Chapter 9

Meereen was under attack.

Kronos, from his position on Drogon's back, glares down at the slaver's ships in the bay. "Can we burn them?" He demands.

"We will find out what is happening first, Kronos," Daenerys says. "Then you may burn them."

Kronos' sudden transformation into a dragon had shocked Daenerys, but she'd suggested that Kronos join her on the flight back to Meereen. Kronos, never one to refuse the opportunity to sit closely behind a lady, had swiftly accepted her offer.

Drogon lands on the top of the Pyramid with a heavy thud, and the two mortals drop off his back.

Kronos follows behind Daenerys as she enters the Pyramid, the Unsullied in the room beyond bowing to their queen.

It takes several hours to discuss events with Tyrion, Missandei and Greyworm, which leaves Daenerys staring down at the bay as the ships catapult burning objects at the city.

"Despite appearances I think you'll find the city is on the rise," Tyrion says as Daenerys returns inside.

Kronos glances up from where he lounges on a chair. "The slavers are sieging the city!" He exclaims as they hear something collide with the outside of the Pyramid.

"Perhaps we should take shelter?" Tyrion suggests.

"The city's on the rise?" Daenerys repeats incredulously.

"Meereen is strong," Tyrion says. "Commerce has returned to the markets. The people are behind you." He winces as another collision sounds. "Well, not all the people of course. No ruler who ever lived had the support of all the people. But the rebirth of Meereen is the cause of this violence. The Masters cannot let Meereen succeed," Tyrion continues, daring to step closer to Daenerys. "Because if Meereen succeeds, a city without slavery, a city without Masters. It proves that no one needs a Master."

"Good," Daenerys says flatly. "Shall we begin?" Kronos rises to his feet, ready for her to give the word.

"Do we have a plan?" Tyrion questions.

"I will crucify the Masters," Daenerys says as she steps closer to Tyrion, "I will set their fleets afire, kill every last one of their soldiers and return their cities to the dirt. That is my plan." She glances to Kronos, before returning her eyes to Tyrion. "You don't approve."

Tyrion takes a deep breath. "You once told me you knew what your father was. Did you know his plans for Kings Landing when the Lannister armies were at his gates?" Tyrion sighs. "Probably not. He told my brother, and Jamie told me. He had caches of Wildfire hidden under the Red Keep, the Guildhalls, the Sept of Baelor. All the major thoroughfares. He would have burnt every one of his citizens. The loyal ones and the traitors. Every man, woman and child. That's why Jamie killed him."

"This is entirely different!"

"We're talking about destroying cities," Tyrion states. "It's not entirely different. I'd like to suggest an alternate approach," he adds. The wall shatters as something collides with it, and Kronos steps between Daenerys and the open wall as the Khaleesi turns to glare out over the bay.

"Once before I offered you peace," one of the Masters standing before them says. "If you had not been so arrogant, you could have returned to your homeland with a fleet of ships. Instead, you will flee Slaver's Bay on foot, "like the beggar queen you are."

Standing just behind Daenerys, Kronos itches to step forwards and simply incinerate the men before them. Unfortunately, Tyrion had convinced Daenerys that this was the best option, and Kronos wasn't allowed to burn the Masters.

"We are here to discuss terms of surrender," Kronos snaps instead. "Not trade fucking insults."

"The terms are simple," another Master says. "You and your foreign friends will abandon the great pyramid and the city of Meereen. The Unsullied you stole from Kraznys mo Nakloz will remain to be sold again to the highest bidder. The translator you stole from Kraznys mo Nakloz will remain to be sold again to the highest bidder. The dragons beneath the Great Pyramid will be slaughtered."

Kronos' mouth curls down, his eyes narrowing at the Master. The low growl he lets out is only barely audible, but Greyworm glances back at him.

"We obviously didn't communicate clearly," Daenerys says, eerily calm considering her dragon children had just been threatened. "We're here to discuss your surrender not mine."

The Masters shared a quick discussion, before the one in the center speaks. "I imagine it's difficult, adjusting to your new reality. Your reign is over," he says sharply.

Daenerys tilts her head, looking down across Meereen as Drogon approaches. "My reign has just begun," she murmurs.

Drogon shoots overhead, landing heavily on the stone building behind them and snarling before he drops down next to Daenerys. Daenerys climbs onto her dragon and smiles down at Kronos. "Will you be joining me?" She questions, before Drogon dives off the cliff.

Kronos races after the dragon, diving off headfirst. His body changes shape and he drives his wings down as he roars loudly, following Drogon as Viserion and Rhaegal blast their way out of their prison. The four dragons bank around until they're hovering over a ship.

"Dracarys," Daenerys growls.

The jet of fire that rips out of Kronos' mouth is joined by three others.

The screams of the men ring in Kronos' ears as the ship is destroyed within seconds.

It brings a dark thrill, and Kronos wants to destroy other ships. He wants to tear his way through the entire fleet.

Rather quickly, however, he remembers that Daenerys needs the ships, so he reluctantly rises and circles with the other three dragons.

He doesn't really know what will come of him after this battle. Daenerys hadn't discussed it with him on the flight back. Kronos had avoided her questions about him and his past, but he was considering telling her everything.

Carefully, Kronos repeats the words Daenerys had said to him.

Off to the side, Missandei nods slightly before she corrects a word he had said.

Kronos repeats her phrasing before he lets out a heavy sigh. "That is taking a long time," he grumbles.

"You'll learn," Daenerys promises him.

"Dracarys," Kronos says, tilting his head to the side slightly. "Soves. Valahd." He pauses briefly, forming the words in his mind before he speaks them. "Zaldrizes buzdari iksos doar."

Missandei nods. "Good," she says.

Kronos smiles and turns to Daenerys. "Avy jorraelan."

Missandei freezes, glancing over at Daenerys. The Khaleesi presses her lips together, and the translator bows her head before taking her leave.

"Kronos-"

"Avy jorraelan," Kronos repeats, firmer this time. "And yes. I know what that means - I asked Greyworm." His jaw tightens slightly.

"Even if you do," Daenerys says slowly. "Nothing can come of it." She frowns slightly at him. "I will be Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Kronos. You're a dragon. I will need to make alliances, and the easiest way to do so is marriage."

Kronos makes his way over to her, his heart hammering in his chest. "I know," he says. "But I haven't been truthful. I know that I told you I didn't know how I could turn into a dragon - larger than Drogon, which I will always enjoy holding over his head - but I lied." Her eyes narrow slightly at him, but Daenerys doesn't speak and waits expectantly for him to continue. He lets out a short breath. "I was born in Westeros," he says.

Daenerys lifts an eyebrow. "Which you have already told me."

"I was born in Westeros," Kronos repeats. "Several million years ago." She doesn't reply, so Kronos forges onwards. "I did some things - bad things, probably. Decided I had enough of this world and left for another. My siblings and I abandoned this world in favour of a fresh start." He exhales sharply. "I suppose you could say I was the equivalent to a god." He smirks slightly. "Not just any immortal - the King."

Daenerys sits, frozen in front of him.

Kronos swallows. "A King," he repeats.

"Say that's true," Daenerys whispers. "Why decide to come back if you left?"

Kronos lets out a bitter laugh. "The being who created the universe decided he finally wanted to stop me. Stripped me of my immortality, dropped me in Slaver's Bay a mortal."

"Where you met the slavers," Daenerys finishes for him.

Kronos nods. "Yes."

She shakes her head at him. "That's not possible."

He inhales deeply. "But it is. It's why I can turn into a dragon. I don't know how or why, but the chains Chaos - the creator of the universe - placed on my powers slipped. They manifested themselves by allowing me to transform into a dragon and back." Kronos drops to a knee before her, resting his forearms on her legs. "It can happen," he whispers. "Daario, a Sell-sword, or me? The King of deities?"

Kronos kisses her then, a soft and brief kiss before he pulls back, waiting for her to push him away.

Daenerys didn't, but she didn't look very impressed with him either. She was silent, clearly not believing his claim – and Kronos had doubted that she would anyway. She stood, expression firm and yet apologetic. "It cannot happen," she repeated, before pointedly inclining her head towards the door. "You may go. That is enough for today, I think."

Kronos bit back the sharp surge of anger at the refusal, his eyes burning hotter than dragonfire. Daenerys paused briefly at the look on his face, and Kronos kept his gaze fixed on her as a voice sounded behind him. "My Queen – a fleet has just arrived," one of the Unsullied informed Daenerys.