Disclaimer: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire or Game of Thrones. Everything here belongs to George R.R Martin.

Chapter XIX - Fire and Blood

Daeron POV

Majority of the Khalasar was gone. They left, abandoning Khal Drogo in search of new Khalasar or somewhere else to perform the ultimate duel to create the new Khal. Leaving a hundred or so who remain for Khal Drogo. Ser Jorah informed me the witch was tied to the post heavily guarded. When I ask him what has become of Drogo? The exile knight was hesitant to answer. He stated that Drogo was alive physically, but there is no soul inside him. Drogo was now a living vegetable.

I would have gone up and killed the witch, but her life belongs to Daenerys. For two days, the handmaidens took care of Daenerys as she went through a fever. An infection from giving birth. She mumbled Drogo and Rhaego's name. Saying "my son." I wasn't sure how to explain this to her once she woke up.

"Daeron?" a soft voice whispered. I snapped from my train of thought and looked to see Daenerys was awake. I moved closer to her, taking her hand. Helping her sit up properly.

"My son…where is he? I want to see him," Daenerys requested. "Where is he?"

"Dany, Rhaego did not make it," I said.

"Tell me," she mumbled, then yelled. "How did my son die?!"

I took a deep breath, "He was stillborn. The midwife believes that the impact from your fall by Qotho. But that is not all…"

"What else?!" She cried.

"When you made that deal…the witch put a curse on his form. His face is handsome…but…his body is that of a dragon."

"I don't understand," she cried.

"Would you like to see him in?" I offered since Daenerys is one to learn things the hard way. She nodded. I got up and went to the bassinet where Rhaego was. Decay has not hindered him yet, so his face remained at peace. Bringing him over, I carefully settled him in his mother's arm. Daenerys held her son and sobbed holding her stillborn. When she removed the blanket, her eyes widened in seeing the wings and tail. But the shock lasted a moment, as the Daenerys gave her love, to embrace the child she lost. It would be an hour when she came back to her senses and looked at me.

"Where is Khal Drogo?" Daenerys sobbed. "Show him to me. Show me what I bought with my son's life."

"Time enough for that later –" I tried to reason since she needs to recover.

"I want to see him now," Daenerys snapped as she lightly punched my chest. Sighing, I obliged by taking Rhaego and swaddling him up and placing him in the bassinet. Next, helped Daenerys into a new skirt, before helping her up and leading the way. Once we were outside, Ser Jorah who stood out on watch aided us. Daenerys looked around seeing the numbers dropped in the population.

"The Khalasar is gone," she mumbled.

"A Khal who cannot ride is no Khal. The Dothraki follow only the strong," Ser Jorah reminded. "I'm sorry, princess."

We took her where Khal Drogo was. He was on the edge of the cliff, laying down watching the sun over the horizon. When she saw her husband, she rushed over to his side. That is when she noticed the change in personality. He laid there, gazing ahead, eyes still open hardly blinking.

She cradles his face, "My sun and stars. Why is he out here alone?"

"He seems to like the warmth, Princess," Ser Jorah answered. Daenerys kissed Drogo, yet there was no response. She turned to us confused, wondering why he wasn't still alive. She asked us, which neither Ser Jorah, Rakharo, Irri, or I could answer. This was blood magic, dark magic, and we have no knowledge of the forbidden arts.

"I want to see her," Daenerys demanded. We nodded, taking her to the pole where Mirri Maz Duur was tied too. She sat on the ground exhausted, yet her eyes focused on the horizon with ease. We kept her alive, so she doesn't die from sunstroke, but limits her resources. The witch looked up at Daenerys with a soft satisfied smile.

"I warned you that only death can pay for life. You knew the price," Mirri Maz said. "He lives. You asked for life, you paid for life."

"This is not life. When will he be as he was?" Daenerys demanded.

"When the sun rises in the west, it sets in the east. When the seas go dry. When the mountains blow in the wind like leaves."

"Leave us," Daenerys said.

"I don't want you alone with this witch," I told her, or rather ordered her.

"Then you stay," Daenerys said, and looked at the others. "Go."

Ser Jorah, Irri, and Rakharo left, leaving us with the witch. The witch merely smiled at us, pleased with what she had done.

"You knew what I was buying, and you knew the price," Daenerys seethed.

"It was wrong of them to burn my temple. It angered the Great Shepherd."

"This is not God's work," Daenerys snapped. "My child was innocent."

"Innocent?" Mirri Maz questioned. "He would have been the stallion who mounts the world. Now he will burn no cities. Now his khalasar will trample no nations into dust."

"We would've taken him home to the far west. To Westeros, where our kingdom awaits," I corrected. "Essos would've been safe. Did your Great Shepherd ever tell you that?"

Mirri Maz did not respond.

"I spoke for you. I saved you." Daenerys said.

"Saved me?" Mirri Maz chuckled. "Three of those riders had already raped me before you saved me, girl. I saw my God's house burn, there where I had healed men and women beyond counting. In the streets I saw piles of heads, the head of the baker who makes my bread, the head of a young boy that I had cured of fever just three moons past. So, tell me again exactly what it was that you saved."

"Your life," Daenerys answered.

"Hmph," the witch replied. "Why don't you take a look at your Khal, then you will see exactly what life is worth when all the rest has gone."

Daenerys paused comprehending her words. I understood her words of course, what the Dothraki did was terrible, but Drogo was our family, and so was Rhaego. If she was going to teach us a lesson about an eye for an eye, then we will give her the same lesson.

"Fire and blood," I told her.

Nothing else to say, we left her to burn in the sun. Daenerys ordered her loyal khals to bring Drogo inside. She went into my tent to collect Rhaego and joined her personal family in her tent. I stood there watching her. Afraid of the decisions she has to make. Sooner or later, Rhaego must be put to rest before his body starts to decay from the exposure.

Drogo on the other hand, his body was alive, but he was on a living vessel. My sweet sister will have to make the ultimate sacrifice, and it's something I can help her with.

"My King," Ser Jorah said, approaching me. "What are your orders?"

I took a deep breath, "We should prepare a pyre just in case."

"As you command," Ser Jorah said. I sighed and went back to sleep.

.o0o.

Daenerys's POV

The rest of the day, Daenerys remained in her tent with her husband and child. Her heart is broken in the choices she made in the past several months. All she could think about was going home and putting her son on the Iron Throne. Drogo's war omens tell him to sail west to reclaim what has been stolen from his wife. But seeing the Dothraki raid, and the consequences of what people would do out of an act of vengeance. She scolded herself for not listening to Daeron; not to listen to Mirri Maz Duur. Why would a prisoner of war offer service to the man who raided their villages?

Daenerys thought the witch did it out of gratitude for saving her life, sparing her from suffering and rape. But she was wrong, the witch did it out of revenge and used blood magic on both Drogo and Rhaego. Daenerys knew she couldn't carry Drogo around the world. A painful sacrifice, one she is aware of considering. To let go of her love, so he doesn't have to suffer anymore. A cut. A cut covered in an ointment of poison was his downfall. And she was the one who applied the poison on his wound. Daenerys looked at Rhaego in her arms. Tears were forming, guilty that she caused his deformity and death. Though beautiful as his wings are, and the sweet angelic face…the world would reject him. She kissed her son's head and rested him in his crib before taking a basin filled with water, cleansing Drogo's body. In her last attempts, she talked to Drogo hoping a memory could snap him out of this.

"Do you remember our first ride, my sun, and stars?" she asked him, washing his arm. "If you are in there, if you haven't found it, show me. You're a fighter. You've always been a fighter. I need you to fight now."

There was no response. Daenerys felt tears shed from her eyes, her father was dead, her grandparents were dead, her mother was dead, her sister Rhaenys and brother Aegon, those who she never knew had died. She only have Daeron whom she is grateful for. She also had some Dornish uncles and cousins who never met her. She needed her husband more then ever.

"I know you're very far away, but come back to me, my sun and stars," she pleaded, cradling his cheek. Once more there was no response. The mirth in his brown eyes was gone. Empty eyes gazing at the fabric of the tent. Daenerys accepted that her husband was indeed dead. She finished washing his body and dried it off before curling up to his form like they used to at night. Her hands tracing his chest, yet tears drench them.

"When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east…" Daenerys sobbed. "…then you shall return to me, my sun and stars."

Daenerys leaned up giving him one final kiss. Reaching over she grabbed a pillow, slowly bringing it up to his face. Hoping that he could stop her. Just as she brought the pillow, she sobbed pressing down to suffocate him. To put an end to his misery.

.o0o.

Daeron POV

By night the pyre was assembled for a Dothraki Funeral. A great square made from wood, in the middle was the Khal's slain horse's position. Over the horse, the platform is constructed on which the Khal will lay. The platform was put from east to west, from sunrise to sunset. Three rings surround the platform that joined together. As I predicted, Daenerys and Drogo's life. It was a hard time, as I comforted her, while the people put Drogo's body up with Rhaego across his chest in a protective hold. Their heads in the direction of the Mother of Mountains. Their treasures, offerings, and supplies assembled for the two's long ride in the Night Lands. Daenerys stood dressed in her wedding gown with her braided hair. She brought another offering to join the funeral pyre. It was the dragon eggs. Rakharo looked at her one last time silently asking her if she was sure.

"Is this your command, Khaleesi?" Rakharo asked her. Daenerys nodded, which she khas set them up, being careful not to disturb the dead.

"Drogo will have no use for dragon eggs in the night lands," Ser Jorah said, joining us.

I said, "We can sell them. We can return to the Free Cities and live as wealthy people for all our days."

"They were not given to me to sell," Daenerys murmured, focused on the pyre.

"Khaleesi, my king, I vow to serve both of you, obey you, to die for you if need be, but let him go." Ser Jorah said turning to Daenerys and I. "I know what you intend. Do not."

"I must," she said. Realizing what she was intending, I grabbed her glaring into her eyes.

"No. You will not. I will not lose you."

"You don't understand, Daeron." She said,

"Don't ask me to stand aside as you climb on that pyre," I growled. "I won't watch you burn. Mother, Father, Viserys, Rhaenys, Aegon, grandfather and grandmother are dead. I can't lose you. I won't allow it."

"Is that what you fear?" Daenerys asked. "To be alone. You won't be alone. You will go home as King."

Daenerys turned around facing the people. "You will be my khalasar. I see the faces of slaves. I free you. Take off your colours. Go if you wish, no one will stop you." Daenerys said to them. "But if you stay, it will be as brothers and sisters, as husbands and wives."

Several got up and left. Mirri Maz Duur who was on her knees tied up with Kovarro restraining her softly laughed.

"Ser Jorah, bind this woman to the pyre," Daenerys ordered. Ser Jorah looked at her debating. "You swore to obey my brother," she reminded. The exiled knight looked at me and I nodded, he sighed, as he took custody of the witch and tied her up to the pyre as promised. She turned her head begging for help, but none dare lend aid. Fire and Blood that is what I promised her in the deception she played. She killed Drogo and Rhaego, and as punishment, she will burn with them. As Irri stated, she will forever be a slave in the afterlife. The Khals shall punish her soul for all eternity.

"I am Daenerys of House Targaryen and Nymeros Martell of the blood of old Valyria and old Rhoynar. I am the dragon's daughter. And I swear to you that those who would harm you will die screaming," Daenerys promised.

"You will not hear me scream," Mirri Maz challenged.

"I will," Daenerys said. "But it is not your screams I want. Only your life."

Ser Jorah returned standing right beside me. Rakharo handed Daenerys the torch as she walked over. Kneeling, she lit the outer ring. The fire consumed the branches, eating away till reaching the second ring, and finally the third ring where the pyre was. Mirri Maz Duur started to sing in Lhazareen, praying to her god the Great Shepherd. But he will not come. A shepherd does not protect the lone sheep. By the time the fire reaches her, the witch has started wailing in agony. I looked at Daenerys, as she pulled at me before she started walking towards the pyre.

"Daenerys, don't!" I screamed, rushing to stop her. However, Ser Jorah wrapped his arms around me preventing me from going into the flames.

She turned around whispering something inaudible, then turn back. The witch's wails go silent, and mine echoed seeing my sister burn in the fire. I sobbed, falling to my knees with Ser Jorah still restraining me while giving comfort. I was alone.

oOoOo

I opened my eyes and saw an exhausted Ser Jorah. Looking around, I saw it was dawn. The breaking from the horizon. All around the Dothraki were asleep surrounding what remains of the pyre. My heart sank remembering that my sister sacrificed herself to be with her family, I hoped that she could meet our parents, I hoped that she could say hi to our parents, Rhaenys and Aegon for me..

"Your Grace," Ser Jorah murmured. I turned my attention to him.

"It's best we go," he advised.

"Where to?" I asked lightly.

"To Asshai, we can sail back to Pentos and discuss with Magister Illyrio," he suggested. I took a deep breath, knowing that it is a smart decision in this barbaric country. Back to civilization, where leadership is not run by brutality.

I wiped the tears away when I heard something in the distance. More sounds, almost like singing but they weren't human. They were coming from the ashes of the pyre. Drawn to them, I walked over until seeing a form curled in a ball. I ran over and stopped seeing Daenerys, alive on the ground. She was naked, covered in a suit and tired in her eyes. I started to remove my tunic, then stopped seeing something in her arms. Something that hasn't been seen in a hundred and fifty years since the Last Dragon.

One of black and red scurried around climbing up her back and onto her shoulders. Another to her ankle being green and yellow. The last one was orange and gold. It shook its head and looked at me with amber eyes. Dragons. The three dragon eggs that hatched into dragons. Not a second longer, the golden orange dragon jumped out of Daenerys's arm and onto me.

I stumbled back, wincing from its short talons digging into my skin before it was on my shoulders. Baffled and overwhelmed, I lent her hand to take. Daenerys stared at it, her eyes lingering on a ring of red jewels. She looked at it, then me. Not saying a word, she accepted my offer and pulled her up onto her feet. Ser Jorah was astonished in what he saw bending the knee before us. All around the Dothraki followed the pursuit , bowing to Daenerys. She was the Khaleesi, ruler of the Dothraki. One day, I shall return to Westeros.