Now able to work openly side by side, Rhaena and Tyrion took Meereen by storm. They conversed often of what was to be done, Tyrion using his intelligence to think of a means to secure peace whilst Rhaena used her position and influence in order to win back the love of the people of Meereen. She went out openly into the streets with smiles and laughter, singing songs to the people and gifting them with food, clothing and arranging new homes to be built where she would then gift them to families without asking for a single coin in return. Her songs became their anthems and the people came to know Rhaena by her smile and her love, for she chose to devote herself to those who truly needed her. Soon enough children would flock to her calling her sister in their own tongue, opening their hands for the sweets she carried before she would play games and tell them stories. She implemented new traditions in order to combine the talents of people from every walk of life, turning the fighting pits into a grand theatre where orators could narrate their stories whilst actors played the parts of the characters. Having never heard of the stories from Westeros, Rhaena had plenty of material to arm herself with, and it was Myrcella who seemed to have a knack for arranging social events such as these. She had been raised a princess, after all, raised with the intention of marrying a high ranking highborn or even a prince to become a grand lady in her own right. Myrcella used these skills to help Rhaena, and soon enough the pits were no longer a place of bloodshed, but of song and laughter.
Salvaging timber from the burned ships, Rhaena allowed them to be used in whatever manner they might be of use. She opened a school for children, the very first in Meereen, so that even the child of a former slave could learn their letters. How did she pay for all of this? Why, through profits of the theatre of course. Charging entry, even if it was merely a few coppers, brought enough revenue to support the running of the school as well as financing several apprenticeships so that children might learn new crafts and provide for themselves in the future. Soon Rhaena became dearly beloved of the people, and even the former masters came to respect her as she hosted them in a grand feast and charmed them with her wit and smiles. In truth she had hosted them in order to learn their faces and to learn which required watching. Rhaena took hold of the city with an iron grasp, but never too tightly as to break it. She ensured that there was balance, and what better way to distract an entire city from chaos than to provide entertainment? The theatre was their greatest distraction, it gave time to formalise a better plan to secure the peace. To that end Tyrion had Varys use his network of birds to invite the masters of Astapor, Yunkai and Volantis to a meeting where discussions might be held. Of course, this task was simple for a man such as Varys.
Neither Missandei nor Grey Worm approved of inviting the enemy into their city, however with some gentle persuasion from Tyrion they did not openly protest. Rhaena gave them a look of understanding as they waited for the masters to be brought to them. "My sister has already attempted her own methods to handle the slave masters. It did not last. Now we must retreat and rethink our approach. Do not worry," she assured them as she settled into her seat. "They shall be dealt with one way or another, but in the meantime, we must play to their whims in order to secure their cooperation."
"You mean to lie to them?" Twisting her lips into a grin, Rhaena saluted her drink to Missandei who was now looking at her incredulously.
"In my experience, men without honour should not expect honour to be given to them. We will say what words we must, make any promise that might flatter their vanity and secure the peace of Meereen, as for now that is what matters most. I know it would be my sister's wish." Trusting that her sister would do whatever was necessary for the sake of her city, Rhaena had left the arrangements to Tyrion for she absolutely trusted him to do what he must. He had already revealed his plan to Rhaena, so he would not act without prior approval, though perhaps Missandei and Grey Worm would not agree to what they intended. If all proceeded as they expected, Rhaena reasoned that their peace will be won on the backs of others returning to slavery, though not for long. She had no intention of being dictated to by men who believed themselves better than those they enslaved, and knew that Daenerys would not allow it either. So, when the masters were brought to the smaller audience chamber, Rhaena reclined herself calmly and watched them with a steady gaze as they entered. Three of them. One representative from each city. They looked to Rhaena in surprise and slight confusion, one of them making to bow as he addressed her as Queen Daenerys though the other two were frowning and attempting to place Rhaena's face, uncertain if she was her sister.
"Rest yourselves, my lords. You are guests here, please drink and eat your fill. I regret to inform you that my sister is elsewise occupied at present. You must tolerate my inferior presence in her stead. I am Rhaena Targaryen, Princess of the Seven Kingdoms and…well…titles do not matter here, do they?" Smiling prettily, Rhaena rose to her feet and took one of the slave masters by his hand in order to dip into a polite curtsey before him, looking up through her lashes before spreading her hand towards the three seats which had been laid out for them. "I can only imagine how tiresome your journeys must have been. Please, sit. Sit and refresh yourselves." Using her charm to unsettle and startle the masters, she watched proudly as they all blinked and gazed at her rather stupidly, almost tripping over the hems of their unnecessarily long silks as they were guided to sit.
"Forgive us, Princess Rhaena. We did not expect to be blessed by such beauty and grace as yours." One of the masters spoke as he recovered the use of his tongue first. He did not even bother to hide the fact that his eyes roamed across Rhaena's body, especially where her dress exposed the soft porcelain of her flesh as she poured wine for them herself. She blushed sweetly as she handed the master his wine.
"You flatter me, my lord." To himself Tyrion smiled, already anticipating these negotiations going exceedingly well, for what man could resist Rhaena Targaryen when she giggled and smiled in that manner? Rhaena knew her strengths and her charm, and now it was the crucial first step to lowering the guard of the masters before them. She had endeavoured to learn their names, though they were long and rather complicated. With their guests now sat and watered, Rhaena returned to her seat beside Tyrion and ensured to sit in such a manner as to expose the slimness of her waist and the shape of her belly, the flare of her hips and the seductive curve of her legs. Every movement she made was an influence over them, so made certain to finger her lips and moisten them occasionally to draw attention. All three masters were practically in the palm of her hand, though only one seemed to have manners enough to try and keep his eyes from fixating upon her too much. Instead, he turned to Tyrion and spoke. Yezzan Zo Qaggaz, as Rhaena understood.
"I bought this dwarf for a single gold honour," he began as he fought to keep himself from looking once more to the princess in distraction. "And somehow you've risen to the top of the Great Pyramid of Meereen. It's most impressive."
"And now you speak for the Good Masters of Astapor. Here's to reversals of fortune." Saluting his drink, Tyrion looked at the masters each in turn in order to read them carefully. The one who sat between the other two seemed to be the one in Tyrion's view who would be the biggest issue. He was much too calm, his eyes undressing Rhaena boldly as he never once looked away from her. Tyrion wanted to throw something at the man's head but considering these were peace negotiations, restrained himself from any action that would contradict the intention of peace.
"We came here to meet the queen and instead we're greeted by a dwarf and a eunuch." Tyrion resisted the urge to groan. Tiresome. This charade was already so tiresome.
"Have you already forgotten our lovely princess?" At Tyrion's gesture, Rhaena made herself look away and lower her head as if embarrassed and upset, watching the masters from the corner of her eye. "Let's make this simple, shall we? Tell me what you want."
"We want you to leave Slaver's Bay. Take your dragons and your mercenaries and go."
"Queen Daenerys won't stay in Meereen forever. Her path takes her westward." But this was not enough for the slave masters, who wanted the self proclaimed queen gone from their cities without delay. She had cost them a great deal and would no doubt only continue to be a thorn in their side he longer she remained.
"When we last met, I offered her ships so she could return to Westeros where she belongs. She refused them." Unable to keep herself silent, Missandei spoke forwardly and without fear, reasoning that Daenerys had refused the offer of his ships as of the hundreds of thousands of people who were still under the tyranny of the masters. "As they have since the dawn of time."
"Not anymore." To this Yezzan looked at Grey Worm darkly, looking the Unsullied soldier with a trained eye who saw a man's worth as a tool rather than a living being.
"You think you're a free man now? You still follow orders. Just because your master has silver hair and tits doesn't mean she's not a master." To this Rhaena now looked to him sharply. The intensity of her flared gaze was enough to make him flinch and instinctively apologise, feeling a burning sensation in his head as if living fire had burst within him from the princess's glower. Before Rhaena could fully unleash her wrath, Tyrion intervened, calling for everyone to calm themselves and kept the tension from rising any further.
"There have always been those with wealth and power and those with nothing. That is the way of the world. I'm not here to change the way of the world."
"Slavery is the way of our world."
"You don't need slaves to make money," Tyrion reasoned cleverly as Rhaena allowed herself to sink back against her seat and listen to his words. Here it was, the glib tongue of a man who had been ridiculed all his life, but in truth was better than all those who had resented him. Rhaena felt at ease so long as Tyrion was leading the negotiations. She knew politics and could speak well, even charm those she needed, but her temper was quick and she could not always control it. Tyrion was the best choice for this important task. No other would be able to accomplish what he intended. "There haven't been slaves in Westeros for hundreds of years and I grew up richer than any of you." He paused for a moment to allow this fact to settle before pressing onwards. "But our queen recognizes that she erred by abolishing slavery without providing a new system to replace it. So here is the queen's proposal. Slavery will never return to Meereen but she will give the other cities of Slaver's Bay time to adjust to the new order."
"What does that mean?"
"Instead of abolishing slavery overnight, we will give you seven years to end the practice." Rhaena sensed rather than saw Missandei and Grey Worm's surprise at Tyrion's offer. Only Varys did not react. He had not said a single word all the while, merely observed the interactions of those who played at power and sought their own agendas. "Slaveholders will be compensated for their losses, of course, at fair prices. In exchange, you will cut off your support for the Sons of the Harpy." The one named Yezzen instantly and rather strongly proclaimed that none of the masters supported the Sons of the Harpy. It was said purely for the sake of guise. Everyone in the room knew the truth of it, but the masters were not going to openly admit to funding and supporting the Sons of the Harpy to bring chaos to Meereen and make an attempt upon the invader queen's life. "Fine, fine, but you will cut it off all the same. I do hope you accept, my friends. You will not receive a better offer." Leaving the offer hanging in the air to be deliberated upon, Tyrion rang a bell in order to summon three serving girls he had chosen to sweeten the tempers of the masters. Rhaena had been the one to find them, which had surprised Tyrion. She had asked Kaydyn for his help and he had been more than glad to do so. These girls were experienced, but also fearless. They were well paid for their services and would walk away today richer than they could ever have dreamed. All Kaydyn had asked in return was for a little of Rhaena's time, so she had kissed him smilingly and promised him an entire night. "Let us sail on the tide of freedom instead of being drowned by it, and as a parting gift to our honoured guests…" The girls entered and went to the masters, settling themselves upon their laps as the masters all blinked and took in their fine faces and shapely bodies. "Give freedom a chance. See if it doesn't taste every bit as good as what came before." Rhaena was glad to leave that room and the masters who were already unwrapping their gifts. She had a mind to pay the girls more.
"That went well." She murmured softly to Tyrion who nodded his head.
"Now all we can do is wait and see if they accept. If they are smart, they will."
"Men blinded by greed lose their wit," Rhaena snorted derisively, thinking that she would take a long, hot bath later in order to wash away the feeling those masters gave her with their ravenous eyes. "They also forget how to be afraid. Fear is necessary to keep the enemy in check. For all we know, they will take our offer of peace and turn it back upon us with further treachery."
"I do not doubt it. But until then, we will take what peace as can be offered." Knowing that he was right, Rhaena fell silent as she walked beside him to the audience chamber where a gathering of representatives from the common people awaited them. Entering through the back onto the throne's platform, Rhaena took up her sister's seat though never found it a comfortable place to sit. Perhaps that was meant to be the burden of a ruler, to never have a comfortable throne. Tyrion attempted a greeting in Valyrian however he was still out of practice and mispronounced his words, so much so that Rhaena chuckled richly as Missandei offered to translate for him.
"We speak the Common Tongue." Lifting her head, Rhaena greeted the people before her, knowing some of them by name. Shifting against the seat, Rhaena decided that this was not for her. Sitting above others, looking down upon them in a place of power. No, she was no queen. So instead Rhaena rose to her feet and descended down the steps, passing Tyrion, Grey Worm, Varys and Missandei in order to present herself before the representatives, looking to them warmly as she inclined her head even as they accused her of meeting with slavers.
"Indeed. We met with the masters," she informed them truthfully, having no inclination of hiding the truth from them. "Insufferable as they were, it was necessary."
"Why, mandia?" Rhaena always smiled when she heard that word. Older sister. It made her feel that she had found her place amongst these people and they had accepted her enough to see her as a sister as they saw Daenerys as a mother. "Our brothers and sister died fighting these scum. Now you invite them to our city and drink wine with them."
"Because in order to know my enemy, I choose to look them in the eye." This reason was enough to settle the prickling tempers of those before her as Rhaena lifted her hand to touch their faces lightly, looking to them each in turn. "I will always look my enemies in the eye even as I look upon my friends. In order to know them, you must truly see them. Then when the time comes to show them your strength and drag them down from their perches, they have nowhere left to hide." It was not easy to convince the leaders of the common people to accept that peace must be made with the masters, but due to Missandei and Grey Worm standing united with Tyrion and Rhaena, their trust in them won their acceptance. They agreed not to kill anymore masters so long as the peace held, and their word was good enough to satisfy Rhaena that their efforts had not been in vain. She looked forward to tonight, to laying with Kaydyn and allowing him to rub away the stresses of the day. He was exceedingly good with his hands, just thinking of them caused Rhaena to ache wistfully. Until tonight, there was still a great deal to do and Rhaena could not allow her thoughts to be distracted. Sweeping herself away, Rhaena set herself to her tasks with Sansa coming to assist her in record keeping, working side by side until he dusk settled over the city. Another day was over. On the morrow, Rhaena would know if their negotiations had brokered any success. Until then, however…a certain man was awaiting her in a silk dressed bed. She loathed to keep such a man waiting.