the castle and went their separate ways. A short nap sounded very nice right now but he saw Ellaria and Arianne approaching him down the hallway, maybe catching up with Ellaria wouldn't be so bad.

"Hello hello." greeted Arianne with an easy smile. "I know we didn't talk much when we met but I am glad to make your acquaintance." Arianne said easily with a smooth bow, subtly showing a little bit of her cleavage to him.

She may be beautiful but he had his eyes set on another. He kept his eyes up and away, quickly shooting Ellaria a look. She just rolled her eyes at him, basically telling him to deal with it.

"Yours as well Lady Arianne." he said when she stood from her bow. "May I borrow Ellaria?" he asked politely.

"Of course of course." Arianne said smiling. "But expect me to find you later." she said smirking as she breezed passed him and down the hall.

He led Ellaria to a small balcony on the side of the castle.

"How are you Dae?" she asked kindly.

Daemon smiled, he always enjoyed Ellaria's rather loving nature, it was a breath of fresh air among all the negatives he was surrounded with. "Good Aunt Ellaria, and you?"

"Better day by day." she said smiling sadly.

"I'm sorry I couldn't do anything." he said tiredly.

"It's ok Dae." she said while patting his cheek. "It was Oberyn's choice, he always wanted to avenge Elia, it always drove him to be better. Sometimes those things destroy us." she said. "You look tired. You should get some rest."

He rolled his eyes. "Yes mother." he said sarcastically.

She swatted his arm, a small smile on her face. "Get some sleep Dae, we'll speak on the morrow." she said kindly. "Rest well."

Ellaria gave him one last hug, a kiss on the head, and smile before she left him on the balcony, allowing him to drown in memories of long ago.

AN: Arianne is going to play a very small role in the story overall. I really like her character but couldn't find any good ways to fit her character into a story like this one. But I do have big plans for her in some other stories I'm currently drafting.