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Chapter 91

Daenerys XI

It had been a mere two days since she'd made landfall in Westeros. She had walked through the halls of Magister Illyrio's mansion, she had been hailed as Khaleesi in Vaes Dothrak, and she had been an honored guest in Qarth, and yet none of those places had felt quite as surreal as Westeros. This was a place that had been talked up so much in her childhood that it may as well have been a place of myth, not unlike Old Valyria. Her name had renown abroad but this was the hall of the dragons.

Though she had respect in Vaes Dothrak and Qarth, in Westeros she had deference and it was peculiar to see. Men bowed and ladies curtsied in her presence. Since the first day, she had received a pyramid of tea and dinner invitations. The king had monopolized the majority of her meal times, which gave her an excuse to decline the dinners, but she was still unsure what to do with the tea invites.

The one invite she could not decline was the one she had received immediately from the Tyrells after the council meeting. It was with some hesitation that she had accepted, her stomach tied into knots at seeing Lady Olenna again. Dinner had been a not unpleasant affair. Lady Olenna had, surprisingly, been the only woman present. The rest in attendance were her son, the Lord Paramount of the Reach—clearly someone of great importance, she noted—and all of his sons. She'd already met Lord Willas Tyrell, who gave her a gracious nod, but then she met Ser Garlan and Ser Loras. They were all handsome men in their own rights, though she learned that Ser Garlan was already married and Lord Willas had yet to marry, but was betrothed to Lady Sansa. Daenerys found it intriguing that the Starks and Tyrells were set to marry twofold. A very important house then, she thought.

Much of the conversation had been small talk. Daenerys asked after the Reach and King's Landing. Lord Willas was the chattiest of the bunch with his wealth of knowledge for all things and she found herself appreciating his every word. Every once in a while Lady Olenna would interject with a cutting remark, though Daenerys was surprised that she kept her tongue gentle when speaking of past members of the Targaryen family. The tone became noticeably less gentle when Daenerys inquired about her brother, Prince Rhaegar; it was clear Lady Olenna disapproved of much of the war that had taken place. She ended with calling her son an oaf for failing to root out Lord Stannis Baratheon. Apparently, Lord Stannis was a political prisoner under King Aemon for his recent failure to surrender. She was pleased to hear that the usurper's brother had not escaped consequences either.

That still left the tea invitations. She knew it would be the height of rudeness to decline them all. There were apt to be allies as well as enemies found amongst those invites, but she had no means of sorting through them and knowing which ones she could safely decline and which ones would take offense. She hoped she could stall a few days with delays in replies, but she knew that would not last forever. She dearly hoped that Margaery Stark was knowledgeable enough; judging by the rest of her family, she would be. Perhaps the two of them and Missandei could spend a day bonding over their unfamiliarity with Westeros and make a project of sorting through it all. Just the thought made her smile.

If she remembered rightly, the young woman who had listened to her tale of loss and hardship, sympathetically wincing at times, was Lady Margaery Stark. So many names had been given to her that day that she only remembered a handful, so it was difficult to say. They were of an age and if she truly was a member of the Stark family, she could hopefully be trusted as an ally of King Aemon's.

She and Aemon were finally meeting in the godswood together to introduce their dragons. She would not deny a shiver of nerves at the prospect. She loved her children and though she thought she had them well-trained, they could be unpredictable. They valued their independence and had a tendency to do what they wanted. The last thing she was prepared for was if they snapped King Aemon's baby dragon to pieces. It was a breach of respect that would drive a permanent wedge between them.

She had hope. When Rhaegal called out to Drogon and Rhaellon, they usually answered. She had seen enough of her own dragons that their moods were still nowhere as mercurial as Viserys' had been. They had snapped at others and usually hissed before their flames had come in to show their testiness. The cries they gave to Rhaegal had not sounded hostile and she hoped that was a promising sign that the dragons could coexist.

The idea of sharing a home with the Kingslayer still bothered her, but she made an attempt to put it out of her mind. He was staying out of her way and she was staying out of his. She wanted to believe that there was no ill will specifically held against the Targaryens. That seems likely if he is such a staunch supporter of King Aemon, she thought. But Aemon still did not look like a dragon. Throughout the course of her life, she learned that looking Targaryen had its downsides and its upsides. There were those like Magister Illyrio Mopatis who took her in at just a glance, but then she recalled the warlocks in the House of the Undying and shuddered.

There's nothing to say there aren't similar dangers here, she mused. When she and Lady Olenna had spoken at dinner the day before, there had been mention of traitors and their recent deaths, but no details. She wondered if she could get a straight answer out of King Aemon about it. At any rate, the lady thankfully had the good grace not to mention the prospective marriage again, but Daenerys had not liked her shrewd expression.

Daenerys noticed the distinct quality of the afternoon sunlight and rose once more from her vanity. She could at least look forward to seeing King Aemon and her dragons again. She soon met him at the entrance of the hall.

He grinned at her. "Good to see you, Aunt Daenerys."

"Aemon, we've been over this. It's Daenerys."

"Of course," he replied. But he still took the time to place a light kiss on her knuckles and offered his arm. He winced as Rhaegal scrambled across his shoulders for a scratch. "He's already almost too big to carry."

"They grow quickly," she said. "I doubt he'll be there by the end of the week."

"Probably. It's a good thing this meeting is happening now. I can hardly contain him." As if in apparent answer to his words, Rhaegal leaped from his shoulder and glided down the hall, dragging his chain behind him, which Aemon let fall. It seemed he knew where they were going. "Do you think he knows he's about to meet the other dragons?"

"I've gotten the impression that my dragons can understand me," she said, looking wistfully after Rhaegal gliding. He was already less clumsy and seemed to have become aware that flying did not necessarily have to be hard work.

"How did you train them?"

"With food. Though I didn't need food for them to come to me. They recognize me as their mother, their place of sanctuary," she said.

"I have noticed that Rhaegal wants to be near me almost at all times. It's why he's on my shoulders so much," Aemon said.

"You're his father. You're bound and determined to protect him," Daenerys replied, with the smallest amount of teasing. She had been careful with her dragons, but having them stolen by the warlocks of the House of the Undying had made it clear she hadn't been careful enough.

"He's more important than he knows," Aemon murmured, his eyes far away and a dark look on his face.

Important? Only for securing power or taking more? She inwardly shuddered at the thought. Perhaps it's about being able to defend our family. "Do you mean defending you from any traitors?"

Aemon shook himself and blinked at her. "Certainly not. I can defend myself from any traitors that may present themselves."

"Lady Olenna mentioned you had to deal with some traitors not long before I showed up."

He sighed heavily. "Yes, I did. What did she say?"

"Only that they got what they deserved. She didn't say anything about who they were or what they did. What did they do?" Daenerys was surprised at the sadness that now hovered about Aemon.

"As with most things, it's a long story. We don't really have time right now."

She wrinkled her brow. "I must insist that I know. I need to know whom to look out for."

Aemon frowned. "But they're dead. You don't have to worry about them. I just … didn't want you to preoccupy yourself with any dangers of King's Landing when you've only just arrived. It shouldn't be your concern."

"But it is. We're family, Aemon. I thought I'd lost my family once. I don't want to lose the only one I have left," she said.

A small blush stained Aemon's cheeks. "It warms my heart to hear you say that. If it makes you feel better, I am not the only one left. Our grand uncle, Maester Aemon, is at the Wall."

"Grand uncle? How have I not heard of this?"

"Few remembered that he was there. He could have been the king. But he was at the Citadel, and maesters shed their familial obligations, so he did as the traditions of the Citadel demanded. I can help you send a raven," Aemon said with a charming smile.

Daenerys' heart sang upon hearing that there was yet another member of the family. "I would like that. But I still want answers about the traitors."

Aemon chuckled. "You won't be dissuaded, will you? Very well. I believe I already mentioned to you that Lord Jaime arrested his father for treason."

Daenerys became rigid. She had been so concerned about the Kingslayer's presence that she had forgotten. The Kingslayer's father as well? But Lord Tyrion had been amiable. He was shrewd, but that seemed to be a highly desired trait for anyone serving on the small council. Yet the father had been plotting treason?

He nodded grimly. "I had to behead Jaime and Tyrion's father for his crimes. Robert Baratheon's queen was Cersei Lannister, Tywin's daughter. He was … quite irate when I staked my claim and removed the usurper from the throne. There's more to it than that, but that in itself is what drove Tywin to treason. He was obsessed with his family's legacy. He wanted only the best and was not willing to settle for anything less. It seemed not to matter to him that I made Lord Jaime my Hand, the second most powerful position in the Seven Kingdoms. Once his family had tasted the kingship, nothing less would do."

She felt her eyes darken. It made her think of the madness that overtook her brother. Viserys had obsessed his whole life about becoming king, selling her for the army he never really received. "You said the Kingslayer arrested him?"

"In the midst of the coup itself. It was far too near a thing."

Daenerys frowned. "Could you not act sooner?"

"First, I was at sea, coming home from Dorne at the time of the coup. Tywin was clever and he conspired with another equally clever man to conceal their tracks. With the … ill reputation of our house, we could not move forward with arrests until we had ironclad proof. They had to be caught in the act. Regrettable, but necessary."

Daenerys furrowed her brow. "Ser Barristan told me about what the Mad King did."

Aemon nodded grimly. "We must pay the price for his madness. There are those who are looking for madness at every turn. You must guard your behavior carefully. It's an unfortunate price for peace, but it is one I will gladly pay."

They walked the rest of the way to the godswood in silence. Her confidence wavered yet again. When she walked through the crowds after her arrival and saw all of the smiling, cheering faces of the people, she thought her brother had been vindicated that the people in Westeros had indeed just been waiting for the return of House Targaryen. Yet Aemon had not been king for a year before a coup had been attempted. She was pleased to see that he and his allies had prevailed, but was concerned that he would still be watched so closely. It had not escaped her that any time her dragons flew overhead, everyone—from the servants to the nobility—all flinched. The one council meeting she had attended, most of the members had leaned away from Rhaegal perched on the king's shoulder. She hoped with time that people's fear would flag and they would once again grow used to seeing dragons.

Daenerys breathed in the godswood once they stepped within it. She had barely had the chance to see any trees and did not get much of an opportunity to relax among them. Much of Essos was so dry that it required living by the sea to keep from choking on the hot air. But in King's Landing, even with the sun blazing down from overhead, the godswood had an earthy dampness that was gratifying. The forest sounds of birds trilling relaxed her. She took the moment to enjoy it, for it would soon be silenced.

"Children! Drogon! Rhaellon," she shouted to the heavens. She listened patiently, but heard no answering calls. "Drogon! Rhaellon! Come to me!"

Finally, she heard the tinny sound of an answering roar. They were hardly larger than birds from her vantage point, but they slowly circled lower like vultures. They bellowed to her. Rhaegal screeched back, flapping his wings futilely, but Aemon had a firm hand on his chain at this point.

"Careful, Rhaegal," Aemon said, pulling a hand up to stroke his neck. "You'll meet them soon enough."

Drogon and Rhaellon came in to land at her feet. They rushed towards her outstretched hands like dogs looking for attention.

"Good afternoon, my children. I see you've had a good day of fishing," she said.

Drogon rumbled in response and nuzzled further into her hand.

"Children, it is time to meet your brother."

Rhaellon perked up and seemed to become more excited, shivering so that her scales scraped together. Daenerys stepped aside, staying close at hand. Aemon smiled, but he was cautious as he stepped forward and he tightly held Rhaegal's leash. He went to one knee to be closer to her dragons' level.

"Easy, Rhaegal," Aemon murmured.

Drogon and Rhaellon trundled up to the little dragon. They all sniffed each other. There was a long moment in which they waited to see what the reaction would be. Drogon huffed, threw back his head and roared. Rhaellon and Rhaegal both followed suit. Rhaellon was particularly eager to nuzzle the little dragon.

Daenerys let out her breath and smiled. She stroked the back of the heads of both of her dragons. "Well done, children. He is your brother, but he is young. Treat him as such."

Despite her words of warning, both of her dragons turned to lope away, but before they'd gotten too far, they'd stopped to look back and called again.

"Here, Rhaegal," Aemon said, unscrewing the pin that kept his collar in place. As soon as the collar and leash fell away, Rhaegal launched into the air, flapping his way over haphazardly. Rhaellon met him halfway and leaped up to help nudge him upward above the treeline.

"Like they were never apart," Aemon murmured.

They could barely see the dragons through the trees, but Daenerys noticed they stayed low to accommodate Rhaegal.

"They know … we dragons have to stick together," Aemon said, stepping up to her side so that they were almost touching.

Her mouth grew into a wry smile and she arched an eyebrow at him. "I wondered how long you would forestall talk of marriage."

"I did what I could, Daenerys, but Lady Olenna has a point. If there is to be a marriage it would not be like any other. This is a full restoration of our house. There are still enemies in the North that must be uprooted. It's imperative we don't wait too long before sending the army north. You don't have to answer now, but I need you thinking about this." Until this point, she had never seen him so somber. His eyes were soulful and she wondered what lay in those hidden depths.

"I must ask, Your Grace, but how would you see this marriage?"

Aemon cocked his head and a small smile played at his lips. "I see you and I ruling together."

Daenerys was startled and she narrowed her eyes. "I have not gotten the impression you think me a fool, but I hesitate to trust your word. I have heard much about where a woman's place is and for much of the world, her place is not to rule."

Aemon chuckled. "We are a far cry from ordinary individuals, you and I. We are the first Targaryens to hatch dragons in a century. You have two dragons to my one. I cannot see you simply standing behind me. You have far too much fire for that. It's what I like about you."

She actually felt heat enter her cheeks. "Should I decide in your favor, I would hold you to that, Your Grace."

"I would expect nothing less, Princess Daenerys," he replied in kind.

"In order to make a decision, I intend on becoming more familiar with Westeros and its families. I believe you mentioned Lady Margaery would be available?" Daenerys asked.

"Yes," Aemon said. "I have spoken with her and she is aware of your needs. She will come and get you for tea tomorrow."

"I look forward to it," Daenerys replied with a smile.

Once Rhaegal returned, they headed back into the Red Keep. They parted amicably and Daenerys went into the washroom with her heart feeling lighter than air.