Ned Stark Lives! Part 3

by cbstevp

The war against the Others continues as new factions from Dorne and the Vale join the fight. But a formidable new player joins the field as Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons return to Westeros. Meanwhile Jon Snow continues his mission to seek out and defeat the Great Other. Only the gods know who will win and who will lose, and who will sit the Iron Throne.

38. Chapter 38 Daenerys

Ned Stark Lives! Part 3 Chapter 38 Daenerys

"What's his name again?" Dany asked Varys who was standing near her left side by the Iron Throne.

"Reginald Carlyle," Varys told her.

"Oh, yes," Dany said and then she returned her gaze to the shell of a man who was on his knees on the floor before the Iron Throne. Thankfully he was far away because the smell of him from even this distance was distinctly disgusting. Those few people in court today held their noses and more than one took many steps back from the man. Her guards between her and the man could do no such thing but they did not flinch from his smell. Reginald Carlyle was a tall man, she had noticed when he had been dragged before her, but to see his face clearly was impossible as he had long, ragged brown hair going grey and a full beard almost down the middle of his chest.

"Reginald Carlyle, how long have you been in the dungeons?" Dany asked him.

"I don't know, Your Grace," Carlyle replied, his voice a croak, as if not used to talking. "It's dark down there, I…I never saw daylight…till this morning. Never knew Joffrey was dead, Stannis was dead, and you now Queen."

"A month more than a year he has been a prisoner, Your Grace," Varys supplied the answer. "He would still be there if I hadn't noticed his name on a list Ser Ilyn had. Taken prisoner for spying on the city's defenses from the sea when Joffrey was King. He was never tried."

That surprised Dany. "Spying for whom?"

"Stannis," Varys said.

"And Stannis never freed him when he was King?" she asked, unable to hide the disbelief in her tone.

Varys gave a shrug. "I guess Stannis forgot about him when he ruled here, Your Grace. Or never knew he was taken prisoner. But it was only a short time Stannis was here, so maybe the gaolers had no time to report on his presence to their new master. Such confusion when there is a change of ruler is common."

"Yes," Dany said. "But not anymore." She looked over at the man in charge of the dungeons, the King's Justice, now the Queen's Justice, Ser Ilyn Payne. "Ser Ilyn, I want a list of all prisoners given to Lord Varys and their crimes reported as well."

Ser Ilyn Payne had stayed on in his post through all the regime changes ever since her father had sat on the Iron Throne. Now he was standing to the right down below and he dipped his head to show he had understood. The man would have spoken if he could have, but many years ago Dany's father had had his tongue ripped out for saying Tywin Lannister was the real power behind the Iron Throne. It had not been a lie, so Ser Barristan had told her, but it was a truth her father could not stomach.

"What am I to do with these prisoners, Your Grace?" Varys asked.

Dany turned to look at Ser Barristan, standing to her right. She had no experience of Westeros' laws, and needed advice. Ser Garlan Tyrell was the new master of laws, but today he was leading a large patrol up the Rosby Road to clear it of snow and to search for any wights. He also had hopes of finding the bodies of his brother Loras and Lord Redwyne near Rosby Castle, though many told him it was a faint hope as they had more than likely been turned in wights and now were ash.

"I recommend swift trials for all, Your Grace," Ser Barristan said. He looked across at Varys. "Find suitable lords to sit as judges if the Queen or I are not available. Lord Tarly is healing well enough to do so, as is Lord Rowan from his arm wound. Either of them can judge, except for capital crimes, treason and murder especially, and those involving the nobility. We will sit on those. If we are not here, they must wait. All other crimes the lords can deal with."

"And the punishments?" Varys asked.

"As of old," Ser Barristan said, and Dany knew he and Ser Garlan had talked about that a few days past and had agreed that no change in punishments was needed as the old ways were still valid. Dany thought them a bit harsh, but Ser Barristan told her that the people were used to it, and any softening of the law would only invite the worst elements to commit more crime. "Thieves are to be hung if they did violence in their crime, or their hands maimed if not," Ser Barristan continued. "Lashes for those found guilty for minor breaches of the Queen's law. For rapists, geld them and then hang them." Dany saw Varys wince at this command. "Freedom if judged innocent," Ser Barristan said next. "If there are no longer witnesses available to their crimes…set them free with ten lashes as a reminder to stay on the straight and narrow and out of trouble in the future."

"What if a man wishes to take the black?" Varys asked.

"I am sure they would be welcome when the Wall is secure again," Dany said and Ser Barristan agreed, except the rapists were still to be gelded.

Varys dipped his head. "Very well, Your Grace. And what about Carlyle?"

Dany looked down on the ragged man again. Spying for Stannis against Joffrey had not been a crime against her and hers, but still it was a crime. Yet the man had been kept in prison for over a year, which seemed sufficient punishment. But before she could speak Ser Barristan did so and his thoughts were almost as if they were hers.

"He has been a prisoner in the black cells for more than a year," Ser Barristan said. "That seems punishment enough. His freedom I recommend, Your Grace. Yet, even though he did not spy on us, still he is a spy. Let him go but with thirty lashes to remind him of his crimes."

"Agreed," she said. "Remove the prisoner. Ser Ilyn, have him washed and shaved before his lashes are given. Then have the maesters care for him and give him clean clothing and then send him on his way."

Reginald Carlyle gasped his thanks and then he was removed from the throne room.

"Is that all?" Dany asked Ser Barristan, wanting to be off the hard throne. She had two cushions under her behind but still it was an uncomfortable seat.

"Afraid not, Your Grace. Next we have…" But the words stopped as Ser Barristan looked away from her, distracted by something. It was Haldon, rushing in from the side door with a raven scroll in his hand, with Lord Yohn Royce behind him. They both went to one knee before the Iron Throne and Dany told them to rise.

"A message, Your Grace," Haldon said, while Lord Royce stood behind him, silent, but in his eyes Dany could see trouble.

Ser Barristan stepped down and took the scroll. He opened it and read. The Hand frowned and then looked at Lord Royce and then back to Dany. "We should retire to the small council room, Your Grace. We should call the other members as well as Lord Tyrion." He did not wait for her to answer as he turned to look at Ser Rolly and Ser Balon who were at the foot of the throne with her two blood riders. "Ser Rolly, Ser Balon, court is at an end for the day."

Ser Rolly shouted this out to the people and they dispersed without too much grumbling. Dany had always hated this duty in Meereen and this was no different. As she climbed down from the throne she felt relieved but worried on what the note said. "Trouble?" she asked Ser Barristan.

"Yes, but it must wait till we are away from these eyes and ears, Your Grace."

Of course it was trouble. What else plagued her these days? For one, the victory over the Others was incomplete. Once Lord Stark and his children plus the Northern and Riverlands lords had sailed for Duskendale with Lord Davos, she had planned to fly with Tyrion and their two dragons to the Riverlands. But those plans had been put on hold for one day, and then it began to snow and the wind began to howl and the plans were put off for more days, as Ser Barristan and Ser Jorah worried on her and Tyrion being all alone out there. The snows had finally stopped yesterday and now Ser Garlan was trying to open the Rosby Road again and this morning Ser Jorah had taken a thousand healthy men to clear the snow from the roads to the Blackwater ferry and the first bridge to the west. Meanwhile, the business of running the city and the realm took up her time in increasing amounts. Problems big and small confronted her.

One headache was the sellswords of the Golden Company, still demanding their money, as their leaders reminded her each day when they came to court. Coin she did not have. The money she had minted at Casterly Rock was mostly gone now. Some of the coin had been spent on her coronation ceremony and feast, but the bulk had been paid out to her own sellsword companies, which had bolted in battle she had learned to her disgust. Brown Ben Plumm and the other commanders were still making demands for more coin and she ignored them, telling them they had not earned anymore coin.

Besides, the coffers were empty…well, nearly empty, Lord Harlaw told her, with perhaps less than fifty thousand gold dragons in coin remaining, not near enough for all her problems. She had armies to pay, sellswords asking their due, food to purchase, royal officials salaries in arrears, and a dozen other demands on the coin that wasn't there. The traditional way a realm earned coin was through taxes and duties on people's lands and trade and on certain businesses. However, with the war most trade had ceased, and collection of taxes was far in arrears, and might continue to be so, as many of the lords and farmers and merchants who the realm taxed were now dead. On top of this Robert Baratheon had bankrupt the realm and put it in deep debt, she learned, spending more than he ever took in each year he ruled, and he had ruled for long enough to ruin the realm's finances. Petyr Baelish had apparently been working miracles for Robert, but not by any sleight of hand with coin, though his own businesses had flourished. No, Littlefinger had worked his miracles by borrowing money from the Iron Bank for years and now they wanted it all back, with interest.

Stannis had promised to pay half, and had already sent a substantial amount to Braavos, but not all. Apparently what he had sent had been stolen from the citizens of King's Landing, from their hidden caches in their houses that were destroyed in various battles, and now many of those that had survived were demanding compensation. But, as Lord Varys said, they could not prove they ever had the money in the first place, so there was no need to even listen to such claims and all were turned away empty handed.

Lord Tyrion had agreed to pay the other half of the crown's debt from his house's fortune. But that had been when he still had a fortune and his nephew had been a potential king, and so he was humming and hawing about not paying anything back, especially when he already claimed to have paid them and they were just remiss in picking up the coin before it was stolen. Also, he was still angry that the Iron Bank had sent an assassin into his home and about the fact that it was Dany's allies the ironmen who had stolen most of his coin. Despite his earlier promises to ignore this fact, he was thinking twice about it since his brother had died. If she would move the ironmen to return his coin, Tyrion kept telling her of late, then he would help the realm pay its debts. Or why not just have the ironmen pay it directly to the Iron Bank, Tyrion suggested. She had put this to Lord Harlaw and him to Victarion, who had laughed in his face. So there would be no money coming from the ironmen or the Lannisters. Ser Barristan said she should make it a royal decree that all houses contribute a sum to repay the debts, but she worried about making such a decree and having no one obey it.

So the problems persisted. The sooner she paid the sellswords off the sooner she could get rid of them or, as Lord Harlaw said, fleece them of their new coin. He hadn't said it like that but it amounted to the same thing. When paid, then Dany could cut off their food and force them to pay for what they wanted. They would no longer be in her service and she would no longer be responsible for them. They would also want to return to their homelands, some at least. Others, the leaders of the Golden Company for one, had been given promises by Aegon, promises of lordships and castles, and land, and so on. She had no obligation to any of them, as they had not been her promises, but she felt somehow this would go over badly, since Aegon had been her kin, and so she decided she would have to settle with them one way or another. For now she had Varys finding out which lords had died with no heirs so she could give away lands and titles without stepping on anyone's toes.

And then there was the other thing, the biggest problem of all. She was with child, the father was dead, and she and he had never married. The child would be a bastard, who would have no claim to her throne, and would cause endless problems, as Ser Barristan and Jon had told her. Tell the realm the truth, Jon had advised, tell your child the truth, and live with what may come. Maybe…but she still could not decide. Few enough people knew she was pregnant, but soon she would start to show, and then hiding it would no longer be so easy.

When they neared the small council room she commanded the guards to wait outside and also ordered Ser Balon to find Lord Harlaw and Lord Tyrion. In the small council room Missandei was already putting out food and drink for a scheduled meeting and she hurried to complete the task and then Dany asked her to leave the room. As they waited for Lord Harlaw and Lord Tyrion, Ser Barristan finally showed her the message.

It was from the Vale, addressed to Lord Royce, from a Lord Nestor Royce, a distant relation he said, who was commander of the Gates of the Moon, the castle that stood below the Eyrie. Lysa Arryn was dead, the message said, falling from the Eyrie when she had tried to kill Sansa Stark by pushing her out something called the moon door. She had accused the girl of killing Baelish. On top of this before she fell in her rage Lysa Arryn had confessed that she and Baelish had conspired to killed Jon Arryn and start the earlier war. To top it all, as Sansa fell after Lysa a dragon had appeared from above the castle and clutched her from mid air and saved her life. Then the dragon with two people on its back flew off to the north.

"Good gods," Dany said as she looked up from the message at Lord Royce who sat across the table from her.

"Yes, Your Grace," he replied. "Good gods, indeed. I…I don't know what to say."

Dany didn't either. She handed the note to Varys, and he read it and then sighed. "Oh, my. This is tragic and illuminating."

Dany looked at him. "Sansa Stark is Lord Stark's oldest daughter, yes?" Dany had not met her, but it was her room she had first been in at Winterfell, Jon had said. And later in the capital she had heard stories of Sansa, especially one about her and a certain dog.

"She is," Varys confirmed. "A healer, I have learned, Your Grace."

"Yes," said Lord Royce. "She was sent by ship from Duskendale with a load of wounded for the Vale and the North…along with Baelish and Ser Lyn Corbray's bodies. I put them on the ship myself and gave her a letter to give to Lord Grafton of Gulltown, a letter he was to send to Lady Arryn."

"Did you accuse the girl of involvement in their deaths in the letter?" Ser Barristan bluntly asked him.

"No, Lord Hand. I did no such thing. All I wrote was my regrets and an explanation of how they died."

"I would like to hear the explanation as well," Dany said and so Lord Royce told her all he knew on their deaths. "There was no evidence…but a dagger found in the ashes of the fire," he concluded.

"A dagger?" said Tyrion Lannister as he waddled into the room. "I must have missed some exciting news. Or was I dragged away from my writing to listen to some dreary tale of how many weapons we have or have not?"

"Quite exciting news…and tragic," Varys said with a titter. "But I am sure you will enjoy it immensely. Lysa Arryn is dead."

Tyrion had sat and had grabbed a flagon of wine and was about to pour a cup but stopped, his eyes wide, and then he grinned broadly. "Dead? That's…wonderful."

Lord Royce's face darkened. "Mind your words, my lord. Some of us in this room think it is not so wonderful."

"My apologies," Tyrion replied. "But to me it is wonderful. Have you ever spent time in the sky cells of the Eyrie, my lord?"

"No," Lord Royce admitted.

"Then you have no basis to judge how I feel about the lately departed Lysa Arryn."

Dany had heard of these cells, and what Tyrion had been put there for, and could not imagine what kind of horror he had suffered.

"There is more to this, Lord Tyrion," Dany told him and she nodded to Varys, who handed him the letter. Tyrion read and shook his head in disbelief.

"She and Baelish killed Jon Arryn?" His words were filled with shock and anger. "That…miserable wench! Lying bitch! She accused me of that crime! She put me on trial! If Bronn hadn't saved me I…I…gods, I…I need a drink." He finished pouring and gulped his wine in one go and began to pour another cup. Dany understood why Tyrion needed that drink. Now it appears he had been accused of something he hadn't done, with no evidence, and almost killed for it.

"We must know more of this tale of Jon Arryn's death," Dany said as Tyrion sat there breathing deeply and still in shock it seemed.

"Yes, a serious matter," Ser Barristan said. "I remember when he first became ill. I thought it only bad food, but it got worse and soon he was gone. Pycelle said it was an illness. Poison, Ned Stark said, and now I suspect he was right, but the message does not say that. It only says she confessed but not how they killed him. Is there any other proof?"

"No," Lord Royce said. "But my cousin would not make such a statement if not true. I am sure there were many witnesses. Let us put aside her and Baelish's crimes for now, since they are both dead. But this business about Sansa Stark, it troubles me."

"Sansa Stark? Kill Baelish?" Tyrion said with a snort. "Why it is absurd to the extreme. She is but a girl, a child almost. Not to mention killing Corbray as well. Ridiculous."

"As I thought," Lord Royce said. "But why would Lady Lysa accuse the girl, who is her own sister's daughter? There must be some evidence she had."

Now Tyrion scoffed, loudly. "She needs no evidence, the way her deranged mind works. She had none against me."

"The dagger perhaps has something to do with it," Varys suggested.

"You mean the one found in the fire?" Tyrion asked. "They never found its owner."

"Not that we know of," Lord Royce said. "There may have been news of it after we left to fight the Others."

No one said a word to this. "Well," said Dany. "I think we must wait until we have more news. As for this other part of this remarkable story, there is no doubt Jon rescued Sansa, on Viserion."

"Incredible," Tyrion said, now quiet. "The hero once more."

"I am sure he will hate being called that," Dany said.

"He must have gotten word somehow that she was taken to the Eyrie," Varys said. "Or Lord Stark did, in Duskendale, if they are there."

They had sailed six days ago but still no word had come in from Duskendale, with the recent snowstorms maybe causing problems with raven flights. At least until now, for the day was cloudy but there was no snow, and the bird from the Eyrie had made the flight.

"Where are Jon and Sansa now?" Ser Barristan wondered.

"North they flew, the message says," answered Varys. "If I were Jon Stark, I would take her to the North, to White Harbor, where her people are. Where she can be safe. For now."

"For now?" Tyrion said. "You don't mean…she did not do it!"

Lord Royce looked disquiet. "We must wait for a full report on what happened in the Eyrie."

All eyes turned to Dany. She did not want to accuse Lord Stark's daughter of misdoings, but if there was any evidence, there would have to be an inquiry. "Yes, we must wait on a full report. Lord Royce, please write back and ask for more information."

"Of course, Your Grace."

"Meanwhile, I suppose we must discuss what is to be done with the Vale."

And so they talked, with Lord Harlaw soon joining them and hearing the news. The main point was that Robert Arryn was still Lord of the Vale and inherited all, despite being a child, and a sickly one at that. It was finally decided that Lord Royce should return home at once and take charge of matters and serve as Lord Protector of the Vale until the boy comes of age. Dany ordered a writ drawn up giving Lord Royce this title. He was sure no other lords would dispute his position but was glad to have the writ to reinforce it.

"I will go by ship," he said when the meeting was done. "I will assign a new commander for my forces here. By your leave, Your Grace, I have much to do."

She gave him permission to withdraw and he was soon gone. The rest of the meeting was taken up by finances, and once again Tyrion refused to help pay the debt unless the ironmen gave him back his stolen wealth, and Lord Harlaw once again said Victarion refused any such notions. On that impasse the meeting ended, and Braavos would have to wait for another day for its money. Tyrion went off to get drunk to celebrate the death of Lysa Arryn, he told them, and also please not to bother him anymore this day unless the realm threatened to fall down around their heads.

Lord Harlaw went off to his ship by the Mud Gate after the meeting. The Iron King was also living on his ship, frozen in the ice by an upriver wharf, and took no part in court life or anything else that had nothing to do with defending the city or fighting the Others. Asha and most of the other ironborn also lived on their ships, and with living space at a premium in the city, this arrangement worked out well for everyone, as long as the ironmen had enough wood for their ships' fires to keep warm. Of late they had been kept busy shoveling snow off their decks and breaking ice from their masts and spars before the weight damaged their ships.

Soon only Varys and Dany remained in the room. "I have some good news at least, Your Grace," Varys said.

"Oh? And what would that be?" she asked, feeling as if nothing good could change how she felt at the moment with the problems she faced mounting daily. But she was wrong.

"I have heard from Illyrio. He sends his congratulations."

She smiled slightly at this news. "How kind of him."

"Not only that, he is preparing a fleet to come to our aid. Food, drink, and coin, and possibly himself as well, if the weather gets better."

Now Dany did smile broadly. "That is excellent news." She had not seen Illyrio since her wedding to Khal Drogo, and they desperately needed anything he could provide. "Why did you not tell the rest of my advisors?"

"The news of his arrival is uncertain and I did not want to get their hopes up, Your Grace. Besides, I think we should keep this to ourselves for now."

"Why?"

"If they know coin is coming they will give up seeking a way to pay back our debts. Wouldn't it be better if we found a way to pay Braavos without Illyrio's help? Then all his coin would be yours to use for the betterment of the realm."

"I quite agree. But if we enlist Illyrio's help, what will be the cost?"

"He always claimed his coin was given freely with no interest and no expected repayment," Varys told her. "But of course he does want something. Exclusive trading rights in Westeros."

"You mean of all the Free Cities only his ships can trade here?"

"Oh, no, not so demanding. I think Braavos and Myr and Tyrosh would go to war if such a demand was made. But only his ships from Pentos will be allowed to trade here, none of his competitors, few as they are. And possibly he will make some demand on paying less or no duties."

"I think we can manage that much for all the help he has given us." They talked on this for a bit but then Dany's mind came back to the other matter.

"Do you think she did it?" Dany asked and Varys knew what she meant.

"It is always possible. She is no child by all reports, despite what Lord Tyrion said. A woman grown, tall and shapely…and attracting many an eye."

"Sandor Clegane's for one, I heard, and she returns the affection."

"True. They are in love, but Stark refuses to allow it, and rightly so. Clegane killed many of his people, right here in the Red Keep, when Cersei had him arrested."

"How tragic…for them I mean."

"Yes. He kidnapped Theon Greyjoy when he thought it would win him favor with Lord Eddard, not that it did much good. When Clegane hears this latest news concerning Sansa there is no telling what he will do. Run off to the Vale to find out who was responsible, perhaps."

"Clegane is Lord Tyrion's bannerman and is free to do as he wishes, as long as he breaks no laws. Now, if…"

"That is not all there is to tell, Your Grace."

"Oh?"

"Baelish also had his eye on her, ever since she came to the capital."

"Go on."

"He loved her mother, Catelyn Tully, since he was a boy, but she refused his affections. Lysa loved him, but he not her, I do not doubt. Sansa is a vision of her mother, as she was when Baelish first met her. I am sure that was not lost on him."

"Tell me what you really think." She was tired and wanted to go back to her quarters and Varys could drag things out forever if allowed.

"Suspect, not think, Your Grace. The house in Duskendale where Baelish and Corbray died was one of Littlefinger's houses. Not a whorehouse, but close enough, as many rooms were for rent, and men and women of the town often met there for trysts. I have heard that Baelish was stabbed to death, but Corbray's head was almost cut off. Tyrion was right, Sansa could never do that…but Clegane could. If Sansa and he were there, and Baelish found them, or Baelish dragged her there for whatever reasons and Clegane followed…you see my point."

She sighed and closed her eyes, thought for a moment and then opened them. "I want you to forget all this. If you can."

"If you command it."

"I do. Your words may make sense, but they lack evidence to back them up. I will not have stories spread about this. Is that clear?"

"Always I am yours to command, Your Grace," he replied in his most fawning way with a dip of his head.

"Good. Now call my guards. I wish to return to my quarters."

But once again she got little rest. Not an hour later Ser Barristan arrived at her rooms as she was resting on a divan nearby her hearth, with Missandei nearby putting some of her clothing away in a standing dresser. She sat up when Ser Balon announced the Hand and he entered the room. His eyes flicked to Missandei for a moment and then he spoke. "A raven came in from Duskendale, from Lord Stark," he reported. "They arrived safely, and Queen Selyse has agreed to your terms…with one caveat, Your Grace. She agrees to let Stannis' men to join our forces, but they will fight under her husband's banner."

Dany thought this not such a big problem. "Would it matter? Most men fight under their lord's banner already."

"No, I suppose it would not matter," Ser Barristan said. "But in time it might. If the Lord of Light takes root in the Stormlands, it could mean future troubles."

"I have agreed the realm will have freedom of worship. I cannot ban their god without good cause."

"No, I suppose we cannot," he replied. "Most people worship the Seven, so I do not worry on that. But the day they burn one person, or force one man to bend to their god, we will crush them."

"Most certainly. Write back and make certain she understands this."

"She and her daughter are coming here, Lord Stark writes, in a few days by ship with Lord Davos and some of her men."

"Then I suppose I must await them and accept their renunciation of the throne."

"It would be best. Our move to the Riverlands cannot begin yet anyway, Your Grace. The snows are too deep. Ser Garlan has returned, stymied in his attempts to move up the Rosby Road. They only got three miles before the men were too exhausted to continue. Ser Jorah's men are making some progress towards the Blackwater ferry and bridge, but if it snows again all their hard work will be undone."

"Then Lord Willas should leave as soon as possible, once the roads are clear to the south." It had been agreed that Lord Willas Tyrell and many of his men who could travel would move to the Reach to lighten the burden on the capital's food supplies. This was more important as reports were coming in that the first contingent of the promised 30,000 spears of Dorne was now coming up the Kingsroad from Storm's End but were slowed by the snows. Dany had wanted to send a message to tell them to stop, but Lord Anders was waiting on word from Prince Doran as to what to do as the wars were winding down. The Sand Snakes and Lemore also wanted to leave, to take Oberyn's bones home, and Dany would be glad when they were gone. Varys had said the Sand Snakes wanted to kill Lord Tyrion, and she had thought to throw them all in a dungeon, but Lemore and Lord Anders promised her to keep them in line and she knew that to put them in prison would cause tension with Dorne. Still, more than one story reached her ears of Lannister men and Dornishmen having words and even coming to blows, but no one had died.

"I will consult with Lord Willas at once," Ser Barristan said and he then dipped his head and made to leave but she had another question.

"Did Lord Stark write about his daughter and Jon and what happened in the Vale?"

"No, Your Grace. Not a word. Perhaps he does not know the outcome yet."

"Then we should write to him at once with what we know. Send the bird back when it is fed and rested."

"I will take care of it, Your Grace," he replied, dipped his head once more, and left her.

Missandei had been standing nearby Dany's bed the whole time, folding and putting away clothing and acting like she was not there and had not heard, but of course she heard everything. "I want to be free of this prison, and fly to the Riverlands," Dany said in High Valyrian when they were alone. They often spoke together in this language, more so Dany would not lose her touch with the language than to avoid people hearing what they said.

"The weather is still bad, Your Grace," the girl replied. "And you are in no shape to…oh, beg pardons."

"I know you know. Do my blood riders as well?"

"Forgive me…yes they know. When will…when will it happen?"

"Six months or so, maybe a bit more," Dany said. Qyburn suspected she had gotten pregnant prior to leaving Essos, so that had been almost three months ago now. "Soon I will be showing. I suppose the time to tell the realm will be soon."

"A husband you need, my Queen."

"Yes, but Jon Stark refused me."

"You asked him?"

"I did…and asked him to claim the child as his. But I should not have asked, for his answer I should have anticipated. He was lied to his whole life about his parentage, so he will have nothing to do with such lies concerning my child."

"I think there is no need to lie, Your Grace. You are the Queen, your child will be your heir. Is it not so?"

"Not in Westeros. A bastard child cannot inherit."

"A stupid law," Missandei replied. "Perhaps you can change it."

"If I do so it will cause endless rancor throughout the realm."

"So what will happen?"

"I know not. I will have the child, that is certain. I will love him or her with all my heart, but he or she cannot inherit my throne. And if I marry and have more children, they will be the heirs. Will my first child then resent them, hate me, cause trouble? All questions I have no answers to."

"It may be more difficult than that, Your Grace," Missandei said.

"How so?"

"I have heard whispers, among the serving girls. Some claim Lord Tarly and Lord Rowan have been talking while in their sick beds. Thinking on having Lord Willas Tyrell marry you."

"Gods," she said in exasperation. One more headache, though as she thought on it she realized Lord Willas would make a fine husband, despite his lameness. He was handsome enough, and well thought of throughout the realm, and a marriage to him would secure the most fertile and populous region of the realm to her side. But would he marry her with a child already in her belly? No, even if he wanted to. His bannermen would convince him of that.

The next day the skies were clear and the sun came out and after breakfast Dany went to the Dragonpit and climbed on Drogon. The saddles were all ready now, with safety straps as well, and she was comfortably strapped in when she took off. They flew high over the city and out over the countryside for an hour, and both she and her dragon felt wonderful to be aloft again after so many days. She saw hardly anything but white snow, but to the west many villages and towns were coming alive again and smoke rose from more than one chimney. When she returned to the pit Tyrion was there, with his two shadows as usual, Bronn and Clegane.

"It is time we left, is it not, Your Grace," Tyrion said.

"I await Queen Selyse and her daughter, who should arrive in a day or so."

"Ah, yes, so I have heard. The former queens. There have been a few of late, though those two are the only ones to survive. Now, Myrcella would have renounced the throne, but Cersei, never, even if you dragged her across hot coals. A sight I would have enjoyed."

Dany knew well his hatred of his sister and ignored his comments. "We will go the day after they arrive and renounce the throne. However, if you are in a hurry, you could go alone, if you feel up to it."

He shook his head. "No, I think not." Behind him Clegane growled out some oath Dany did not fully hear. "Never mind him," Tyrion said. "He just wants me to fly to the Vale and burn the Eyrie."

"I never said that," Clegane snarled at his lord.

"No, you said you wanted to kill Lysa Arryn's rotten son," Bronn said in his nonchalant manner. "Comes to the same thing."

"I would gladly burn the little terror," Tyrion said. "But I think the Queen here and Lord Royce and a few others might take ill of that."

"We would," Dany said sharply. She looked at Clegane. "I understand your feelings on what went on in the Vale, yet I am sure she is now safe. But if you do anything rash, and break the law, you will suffer the consequences."

"I'll keep the peace, Your Grace," Clegane said.

"Good. Now, Lord Tyrion I think Rhaegal needs to stretch his legs. And it was high time you flew him on your own without me to guide you. Are you ready?"

Tyrion gulped. "Ready as I will ever be." He then looked at Bronn. "Care to come for a ride? There are two saddles now."

Bronn laughed in his face. "I'm not quite as mad as you yet." He looked at Clegane. "What about you?"

"Fu…no," the big man said. "My feet stay on the ground."

So Tyrion went alone, and did well as far as Dany could tell, and when he returned he was like a little boy full of excitement and talked endlessly about it all. She indulged him for a while, for they did have this in common if not much else, and she even went to the maesters chambers to look on the pieces of dragon he managed to recover from the dead Elianta. By now the dead dragon's carcass had been dealt with, with most of the bones bid on by merchants and craftsmen, bringing in some coin for the realm. The only part of it Dany demanded was the head, which was now being more thoroughly cleaned, and would soon join the other dragon heads in the throne room. Tyrion told her Elianta's skull was not so pristine, being somewhat damaged by Ser Gendry's blows. Still in the wine sinks and pot shops they talked on him, Varys reported, and many whispered he was Robert's true son and should be king. Smallfolk talk was all, Ser Barristan said, and let them whisper as long as nothing came of it. It never would, Dany knew, for Gendry would never claim her throne, and no one would ever push for him to do so.

The rest of the day was a drag on her, with more time at court dealing with this and that minor thing. As she ate her lunch in the small council room with Ser Barristan and Varys, Lord Willas came to see her and said if the weather held good for another day he would head south with half of his remaining forces, leaving his brother and Lord Tarly behind as commander of the other half. Nothing was said to her of any marriage pacts and so she did not mention it. In another room of the Red Keep she heard Lord Tarly was dealing out justice, and doing it swiftly. Five thieves had already been hung, six more maimed, and ten other prisoners lashed, their screams heard in many parts of the Red Keep. Two rapists, both men of the Golden Company, had been gelded and pledged to join the Night's Watch when healed, rather than be hung. The commanders protested this treatment but Dany was firm and told them all men were subject to the Queen's law in Westeros.

The next day in the morning the weather was fair again and Lord Davos with four ships arrived off the city. Dany on Drogon and Tyrion on Rhaegal got to work clearing the inner bay and river of ice so they could land at the wharves. Almost three hundred men with Stannis' fiery heart sigil got off the ships as did Selyse Baratheon and her daughter Shireen. She thought to meet them there but her advisors disagreed, and said she was the Queen now, and all should come to her. She did order proper quarters for the former queens and later in the day a ceremony would take place in the throne room.

Before that Lord Davos reported to the small council on all that went on in Duskendale, and was surprised to hear they knew much already, especially about the doings in the Vale. Just prior to his leaving they had heard from Lord Grafton in Gulltown that Sansa had been saved by a man on a dragon and that Lady Lysa was dead, but little more did they know. Davos also told them it was the former queen who had written to Lysa Arryn about Sansa and how she had claimed a dagger found in the fire was Sansa's. So that was the evidence, as they had suspected. Lord Royce immediately went to talk with Selyse to find out what she knew, and Dany felt she must let this matter take its course and not interfere, much as she wished to do so for all the support Lord Stark and his family had given her. When Lord Royce was finished his talks he was grim and worried and asked for one of Ser Davos' ships to carry him to Duskendale immediately where he had to have words with Lord Stark. The ship left in the afternoon when the tide changed.

Davos also reported the snows had been heavy near Duskendale and no one had moved from the town towards the Riverlands as yet, despite the Blackfish and Lord Reed's desires to do so as soon as possible. Davos had one more piece of shocking news as he told them King Stannis' wight had been captured and later Jon had destroyed it with Lightbringer.

Dany insisted on meeting Selyse and her daughter prior to the ceremony, contrary to her advisors' wishes. Dany had them meet her in her quarters for lunch, far from prying eyes and listening ears. With her were her four main guards, plus Missandei to serve, and as guests Ser Barristan, Davos, Connington, and Varys.

As Selyse and Shireen were led into the room by Lord Davos they looked nervous, as if expecting some treachery. With them was a big man, dark of hair and eyes, who had a scowl on his face. He wore the sigil of Stannis, but no armor or weapons, as did no one else but her guards. Dany stood from the divan she was sitting on and smiled.

Lord Davos did the introductions. "Your Grace, may I present Lady Selyse Baratheon," he said as he indicted the tall woman with the prominent ears and a hint of hair above her lip. She wore rich clothing of red and black silks and satins under a fur cloak. "Her daughter, Lady Shireen Baratheon," Davos continued and Dany smiled at the girl, who she had been told was afflicted with greyscale, and now Dany could see it was so. "And this is Ser Godry Farring, in the service of House Baratheon," Davos concluded.

"Welcome," Dany said. "I am Queen Daenerys Targaryen." Selyse dipped her head and so did her daughter but the big man named Ser Godry did not. Ser Barristan began to growl under his breath but Dany gave him a look and a short shake of her head. "I believe you already know Ser Barristan Selmy, Lord Jon Connington, and Lord Varys."

"Yes, I know them," the former queen said, a distinct coldness in her voice. She said no more and there was an awkward silence.

Dany smiled again. "Come, let us sit and have some refreshments and discuss matters."

"Thank you,…Your Grace," Selyse said and Dany came to the table, sat at its head, with Ser Barristan to her right. "Please, sit next to me, my lady," she said to Selyse and the former queen and her daughter did so on her left side. The tension in the room was thick and Dany decided to ease matters by making small talk as Missandei poured wine and water for everyone. "How was your trip?"

"Cold," the girl Shireen said in a small voice as she picked up a piece of bread and took a bite.

"Yes, it is winter," Dany replied.

"Fortunately, the seas were not too bad," Davos said. "But I fear they may not be soon in Shipwreck Bay. How fair the roads to the south?"

"Snow blocked, for now," Ser Barristan told him. "But we have men working to clear them. Lord Willas Tyrell and some of his men will move south tomorrow."

"As will we," said Selyse. "The sooner the better. We shall go overland to Storm's End."

"If the weather is good, my lady," said Davos.

"The Lord of Light willing," Ser Godry said with a look at Dany from where he sat at the end of the table. Lord Connington glared at him, but said nothing.

Dany smiled. "Yes, we all have our gods, Ser Godry, and we all pray for good weather to see this war to an end and peace come to our lands."

"What god is in your heart, Your Grace?" Selyse asked her.

"The Seven," Dany replied.

"False gods who…," Ser Godry began but Connington slammed his fist on the table and shouted at him.

"Hold your tongue, ser! You are a guest!"

Godry snorted and stood. "An unwanted guest. I knew I should not have come. Supping with enemies gives me a bad belly." He dipped his head, but not to Dany, to Selyse. "Forgive me, Your Grace, but I cannot stand it."

All eyes were full of anger now, but it was Selyse who chastised her man. "You forget your place, ser. I am no longer a queen and neither is my daughter. We are beaten, my husband our King is dead, and so it is over. By the Queen's good grace we still have our heads. Now apologize to her or you may get on your horse and be gone from my daughter's service forever."

Ser Godry looked like he swallowed his tongue for a moment, he was so speechless and his eyes were bulging, but then he calmed himself and dipped his head once to his lady and her daughter, and then turned to Dany and dipped it again. "Apologies…Your Grace. By your leave, I will withdraw."

"As you wish," Dany told him and Ser Balon and Ser Rolly escorted him to the door.

All seemed to heave a sigh of relief. "I do apologize as well," said Selyse. "He is…headstrong, and he was devoted to my husband and our cause, more so than most."

"I do not fault men for devotion," Dany replied. "If I had not such men as Ser Barristan and Lord Varys and more I would not be here now. But the time and place for such must be tempered with wisdom. Your man seems not to have it. I know Lord Davos said you wished him to command your men fighting by our side, but I feel this would be a mistake."

"As you wish, Your Grace," she replied. "I will name another commander on the morrow."

"Good," Dany said, then she looked at Lord Connington who dipped his head and put down his fork and spoke to Selyse.

"Lady Selyse, we should discuss the terms of my representing your family and the Stormlands here in the capital."

"I have no terms," she said. "Except your promises of loyalty to my daughter."

"That you have, my lady."

"Then tell her, my lord, not me."

Connington seemed taken aback for a moment and then nodded and looked across the table at the girl. "Lady Shireen, I pledge my loyalty to you and your house and will faithfully represent your interests in the capital."

Shireen smiled. "Very well, my lord." Dany thought she had done well, and so did everyone else by their looks and smiles.

"That is done," Ser Barristan said. "Now we must discuss the renunciation of the throne. You must…"

"I know what to say, ser," Selyse interrupted him. "So does my daughter. Not to worry, we will not embarrass anyone." Then she turned her eyes to Dany. "As long as you keep your promises you wrote in your letters, we will do what is asked."

"Then we have nothing to worry about," Dany replied and after that they had a somewhat pleasant lunch, though there was still some tension that could not be so easily put aside. Dany wanted to ask her about Sansa and the dagger as well, but said nothing as she did not want to ruin the meal anymore than it already had been.

When the meal was done, Connington left with Selyse and Shireen. Dany then had words with Lord Davos and her advisors. "Does she hate you?" was the first thing she asked Davos. She had noticed a distinct coldness between Selyse and her former Hand.

"Maybe," Davos said. "Ser Godry certainly does."

"That man should be dealt with," Ser Barristan said, his mood foul. "He insulted you, Your Grace, and he is too fanatical to leave free to roam and cause future discord."

Dany had a similar notion as they had eaten lunch but was of two minds. "It is too soon to do something about him," she said. "Let us leave him be for now, and in future if he causes trouble, then we will deal with him."

"As you wish," Ser Barristan replied but he was not happy. Then he spoke to Davos. "My lord, the Queen made you an offer before you sailed for Duskendale. We would have your answer."

Davos nodded. "I shall be honored to become master of ships, Your Grace."

"I am glad," she said, happy her small council was getting larger. Now she needed a Lord Commander of the Queensguard and a new Grand Maester and it would be complete. "I think that is all for now, my lords."

"A moment, Your Grace," said Varys, who had been uncharacteristically silent through much of the lunch. "There is one question that has not been answered. Who is the heir to the Baratheon family and the Stormlands?"

"Aye," said Davos. "This question needs to be settled."

"How can we settle it?" Dany asked. "The girl is still young and is not married."

"And is likely to remain so," Ser Barristan said.

Davos eyes flashed in anger and then he sighed and nodded. "Aye. Sad as it is, and as much as I love Shireen, I fear no man will ever want her hand. A curse she has on her, and no man will want it on him or any of his children."

"The girl's greyscale is not contagious, is it?" Varys asked.

Davos shrugged. "I know not, but in all her years no one who has ever been with her caught the disease. So perhaps it is not. Yet, how to convince any man of this or worse, his family?"

"She has wealth, lands, a title to offer," Dany said. "And Storm's End, one of the grandest castles in all Westeros I have heard. Surely we can find her a husband. I charge all of you to make inquires, and tell Lord Connington the same."

"And if we fail?" Varys asked.

"Don't," she said.

"What of the boy Gendry?" Davos asked as if seized by a sudden idea.

"He is married," Dany said and then realized what he was getting at. "Oh, you mean as heir? I think Selyse will think ill of that notion. He is a Baratheon only by royal decree."

"Yet still a Baratheon," Ser Barristan said. "We must look into the family linage and see who the heir is. If it is Gendry, the law says he has been legitimized and so can serve as heir."

Dany could not but agree as she had made him legitimate. "So be it. Now, let us prepare for the ceremony."

It was short and quickly done. The throne room was packed, as many wanted to witness this moment in history, when the last pretender was finally put aside. The former queens came before the Iron Throne, knelt, renounced the throne, and pledged their house's loyalty to Dany and her house. After that Dany proclaimed them welcome back into the fold of the realm and all cheered.

Not all, actually, Varys later told her, as many people had been placing wagers on whether the Queen would order them executed or not. Tyrion's man Bronn for one lost a hundred gold dragons on such a wager, he told her. Dany was less aghast at this betting than the fact people had such sums of money to bet when her and the realm's coffers were so empty. Always there will be an underground economy, Varys and Lord Harlaw advised her, and money was flowing in the streets, in the shops, and wine sinks, and whorehouses. Taxing it was the next step, Lord Harlaw said, and so Dany ordered a tax on all whorehouses and wine sinks of one silver stag per week. Oh, they shouted and they cried, but still they paid, as did the other businesses in the city as one by one over the coming months new taxes were declared on the grain merchants, the breweries, the wine merchants, the cloth makers, the shipbuilders, and many, many more.

That night Dany was readying for bed when Ser Rolly announced Ser Jorah was outside and wanted words. She sighed and pulled on her dressing gown and told him to admit her strong bear. He had been out all the last two days in charge of men clearing snow to the Blackwater ferry and bridges and so he looked tired and half frozen. On top of that he had a grim look on his face, as if he had something serious to discuss and so he had. She sat at her table and he did as well, and after he refused a cup of offered wine she asked a simple question to head off the bad news she knew was coming.

"How goes the snow clearing?"

"Well, Your Grace," he replied. "The road to the ferry landing is clear, and the ice is thick enough for horses and loaded wagons to cross to the south bank. Soon the road to the first bridge will be clear as well…if it doesn't snow again."

"That is good. Lord Willas and his men…"

But he interrupted her. "Forgive me, Your Grace, but I have heard you are with child."

Gods, she had not expected that. "I…who told you that?"

"When I was in the barracks hall eating I heard a servant whispering to her friends in the nearby kitchens. Apparently it is become a common rumor…or is it true?"

"It's…yes," she sighed. "It is true." Gods, how did people find out? A secret known by ten people, but now how many more?

Ser Jorah was staring at her. "Daario is the father…or someone else?"

"Daario," she said. "There has been on one else since Meereen, and Qyburn assures me it was after that."

"Qyburn…that healer who rode with Vargo Hoat? You trust him?"

"I do." Or maybe she shouldn't if he was the source of the rumors.

"This makes for many complications, Your Grace."

"I know. I have talked endlessly with Ser Barristan and Jon on…"

"Jon Stark? You told him and not me?"

He was hurt, by more than keeping him in the dark than anything else. He knew Daario had been her lover so that was not the issue. It was Jon he was jealous of, ever since the big battle. "Yes, I told Jon. He guessed I was with child when we were at Winterfell. I got sick and he knew because…he just knew." It was a small lie but he seemed to believe her.

"And if the serving girls and cooks also know everyone else will soon know," he said. "You with child, the father dead, and no husband…endless problems." Then his next words shocked her. "I have asked you before and I do so again. I will marry you, khalessi."

She was stunned and could say nothing and he took her silence as a refusal. "I see. You are repulsed by the thought. I will go." He stood and turned for the door.

"No…wait!"

He stopped and looked at her as she stood and came to his side. "I…I need a husband, yes, but the realm will not accept just any husband."

"You mean they will not accept a slave trader who ran away from justice."

"There is that…though I have pardoned you. They will also expect me to marry a lord of a great house."

"There are few such lords and fewer still unmarried. Besides, you are the Queen, you can marry who you wish."

"I know…but I will also have this child, but he or she will have no claims and any future children…do you understand."

"Aye… great lords and small lords alike will not marry you if you are to have a child from another man."

"Yes."

"So why not claim this child is ours?"

A solution she needed, but she had her doubts. "But…we never…"

"And who is to know that?" he asked, very close to her now. "How long have we been side by side? Who is to say we did not lie together as the gods meant men and women to do?"

It was possible yet there was the old problem. "I know you love me."

"I do, as always…Daenerys." She was silent and now he sighed. "But your feelings on this have not changed, have they?"

She shook her head in a sad way. "They have not…I am sorry."

"Do you love another now? Perhaps Jon Stark?"

"No…no," she quickly replied, before he got angry. "And he has refused me anyway."

She had not meant to say it and now she saw the hurt in his eyes. "You asked him to marry you?"

"I did…and he said no. He will not raise a child that is not his."

"I understand. All his life he suffered for the same reason. But this child we can claim is ours. You will have an heir…and more to come."

She knew that's what he wanted, to lay with her, to make love to her, to give her more children. Once he had kissed her, on the ship as they sailed from Qarth to Slaver's Bay, and she had felt a rush of excitement from that…and still had rejected him. And now he was here, and he was offering her all she wanted…but a price had to be paid. She would have to take him as her husband. He was almost three times her age, and he was not a handsome man, not like Jon or Daario, but he was not an ugly brute either. And he was strong and loyal, and had proved himself over and over again, since his redemption. Yet he had little else to offer. No great wealth, no rich lands, unless you counted timber and furs, and few people to serve her when needed. Better marriages she could make…but not if she wanted to keep her child. Yet could they sustain the lie, could it keep until the child was placed on the throne someday, could any future child be kept ignorant of their eldest sibling's true heritage?

All of this flashed through her mind in seconds and then she found herself moving towards him and then he was holding her, and kissing her, and she did not want him to stop for she hadn't been held in so long she had forgotten what it was like. He picked her up in his strong arms and took her to the bed and there she finally gave him what he longed desired and let him take her again and again through the night as she cried out in shuddering joy many times. Little sleep they got, and limp and exhausted they awoke at the dawn in the bed in each others' arms. As he stirred Dany said one word.

"Yes."

He sighed. "When?"

"When the Others are totally defeated. But tell no one."

"As you wish. But your guards outside know I spent the night here."

"They know not to speak on this. But others are not so tight-lipped, as we now know. Get up, you must go before the castle awakes."

She sensed his displeasure at this command as he leaned on one elbow and looked at her. But he said nothing, then leaned over, kissed her gently, and then got up and dressed. His chest and broad back were hairy, like the bear of his sigil, but she cared not. He had been a fine lover, and her body had needed all he gave her. And he would make a fine husband.

After he left she lay in bed and thought on it all, and knew it had to be him. No other would keep her secret and raise the child as his own. Not Jon, he was clear about that. She desired him and he her, but he was also devoted to his order, to the Night's Watch, and perhaps it was the way things had to be, with him on the Wall, ever vigilant. And he did not love Dany, despite their mutual attraction. No other loved her, she knew. Some would say they loved her, but what would they really want? Of all the men she knew only Ser Jorah truly loved her. She did not love him, but she hadn't loved Khal Drogo at first either. Maybe time would change her heart.

She put a hand on her belly, and felt it was getting bigger, and knew that life was growing inside her, a child, her child, and she would have it, and raise him or her, and make sure her child was loved and had a father, and would some day sit on her throne. And her family, once almost destroyed, would grow as it was meant to grow, and would continue to rule the Seven Kingdoms for a long time to come.