Chapter 22:
DAENERYS
Daenerys dreamt again of the Iron Throne.
Only this time it was surrounded by ashes on the ground while some roamed in the air. There was no ceiling in the throne room and the windows were broken to reveal a red sun filled with black clouds in the sky that made the Blackwater appear like blood. Outside, the homes of the smallfolk were aflame as the banner of House Targaryen held high above the Red Keep flapped in the wind.
Deep down, Daenerys was troubled by this vision. Yes, she sought to restore her family's legacy, but was this the image she wished to cast upon the people of her land?
"Fire and blood, dear sister. Fire and blood," said a voice that Dany immediately recognized.
She turned to see her brother Viserys, who was dressed in black, standing beside her overlooking the city.
"It was the way that Aegon the Conqueror established our House's rule over the Seven Kingdoms for centuries," Viserys said, smiling at what he saw. "It is the way our House will be restored to its glory."
He then turned to her and cupped her face in his hands before his lips smashed against hers forcefully. She was so shocked by this that her whole body froze and shivered. Fortunately, her brother's lips parted as he continued to stare at her.
"The dragon takes what it pleases, Dany," Viserys said. "Never forget that. The usurper and his dogs obviously did, but do not worry, dear sister, their fates have already been sealed. You will make sure of that, oh yes."
A beat of silence followed between them.
"It seems I misjudged you, beloved sister," Viserys said. "You have done what Aegon V failed to do in Summerfall: you have brought back the dragons. And you did it by our House words."
"Fire and blood," Dany murmured.
"Yes," Viserys smiled approvingly. "But not just any blood, dear sister. You did it with traitor's blood. That false knight deserved what was coming to him, as did that witch who is now burning in the Seven Hells, being taken again and again by the Dothraki."
Daenerys winced as she was reminded again of how she delivered justice that day. Viserys continued, as he paid no attention to her.
"Soon enough our enemies will be crying out for the dragon's mercy," Viserys raved. "But they have all forgotten: No one takes from the dragon. NO ONE!"
Before she could say anything, her brother and the throne room faded away into oscurity as Dany's face was touched with cool water. Her eyes opened as some female... servant?... who she didn't recognize, stood over her, pressing a damp cloth against her cheeks. The servant looked up and her eyes widened as she saw that Dany was awake. She quickly hurried to the door and yelled in some language unknown to Dany, who took a look around her and saw that she was in a strange room with marble flooring and colorful silk hangings draped on the walls. She was lying in a fine cotton bed with a balcony next to her and the noise outside reminded her somewhat of the merchants trading in Pentos. The door opened again to her three maidservants, who gasped in shock at seeing their Khaleesi awake.
Before they could say anything, they were pushed aside by Drogo and a dark skinned man in elegant clothing, who walked languidly. Drogo knelt down beside Dany and touched the left side of her face.
"You are awake, moon of my life," Drogo spoke softly. "I knew you would return back to us."
"Us?" Dany said, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion before she heard cooing as Irri brought with her a child... her child.
Dany sat up as Irri handed her the child, who was beautiful. He had his mother's thick silver blonde hair, with his father's bronze skin, a perfect combination of his parents. The baby's violet eyes opened as he looked at his mother for the first time. Dany smiled for the first time since she awoke.
"Hello, Rhaego," said Dany. "I am your mother and I promise you I will not anyone hurt you in any way. You have my word."
Thedark-skinnedman cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Welcome to Qarth, Daenerys Targaryen. It is a pleasure to finally meet you and it is good you have recovered from your deep sleep."
"I thank you for your kind words..."
"Xaro Xhoan Daxos, Khaleesi. And I'm afraid I must apologize for your khalasar's treatment from the leaders of this city."
Dany looked to her "sun and stars" whose face had turned into a scowling mask which frightened Dany slightly, for she had never seen her Drogo like this, not even in combat.
"How did they treat my people?" Dany stated coldly.
"You see the Thirteen have heard greatly about your... achievements, Khaleesi. Even more so about how you hatched dragons from stone, bringing what was long thought dead back into this world. They insisted greatly on seeing your dragons, and when your khal husband refused, I'm afraid their arrogance in ruling the greatest city that ever was and is, blinded them into disrespecting the Dothraki and refusing them entry into the city."
"Greatest city of the world, my ass," Drogo scoffed in Dothraki. Dany rested her hand on Drogo's bicep to calm him as she fumed inside upon hearing of her people's treatment. One thing confused her, though.
"How are we in this city then?" Dany asked.
Xaro looked at Drogo in fear before turning back to Dany. "Because I vouched for you."
"You vouched for me and my people," asked Dany.
"I am one of the Thirteen, after all," said Xaro. "And the only one who had any sense throughout the meeting. Their disrespect of the Dothraki nearly led to bloodshed, Khaleesi, a situation of which I diffused just in time. Gods know, we would become the laughingstock of the other Cities."
"Well I thank you for your kindness, Lord Daxos..."
"Just call me Xaro."
"...Xaro, and I will make sure you are rewarded handsomely once I take back my father's throne."
"You have a long and dangerous road ahead of you then, Khaleesi, and I wish you well in your battles to come." Xaro cleared his throat again. "I'll let you be for now. Once you've fully recovered, feel free to explore the city." Xaro gave one last look at Drogo then Dany, before leaving the room, almost hurriedly. The maidservants followed as well, leaving Drogo and Dany alone.
"Can we trust him?" Dany whispered softly to Drogo.
"Of course not," Drogo sneered. "But he's the only one who knows that going against us is something only a fool will do. And he hates the Thirteen more than I do, so he will help us in removing their filth from this world."
"You're going to kill them," Dany softly deduced.
"When the time is right," Drogo said.
"Yes. When the time is right," Dany said, as she looked upon Rhaego who was sleeping now.
A/N: And we're back from hiatus and the start of a new season begins! I'm sorry for the delay (I did say that it would return on the one year anniversary of this fic back in December) and this chapter being short, but I extensively plan out this story carefully and I promise you that there will be plenty of drama going forward, especially with Jon Snow's identity reveal and the White Walker crisis. So without further ado I present "Summer Fever: Fall of Dynasties."
