Notes: I am writing dialogues and perspectives for the first time. Please understand if there are any mistakes.
Chapter 3
Plans
Daenerys went to her chambers and got ready to greet the guests. She thought to meet the guests in the throne room this time unlike in the vision. She did not know about them. They were killed so early in her vision and she wanted to know about them this time. They are her allies only because they want revenge on Cersei and not because they want her on the throne. They might betray her later. Varys was the one who brought them and she will not believe a thing that is going to come out of that spider's mouth anymore. Not a word.
But before that she will meet with Missandei and spend some time with her. She decided to wear her Dothraki bells in her hair from now on. She is not going to change herself so that she can get love from ungrateful people. she will be herself this time. Daenerys found Missandei getting ready to greet her.
Missandei
Missandei was surprised to see Daenerys so early and she was wearing her Dothraki bells. It surprised Missandei to see her queen back to herself and not as the queen lord Tyrion expected her to be.
"Your Grace", she called out, surprised.
"Missandei", she answered.
"You look beautiful today"
"Beautiful today? Not all days, only today?", she asked Missandei with a teasing smile on her lips.
Missandei actually felt happy despite being teased. Her queen is back.
Daenerys said, " Missandei, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, your grace"
" Do you want to go to Naath? If so don't hesitate and just tell me and i will make sure you reach Naath safely"
Missandei was surprised to hear this. " No, Your grace. I do want to go to Naath someday but not now."
" You know we are going to war. What if something happens to you and you don't get to see naath like you wanted to", asked daenerys.
" Do you remember the time when you freed me from kraznys, Your grace? you told me then that you are taking me to war and that I might go hungry and get sick and that I might get killed. I still chose you, your grace. I am choosing you now too."
Daenerys was speechless. She knew Missandei, the Unsullied and the Dothraki love her and follow her willingly without any ulterior motives, but she did not know that Missandei is willing to sacrifice her home for sometime so that she can be with her. Daenerys will make sure that Missandei will get to see Naath.
"Thank you for choosing me Missandei. I want you to call me Dany when we are alone together. Will you do that for me please?"
"But you grace, calling you dany….!"Missandei hesitated. But Daenerys insisted firmly that she call her dany. After some more insistence Missandei finally accepted to call her dany.
Daenerys had only Viserys to call her dany before Jon called her that in the vision. She became weak in the knees when he called her that. She thought that he thought of her as family. She thought that he trusted her. She fell for him more. Even if he calls her Dany when they meet and they will meet for sure, she knows she won't be such a weak girl who will go weak in the knees just because they call her Dany.
Daenerys was informed that the guests arrived at the Island. She told the guards to set the audience in the throne room and waited for Tyrion to show up knowing that he would.
Just as she thought, Tyrion came to meet her. She told Missandei to set up the necessities that will be required for the guest and that they will extend their stay here. Missandei looked confused but she did as she was told to.
Tyrion said," Your Grace. The guests are here and I heard that you are meeting them in the throne room. They are your allies, your grace. You don't need to intimidate them."
"Is that what you think, Lord Tyrion? That I don't need to intimidate them. But that is where you are wrong. I do need to do that. They should know that I am here for my purpose and my purpose only. They should know that I am not here only to help them get their revenge. They should know that I am the strongest even though we are allies. And they need to know that they should not betray me when their revenge is over. Also Varys must know that I will not be jumping into anything blindly just because he wants me too" Daenerys told him, trying really hard to control her expressions and to remind herself that Tyrion did not do anything that he did in that dream of hers yet.
"You don't trust Varys, Your grace?"asked tyrion.
"Why should I trust him? Did I ever tell you that I trusted him, before? He told me that he serves the realm and not me. He doesn't trust me. Is there a reason for me to trust him?"
"No, your grace."
"Shall we go and welcome the guests then?"
Tyrion
Daenerys looked different not only in the way she dressed, but in the way she carried herself also and she seemed so determined. She even told Missandei to make arrangements to extend the guest's stay here. Tyrion was going to suggest that the guests leave to their home to prepare for the siege and he thought that Daenerys would accept that since she said she was not here to be the queen of ashes. Tyrion will make sure that she listens to reason and remind her that is what good rulers do.
He followed her to the throne room and saw Daenerys sit on the throne. She looked like a queen. Not like Cersei. Daenerys looked like she was born to be a queen. He only saw her sitting on that bench in Meereen and she looked so beautiful in this throne. He wondered what it would be like if she sat on the Iron throne.
Whenever he thought of Daenerys sitting on the Iron throne he feared for the safety of his siblings. He still does not know what to think of Cersei, but Jaime. What is he going to do about Jaime? Jaime saved him. He will request Daenerys to spare at least Jaime. But Jaime killed her father. Will she even consider it? Tyrion did not know what he could do? All he can do is ask Daenerys to spare his brother.
The sand snakes and the Tyrells entered the throne room to meet Daenerys. He saw Varys at the other side of the room and he looked confused. Maybe he is also thinking the same as him. Why is Daenerys not meeting the guests and potential allies at the map room where they can talk strategy?
Missandei said,"You are in the presence of Daenerys Stormborn of house Targeryan,the first of her name,the Mother of Dragons, the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea and the breaker of chains''. Tyrion wondered about " the unburnt and the queen of seven kingdoms'' part. They discussed it at length at the narrow sea and Tyrion suggested adding the titles so that others will know why Daenerys is in Westeros. But he did not comment about it then. He noticed Varys looking even more confused at this part.
Lady Olenna and Ellaria Sand were announced and they all waited for Daenerys to speak. But Daenerys did not say anything and just looked at them. After a few second of awkward silence Lady Olenna said,
"Lord Varys, did you not mention to your queen that we are her allies and not some subjects on this island who came to complain?"
Tyrion was startled and looked at Daenerys to check if she took that as an insult. But she just remained calm and composed and kept on looking at them. Varys did not know what to say to the question he was presented with. Varys cannot answer Lady Olenna that he already told Daenerys about them because it will seem like he is questioning his queen's methods in front of strangers and he will not be able ignore Lady Olenna's question too, since she directly asked him. Tyrion tried to jump in and save Varys from the predicament he is facing.
But Daenerys motioned to Varys and told him to speak up. He never saw Varys hesitate this much before speaking. But he finally said, " Yes lady Olenna. I did mention to her that you are our allies", after coming to a decision. Daenerys' face betrayed no emotions. What is she thinking? Daenerys was always easy to read for Tyrion, but now he could not decipher even a single emotion.
Tyrion was outright panicking now. Is something wrong with Daenerys? Why is she doing this? Maybe it was a test for Varys. What is she trying to achieve from this? Tyrion had to solve this problem before this gets any bigger and they end up losing their allies. Tyrion started to ask lady Olenna to understand his queen. But before that Daenerys started talking.
"Welcome to Dragonstone, Lady Olenna. I want to know something before we talk war. Can you answer me honestly?", asked Daenerys.
"I thought the honest talks were all over when Lord Varys reached for us. You act like you don't need us, Your grace! But I heard that your battle plans involve my resources and Dorne's soldiers. What is all that about? You want honesty? You can't use my resources or Dorne's soldiers without giving us something in return", said Lady Olenna. Tyrion wasn't sure who leaked their battle plans and it was only a suggestion right now. Daenerys wanted to reach Westeros before confirming the plans they had for the battle.
Daenerys let out a little laugh," I thought you were intelligent and cunning Lady Olenna. You think I need to give you something in return to use your resources? Did Lord Varys not tell you about my army? Did you not see my Dragons? Plans can always be changed, Lady Olenna. If I want I can take the red keep right now with just one of my dragons. I don't need your resources to do that nor Dorne's soldiers. Then anyway I will be your Queen".
Both Varys and Tyrion gasped in horror. Is she going to burn the city to take the keep? Tyrion tried to intervene, but Daenerys just waved him off. she turned to Missandei and murmured something. Missandei hurried off, calling an Unsullied soldier in Valyrian and ordering him something.
Lady Olenna just smiled this time and said," Fine, my queen. I agree that I need your help to get revenge on Cersei and I agree that you don't need our help. If I ask you then will you help me? Both Ellaria and I can only damage Cersei. We cannot kill her. We need you for that. Will you help us and in return I will support your claim to the throne. Ellaria also will.", Tyrion flinched when she mentioned killing Cersei and saw Ellaria Sand nodding to everything Lady Olenna said.
Missandei and the unsullied soldiers arrived with chairs, tables and refreshments and started setting it up in the middle of the throne room itself. Daenerys came down from the throne and asked Lady Olenna and Ellaria Sand to join them. She sat at the center of the table and to her right sat Tyrion, Grey Worm, Qhono, her bloodrider and at last Varys. Tyrion could not read Vary's face. And to Daenerys's left sat Missandei, Lady Olenna, Ellaria Sand and Yara Greyjoy who joined the party a little later.
"Will you answer my question honestly then, Lady Olenna?"
"I can only try, Your grace"
"Then what about you, Lady Ellaria?"
"I will, Your Grace", said Ellaria Sand.
"Will you obey me after we form the alliance? Will you listen to my requests without complaining after we form the alliance?", asked Daenerys. Tyrion did not know what Daenerys was planning. Why does she want them to obey her unconditionally?
"After we form the alliance, you will be my queen. I have to obey you"
"Vengeance might be your motivator, but it is not mine. I want people to think of me as their queen willingly, not out of obligation. I am asking you whether you want to form this alliance out of loyalty for me or out of vengeance for Cersei?", asked Daenerys with a glint in her eyes.
Tyrion could only witness the exchange without participating in it. He had a feeling that if he intervened, he would be on the bad side of Daenerys and he does not want that.
Lady Olenna smiled and answered, "I can't say that I will follow you out of pure loyalty, my dear. I can grow to be loyal over time that I spend with you. but for that I will not give up on my revenge."
"I am not asking you or Lady Ellaria to give up on your revenge. If you follow me with loyalty and not only with the motives of revenge, I promise you that you don't need to provide me with anything in return. I will help you get your revenge against Cersei", answered Daenerys with a conviction in her voice.
"I don't think that's how alliance works my dear. Both parties bring something to the table. I told you I will back your claim for the Iron throne in return. I will."
Daenerys smiled at this, " I appreciate your support, Lady Olenna. But I am not going to claim the throne as the rightful heir. There are many rightful heirs out there. I am going to conquer the seven kingdoms just like Aegon Targaryen did. Nobody else can claim my throne saying they are the rightful heir, because I conquered it. It will be mine just like how it became Robert Baratheon's after his rebellion. Claim by conquest not by birthright."
Tyrion was speechless. He could not say anything to that.
Varys was trying his best to hide his emotions. Tyrion could see Varys trying his hardest to hide the displeasure he felt from Daenerys's statement. He saw Daenerys watching Varys and it made him uneasy. Lady Olenna and Ellaria Sand also did not know how to react to what Daenerys said. Tyrion now understood that they did not need any allies at all. It was just like Daenerys said. She is far more powerful than anybody else. Missandei, grey Worm and Qhono, they all just nodded to what Daenerys said. they did not flinch, they did not gasp and Tyrion was once again amazed by their loyalty.
Daenerys started speaking again after giving them some time to adjust to the declaration she just made. "Lady Olenna and Lady Ellaria, all I want from you is just loyalty and your consent to bend the knee to me. I need nothing else. Can you do that for me?"
"Yes, Your Grace", said both Lady Olenna and Ellaria Sand.
"Then we will take King's Landing in a moon."
Notes: Thank you for reading. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.