Team Dany left the ruins of Vaes Dothrak with a new Dothraki army. They rode horses taken from the khals that were murdered.
"It's a long ride back to Meereen," Jorah remarked.
"Hold on," said Dany. She looked at Jorah. "I haven't decided yet if you're coming back to Meereen."
"OH COME ON!" It was not only Kanna, but Tohru and Shouta who said it, simultaneously. Dany jumped in her saddle. It had been a long time since she'd met such passionate opposition.
"Don't listen to them, Dany," said Daario. "They are weak."
"Shut up, Daario," said Tohru. "Dany, Jorah has done nothing but help since he's been with us. Don't you think you're being a teensy bit ridiculous?"
"Nothing but help," said Dany. "Yes, and that includes our enemies."
"Dany, he was exiled," said Kanna. "Once he got to know you, he changed. I think that counts for a lot more."
Dany bit her tongue. "I'll think about it."
Kanna squeezed Jorah's good hand as Dany looked on in concern.
That night, they made camp, and Dany wanted Tohru and Kanna to share her tent, not Daario. Defeated, Daario walked to Shouta's tent, only to find Shouta and Ornela wrapped up in their blankets together, naked.
"Oh gods!" Daario exclaimed. "Come on!"
"What, Daario, get your own tent," said Shouta. "Aren't you with Dany?"
"She wants to be with the girls today," Daario repeated with disdain.
Shouta threw his head back and laughed. "Well, fuck you, Daario. Go sleep with the Dothraki."
"Come on," Daario groaned. "Have I really not done enough to earn my place around here? I left a good job and sacked the city that raised me to be here, and you guys do nothing but treat me like dirt."
"It's because you treat us like dirt, Daario!" Shouta retorted. "Especially our boy Jorah. Hey, if Kanna's with Dany, you can go share his tent!"
"Ohhhh, piss off, Shouta. You're just a fuckboy anyway," said Daario as he left.
"I'm the fuckboy? You're literally only here because Dany likes your dick! When we met you, you did nothing but boast about your dick! YOU ARE THE DEFINITION OF FUCKBOY!" Shouta shouted.
Dany ripped the tent open, and everyone fell silent. "Shouta," said Dany.
"Oh no," said Shouta, pulling the covers over his face. "I'm sorry, Khaleesi."
"Shouta, I need you," she said. "Come with me. Daario, go sleep with the Dothraki."
"WHAT? Ugh," Daario sighed. As he walked out, he saw Tohru and Kanna were with Dany. They wiggled their fingers at him, and he flipped them off.
Shouta threw on pants and went with them. They arrived at Jorah's tent. "Jorah?" Dany said. Her tone had changed from the queenly authority to soft and friendly.
Slowly, Jorah opened his tent to them. "Khaleesi," he said.
"Um," said Dany, "Kanna told me about…" Tears actually started to fill her eyes. "Can I see it?" Jorah took a deep breath. Tentatively, he began to unwrap the bandages on his arm. Shouta's seal was still there, with the greyscale rash inside. "Okay," said Dany. "So, Shouta, this is supposed to contain it?"
"I mean, I've never seen this disease before, obviously," said Shouta. "It's a crude seal. When we get back to Meereen, I can try to do more."
Dany nodded. "Shouta," she whispered. "Look."
Jorah held out his arm further so they could see, and they all inhaled sharply when they noticed. There was one small scale that had broken through the seal. Shouta hung his head. "I'm sorry," he said. "Like I said, when we get back to Meereen..."
"I remember hearing of a girl in Westeros who had been cured of greyscale," Dany said.
"Shireen Baratheon," said Jorah. "She was very young when she contracted the disease, and very young when it was stopped. Stopped, not cured. Her face is still disfigured from it."
"All the same," said Dany. "Jorah..." The tears started to flow. "When I come to the Iron Throne in Westeros, I'm going to need you by my side." At this, all of their eyes started to water. "And that's why you can't come back to Meereen. Shouta, you are a fantastic mage, and I know you're doing your best, but...Jorah, you must go to Westeros and find a cure for this."
Jorah rewrapped his arm before hugging Dany. "You will be the best queen this world has ever seen," he said, and he kissed her on the cheek. "I'll pack my things and leave in the morning."
Jorah's send off was at dawn the next morning. Dany handed him a horse, and they embraced again. "I'm sorry I was such a bitch to you before," Dany said.
"It is forgiven, Khaleesi," said Jorah. "I was no saint either."
Kanna rode up behind them. Dany and Jorah looked at her in alarm. She, too, had packed.
"Kanna, no," Jorah scolded. "We talked about this."
"We did," Kanna said, "but I made my own decision."
"I'm not putting you through this. There's no guarantee I will survive," said Jorah. "Dany needs you. Please, stay here, and be happy."
"Everyone here can attest that I was never happy when you were gone," said Kanna.
Dany nodded and stepped away. Clearly, this was a private matter. Jorah rode up beside Kanna. "Kanna, please, don't throw your life away on me," said Jorah. "I am old. If the greyscale doesn't take me, then something else will. You are young and beautiful and wonderful, and I am not worth it. I don't deserve you. Please..."
"Throw my life away?" Kanna whispered. "Is that really what you think? Jorah, I am functionally immortal. Time is inconsequential to me. I will live for hundreds of lifetimes, and I choose to spend this one with you. Too much of it has already been wasted."
Jorah shook his head. "I don't understand."
"Me neither," said Kanna. "But I'm coming with you."
Jorah took Kanna's hand, and they looked back at their friends. The khalasar cheered and waved goodbye. As they departed, Shouta picked up grass from the ground. He tossed the blades into the air, and they turned to fireworks.
They returned triumphantly to Meereen. The Unsullied lined the streets to herald the Queen's coming. Civilians leaned out their windows, tossing flowers at their feet. Children ran alongside the company shouting "Mhysa!"
"Wow," said Dany. "Looks like everything has been going well."
"Yeah," said Tohru. "A little too well."
From the Great Pyramid, Lucoa, Tyrion, and Varys watched the company approach. Lucoa breathed a sigh of relief and wasted no time in meeting them at the door.
Dany hugged Lucoa. "Thank you so much for taking care of things! It looks like you've done a great job keeping everyone in line!"
"Yeah, about that," said Lucoa.
A male voice approached the door. "LUCOA! QUEEN REGENT LUCOA!"
"Oh no!" Lucoa squealed. "Quick, get inside!" She pulled Dany in, and Tohru and Shouta ran in before Lucoa slammed the door shut. Lucoa covered her face with her hands. "I need help," she said.
"Hey, it's okay, I'm back now," said Dany. "I know how demanding the civilians can be, trust me. You won't have to deal with them anymore."
"No, it's not that, you see...I promised to marry a Great Master!" Lucoa finally squeaked out.
"WHAT?! WHY?!" Dany cried.
"You see...well...you know how I have a sort of way with men," said Lucoa. "A powerful effect, shall we say."
"And some women," Tohru chimed in.
"So I figured I could use some of that power to my advantage," said Lucoa. She was pacing back and forth in the entrance hall. "When you left, the Great Masters all came courting me. So I decided to make a little game out of it."
"Oh no," said Tohru.
"I told them that whosoever did the most to help the freed slaves, I would marry them," said Lucoa.
"Oh no!" exclaimed Tohru.
"Brilliant!" Dany said.
"They've given away houses, clothes, food, even jobs," said Lucoa. "I didn't think they'd actually do it. Now they want me to pick one."
"We'll just go to Westeros now and leave it alone," said Shouta. "Problem solved."
"Problem not solved," said Tyrion, who had just strutted down with Varys. "If we abandon Meereen now, after this especially, the Great Masters will resume their rule with a vengeance."
"So what do you propose?" Dany asked, and then she made eye contact with Varys. "And who is this?"
"A good friend," said Lucoa and Tyrion together.
Dany looked from Lucoa to Tyrion and Varys. "Alright," she said. "I'll get the details later. Tyrion, what do you propose?"
"She made a promise, and she must follow through with it," answered Tyrion.
"Absolutely not," said Lucoa. "I am a god. I do not marry people, least of all ugly old men."
Tyrion rolled his eyes. "Then why would you have promised it?"
"Because I assumed they'd be jerks, and I'd just burn them up!" Lucoa exclaimed.
"Charming," said Tyrion. "Well, Dany is without a husband."
"I'm not bringing a Great Master to Westeros with me as a husband," said Dany.
"Hm," said Lucoa. "I suppose there are always ways a husband can die shortly after marriage."
"That can be arranged," said Shouta.
Everyone let out various exasperated sighs and contemplated.
"I don't hate it," Tyrion finally said.
Daario walked in. "Hey," he said. "There are people here to see you, Dany. They're from Westeros."
The company looked at each other in shock. "Who is it?" Tyrion asked.
"They go by the surname of Greyjoy," said Daario. "I know you probably need some time to prepare, but they claim to be interested in some kind of alliance."
Tyrion stroked his chin. "Now that is interesting! Dany, get yourself settled. I'll go out to get more information."
"Thank you," said Dany. She looked at Lucoa. "We'll deal with your problem later. For now, get some rest."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," said Lucoa. "Hey, where's Kanna?"
"I'll get her caught up," said Tohru. She and Shouta ushered Lucoa away, Tyrion went to meet the Greyjoys, and Dany took Varys into the Great Hall.
Tyrion brought Theon and Yara Greyjoy into the Great Hall before Dany's throne. The new Queensguard sat beside her: Tohru, Daario, Varys and Grey Worm to the right, and Lucoa, Shouta, Missandei, and an empty seat for Tyrion on the left. Theon gulped when he saw them all in a line, and then, seeing Lucoa, deeply missed a certain part of his body.
"Your Majesty, presenting Theon and Yara Greyjoy of the Iron Islands," said Tyrion. He bowed and took his seat.
Yara stepped forward. "Daenerys, we come in search of an alliance. For centuries the Iron Islands have been largely ignored by the crown. We hope to prove our worth now before you come into your throne in Westeros. We are prepared to offer you one hundred ships to aid your campaign."
The Queensguard murmured in assent. Dany said, "That is very generous. I suspect you will be wanting something in return."
Yara smirked and nodded. "I'm not sure how much you know about Westeros currently. Our father, Balon Greyjoy, recently embarked on another campaign to try to conquer parts of the North. Not only was he unsuccessful, he died in a 'freak accident' and has been replaced with our uncle Euron. Euron is now plundering his way through the coasts of Westeros, and if he continues, he will surely get us all killed. We seek your help in defeating and overthrowing him. We would also ask for independence. The Iron Islands have never quite fit in to the Westerosi way. In order to preserve our way of life, we must be an independent state."
The Queensguard could tell that Dany did not like that. "I am happy to help you defeat your uncle," said Dany. "You seem like a strong woman. I have built my regime alongside strong women. I would be happy to have the Ironborn as my allies, with you at the helm."
"Thank you," said Yara.
"However, I am not ignorant to the Ironborn's way of life that you so wish to preserve. A record of reaving, roving, raiding, and raping. This is wholly unacceptable for the world that I wish to build. So if I am to accept your alliance, I must have your word that you would recognize my rule and cease these practices."
"But that is all the Ironborn know," Yara protested.
"Then they can learn a new way, a better way. Yara, you mentioned the mistakes of your father. My father too made grave mistakes. He left the world much worse than he found it. I intend to leave it better. What about you?" Dany asked.
Yara exchanged looks with Theon, who shrugged. "We'll work something out," said Yara. She bent the knee, and Theon did the same.
Dany stepped off her throne to personally shake both of their hands. "Welcome, friends," said Dany. "Tohru, will you please set them up with some rooms? It will be some time before we are ready to depart. There are a few more loose ends that we must attend to." She glanced back at Lucoa, who blushed.
Tohru bade Yara and Theon follow her, and they obliged. She lead them up the stairs. "You are in luck. A couple of our group recently had to leave us, so we have a room open. Erm, are you a couple?"
"Oh, god, no!" Yara laughed. "This is my brother. But if you only have one room, it's no big deal."
"Oh, no, there are plenty of rooms in this thing," said Tohru. "I can convert one no problem." She opened the door to Jorah's old room. "So whoever wants to take this one, it's ready. Do you need help moving any stuff?"
"Damn, what are you, the royal maid or something?" Yara asked.
"Something like that," said Tohru with a smile. "But I'm also a knight."
"A female knight? Right on!" said Yara. "You'll have to show me some of that skill later."
"Gladly," said Tohru. She thought. "Oh, I know the perfect room! Just give me a few moments. I'll be right back." Tohru flitted off down the hallway and up the stairs. As she did, Yara's eyes followed hungrily.
The Great Masters gathered in the Great Hall. Lucoa sat on the throne holding a single rose. Dany and Shouta sat on either side of her.
"Well," Lucoa began, "you have all greatly impressed me with your feats of kindness. The city is full of joy and prosperity, and it is all thanks to you. Because you have all gone to such great lengths, it makes this decision so much more difficult." She looked down at the rose, then at her suitors, and breathed deeply. "But the Great Master that I have chosen to be my husband is Yezzan zo Qaggaz!" Yezzan was easily the most emaciated of the bunch, and his extravagant clothing had been exchanged for rags. Joyfully, he bound forward and fell to his feet before Lucoa, kissing her hand. "Thank you all for participating. Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed. You are all welcome to attend our wedding today in the Royal Courtyard."
At dusk, the residents of the Pyramid all shuffled out to the Courtyard to witness the shotgun wedding of Lucoa and Yezzan. Shouta performed the rites based on Aztec customs. Tohru carried Lucoa out as a matchmaker would carry a young bride to the home of her betrothed. Both Lucoa and Yezzan wore a white cape. When Lucoa was placed beside Yezzan, Shouta tied the capes together, signifying their union. Shouta spoke some words in a language which nobody understood, and he sent the couple back into the Pyramid to consummate the marriage.
When Lucoa and Yezzan entered their chamber, she bid him drink a potion Shouta had prepared earlier, and he promptly fell into a deep sleep. Lucoa removed her wedding garb and crawled into bed beside him, enjoying a peaceful rest as well.
Outside, Tohru brought forth tamales for the wedding guests. They all sat around and ate confusedly.
"This wedding...was not real, right?" Tyrion asked Shouta.
Shouta pulled Ornela onto his lap and laughed. "It's real enough. But I've ensured Yezzan won't be a problem for Lucoa. At most, he'll just follow her around like a puppy for the rest of the time, or until we figure out what else to do with him."
Tyrion raised his glass. "To the happy couple!"
Shouta and Tyrion clinked glasses and drank. "What an amazing place," said Ornela. "Everyone is so happy here. I am so lucky to have met Daenerys and been brought to such a place."
"I'll drink to that," said Shouta, raising his glass again. Tyrion clinked his glass a second time. "You're right, Ornela. Everyone is happy now. We are surrounded by friends. We are closer than ever to achieving our goal. And, of course, love is in the air." He pulled Ornela's face to his to kiss her.
Elsewhere, Yara sat beside Tohru. "How?" she asked.
"Hm?" Tohru responded, her mouth full of tamale.
"All of this," said Yara. "Somehow you had time to not only get Theon's room together and move our stuff into the pyramid, but make food, gather drink, and decorate for this wedding! What the hell are you?"
Tohru smirked. "I am not of this world. We'll just leave it at that for now."
"Surely not," said Yara. "But hey. How about a spar?" She drew her sword.
Tohru swallowed the last of her tamale. "Bring it," she said.
The two girls stood up and began a friendly sword fight. The guests cheered and egged them on. Tohru of course went easy on Yara, as she used to when sparring with Ser Jorah. Yara was enthralled with her new friend's easy demeanor in battle. It was like she didn't even have to try. Likewise, Tohru admired Yara's raw power and determination. Feelings that had long been dormant in her began to stir.
In a moment of Tohru's distraction, Yara nearly won the match. Tohru hastily blocked her, and Yara's face stopped right in front of Yara's. The girls resheathed their swords and bowed.
"You have to tell me where you learned that," Yara said breathlessly.
"I'm a sellsword," said Tohru.
"You do not fight like a sellsword," said Yara. "You don't fight like anything I've ever seen."
"Well, I highly doubt you've ever come across my kind," said Tohru.
"So mysterious," said Yara in a tone that surprised even her. Typically, she just took what she wanted, but something about Tohru made her pause. The Yara that stood beside Tohru was softer, her voice...feminine? She searched Tohru's eyes, and found no answers there.
Across the Courtyard, Shouta watched the women. "Kiss...kiss...kiss...," he whispered, until Ornela pushed him into a pond.
