A/N: Been busy with work and other stuff.

"There has to be a suitable alternative for the slave-based economy, or there will be chaos among this land," Tyrion told Sam.

"And we still have to keep the former slave masters on a leash and hunt down the remainder of the harpies that have gone into hiding, but if we can ensure that prosperity will come to the people here, they will be less likely to rebel against the dragons," Sam said.

"So, what are you proposing, Lord Samwell?" Tyrion asked.

Sam had to recall from his time as the Grand Secretary of the imperial court in Yi-Ti and upon his many studies and experiences in the Golden Empire on how they became prosperous. "The one thing that we can utilize to ensure a prosperous economy is to continue the trade. This land was built on trade, so we have to find a proper replacement for what was the most valuable item on the markets."

Tyrion nodded while he rubbed his chin. "Are you suggesting that we find something in the Bay that can take the place of the slaves that once made it the center of all trading?" Sam nodded. "That is a good start, but we will be hard pressed to find a suitable commodity for the slaves that will no longer be traded."

Sam turned to Yezzan zo Qaggaz. "Any ideas that you can offer?"

In the days after he switched sides, he became the only former slave master who was more than eager to make his mark on the new order of affairs. Missandei and Grey Worm were the most uncomfortable, but they could not deny that he helped speed up the end of the battles that raged throughout the Bay and almost saw Meereen be captured.

"The only problem with your proposal, Samwell Tarly, is that this Bay has nothing of value to offer to the wider world," Yezzan made clear. "There are no natural resources here that are needed by places such as the Free Cities and even the Land of a Thousand Cities, we are not known for any particular type of activities that make talented individuals come her to learn a craft, and we are not exactly a center of trading and banking. Slavery was the blood that flowed through this Bay, but with that gone, I fear that we will have to endure some chaos that will happen in the next few years."

Sam knew that he was right. "Well, then. I propose that we start something anew here."

"Anew?" Tyrion asked.

Sam kept his eyes on Yezzan. "You say that this Bay is not notable for anything, and you are right. So how about we fill in the gap left by the end of slavery with something that change the face of this Bay?"

"With what, Samwell Tarly?" Yezzan inquired.

"Do you know how the Jade Company was able to form?" Yezzan and Tyrion shook their heads. "That was because the men who were hired into the Company were paid for by the merchants in the Golden Empire. Part of the arrangement that King Jon made with the Empress of Yi-Ti was that the empire will enjoy exclusive trading deals with Westeros. The only problem, and the most obvious one, is that there is no way for the goods to pass between Westeros and Yi-Ti without going through this Bay. Perhaps if we can convert Astapor, Yunkai, Meereen, and Tollos among other ports into entry points for goods from Yi-Ti as they make their way to Westeros, this Bay will become very reliant on trade."

"Hmmm," Yezzan let out. "That might work. Yi-Tish silk and pottery are very prized among the world. And transporting such goods by ship will certainly lower the cost while increasing volume, which could lead to other benefits such as a new merchant community in this region."

Sam pointed at him approvingly. "Very good thinking there."

"But we will also need this region to make its own ships," Tyrion added. "It would benefit this land very much if there are local shipwrights and shipyards to construct the additional ships to handle the added volume of goods from Yi-Ti."

"We would also need to invest heavily in local security, as the traders will be encouraged to trade more in this region if piracy is not a problem," Sam stated.

"And with more trade leads to more money, which will require banks," Yezzan pointed out. "The only banks of repute are in the Free Cities and I doubt that they will allow this Bay to become a center of trade by handling our monetary affairs."

"Then… we shall have to establish our own banks," Sam suggested. "And we shall have to make our own money, but in a manner that the people, ordinary people can use."

"What are you thinking, Lord Sam?" Tyrion asked him.

"In Yi-Ti, money can take on many forms, the prominent of which can be written on paper," Sam told them. "The value of such paper is backed up by how much gold we have, and we have plenty of gold to use after seizing that from the tigers and the recalcitrant masters."

"Paper money?" Yezzan, like Tyrion, was skeptical of such a thing.

Sam decided to show them a demonstration. He pulled out some silver coins. "Now, this is about ten silver stags in Westeros." He got a piece of paper and wrote down the value of it in the common tongue of Westeros. "Backed up by the value of these ten silver stags, this paper is now worth that much."

Tyrion chuckled nervously. "Lord Sam, I do not think that is such a good idea. The chances of fraud are too high and that will put our economy at great risk.

"Which is why this paper money will only be utilized when there is official backing, such as a seal or be using used on only certain types of paper," Sam tried to elaborate after seeing that they were not being won over. "Of course, we have to take into account the possibilities of fraud, which can be rectified with the proper punishments to those who try to cheat the realm out of its money. But what I am trying to say is that there is much we can do to simplify and also make the economy more efficient, with paper money being among the solutions that we can utilize."

Tyrion scratched his head. "Well… there is some precedent. After all, it would not have been practical to count the kingdoms' current debt at six million golden dragons by counting one golden dragon at a time. And the Iron Bank does use something like this, but not like it at the same time. Perhaps with some modifications, it can work."

Sam knew that he had to pick his issues carefully, for there were other issues that required his time. Most of them centered around Meiying, or "May" as he began to call her. However, he also had to deal with a more distressing piece of news that reached him from Westeros. Specifically from the Onion Knight himself.

As soon as he was able to be alone, he leaned forward and put his hand on the railing of the pyramid. Lowering his head and closing his eyes, he struggled to remember the last time that he saw his mother. It was so many years and the last thing that he remembered feeling of her was disappointment, for she did nothing to stop his father from banishing him to the Night's Watch. However, all of that didn't matter to him at the moment, for the Onion Knight told him of his mother died, from the riots that also killed Loras Tyrell and almost killed his brother Dickon and his sister Talla. From what the Onion Knight had also heard, his father was more than angry that the dead king Joffrey had failed to keep the capital safe and had failed to catch the culprits responsible.

"What's wrong, Sam?" he heard May approach him from behind.

"Just thinking about my mother," Sam sniffled. "I know a man shouldn't cry, but I-"

"It's all right." May put her arms around him and hugged him tightly from behind. "I know how you feel. And if you must cry, do it."

Sam felt a few tears stream down his face, but he kept himself composed. He knew that he would never his mother again, and he wished that he had more to say to her, especially since they were separated so cruelly.

"I just can't believe she's gone," Sam could barely speak that.

May kissed his shoulders and neck. "I am not going to say it will be all right, but just know that I am here for you. And the baby that we will have."

Sam turned around, surprised. "What?"

May gave him a smile. "Yes, I am pregnant. Carrying our child."

Sam leaned down and put his ear against her belly, causing her to giggle. Indeed, he heard something alive in her, a heartbeat vibrating. Standing up, Sam look into May's eyes lovingly. "A child?"

May nodded. "I had a sign early this morning and I talked to some of the wet nurses around here. It is true."

Sam kissed her tightly before hugging her. "That's wonderful. I… I am so happy."

May returned the hug. "Perhaps we can present your child to my goodfather when we return to Westeros?"

Sam's eyes darkened while he slowly moved away. "No. I will not have that man know his grandchild."

"Why not?" May asked.

"He banished me. And I doubt that he would even want to come home, especially with someone he would consider a foreigner."

"I am also of nobility, Sam. We are of the same station."

Sam laughed without humor. "No, you will find my father the most stubborn man in the world. You cannot hope to reason with him and he will never accept me back. He's probably too busy grooming Dickon to take over and is content with me being in exile."

"Sam." She put his hand on his cheek. "As I said, I am not going to say that I understand your feelings. But you have to be the better man in this. I will take your word for it, regarding how your father treated you. But it is a cruel thing to deny a man a chance to know his grandchildren. And who knows? Perhaps he will be a changed man after your mother died."

Sam refused to believe that. "No. He has not changed."

"You are not giving him the chance. And I believe that some divine force gave you a chance, by coming to my home, by seeing me. Would you not say that what you have experienced so far was beyond your wildest dreams?"

Sam had to admit that part. "Yes."

"And when it comes to such chances, you have to show to whoever or whatever allowed you a chance to be someone else that you are able to use it well. Being vindictive and being cruel to your father, no matter what he did to you in the past, is not a very good way to show gratitude to whoever gave you a good life. I know this, because I wish to meet your family. Whether your father decides to accept me or not, that is for me to handle. But I ask you, don't deny that chance."

Sam looked into her eyes once more. "Are you sure? My father can be quite biting in his words."

"I had to endure the unwanted advances of Prince Yujin before you came and my parents intervened. I am sure that your father will be more than easy to handle. And the child that we will have, one set of grandparents will never know him or her. Please don't deny that child that chance, for I grew up well with my own grandparents."

Sam kissed the top of her forehead. "If that is what you wish, all right. Once we return to Westeros, the first stop that we will be making is at Horn's Hill. Let us see who will be the better man. But if my father mistreats you in any way, I will respond accordingly. I will not have disrespect the one that will mother my child."


"I'm glad that business with Joffrey has finally been done with," Olenna stated as she and Margaery rode in their carriage and were less than a day's journey from Highgarden. "But Loras…"

Margaery had to hold back tears, for the death of her brother still held heavily on her mind, as well as her grandmother's. She still remembered the cold body that was her brother, laying there to breath no more. The silent sisters had done a good job in concealing the wounds on his chest and belly, but they could hide the bruises and cuts on his face. Even in death, they could not maintain his dignity.

However, the one comfort that she could take in was that Joffrey was now dead. She was once more impressed at how Tywin was able to spin everything according to his will, even if it meant killing his own grandson. And how he was able to have Joffrey deposed and executed made Margaery chuckle, for it was full of ironies that one could find in the best stories ever told and the fact that Joffrey was killed by the same man who took Ned Stark's head brought a new meaning to divine justice, for Ned Stark's death started the whole War of the Five Kings. Even with the death of Stannis Baratheon, the whole of the North was still in chaos and the stormlords were not exactly pleased that they had to be heavily fined despite rebelling against the Iron Throne. No one can blame Lord Tywin for what he did, but doesn't he understand that not everyone will be like his bannermen after the Tarbecks and the Reynes?

Unlike the other times, Margaery was not excited to be in King's Landing and was eager to leave the city as soon as the coronation for Myrcella Baratheon was done. Many gave dark forebodings of her reign, for they were easy to compare Myrcella's reign to that of Rhaenyra Targaryen. However, that was too simplistic and very incorrect, for Margaery had a clearer idea on why Myrcella was going to face incredible difficulties as queen. As long as she is under Lord Tywin's thumb, she can never assert her independence as a ruler. And Lord Tywin might be able as Lord Hand, but people still associate him with Joffrey. She will never be at peace if she allows him to make all of the decisions.

Most important, Margaery knew that her grandmother no longer saw him as an ally despite acquiescing to her request that the marriage between her and Joffrey be dissolved.

"The marriage between Ser Myles and Myrcella will take place in a few weeks," Olenna noted before huffing. "I can see what Lord Tywin is plotting from many miles away, but it appears that old age is finally catching up to him. Does he really think that the Hightowers would make good allies against us?"

Margaery also had to see that Tywin's plan to use the Hightowers against her family was not going to end well. The Hightowers might have possessed great wealth and good connections with the traders around the world, but they paled to Highgarden when it came to political influence. And like her grandmother, she knew what Tywin's goal was: to replace her family as the new overlords of the Reach.

No, no. Even he should know that to replace my family with the Hightowers would be impossible, since that would end nearly three centuries of stability. It'll be more plausible to have House Tyrell remain with our titles and lands, but our power slowly be stripped away, one piece at a time.

The Hightowers were always looking for a way to supplant the Tyrells, and they were willing to wait decades if that came. It was the reason why they were so eager to get close her father in the first place, since a Tyrell heir with Hightower blood was too good to pass up. I might have Hightower blood in me, but I know where my loyalties lie.

"What will we do now?" Margaery asked her grandmother. "I am not a queen anymore and I am not sure if I can be of any use to our family at this point."

"Oh, my dear granddaughter," Olenna held her hand. "You still have much to do for this family. You might have been married, but you are still in possession of your maidenhead. You might have had an unsuitable man be your husband, but you have not been the guilty party in your marriage. As far as I can see, you are still a marriageable woman with much prospects."

"But who will marry me?" Margaery asked. "I wished to be a queen, and I doubt people will want to marry the wife of a deposed king. All of the other lordlings are beneath me and there is no one else who can match me in station."

She then remembered Renly, and she had to laugh to herself at how Renly was close to the crown and yet so far.

"I would not be so sure, dear," Olenna said. "I hear rumors from across the narrow sea and I have received word of a great survival."

"Who are we talking about?" Margaery asked.

Olenna sighed. "Robb Stark is still alive."

Margaery nodded. "Yes, I know. The council couldn't stop talking about it ever since they found out that Lord Bolton and Lord Frey lied to them. That was the reason why Lord Tywin decided to pardon Lord Frey for his sin."

"He is not just alive, dear Margaery. His wife and child are dead, and he is now in a position of high importance among the dragon armies that are rising in the east. You know who are we talking about."

Margaery did not need much time to figure out what her grandmother was planning. "Grandmother, you cannot be serious. Are you suggesting that we work with the Targaryens?"

"At this point, everyone with half a mind can see that the Lannisters are a sinking ship. We will not be the ones that will drown with it."

"Grandmother, what you are proposing is very risky. The Targaryens will not forget that our family sided with the usurpers against them."

"We have some extenuating circumstances for us. First, as incompetent as your father was, he helped us by only besieging Storm's End and not anything else. Second, no Tyrell bannermen took part in the sack of King's Landing and at the Battle of the Trident, so we didn't kill anyone with dragonblood. And third, I hear that our friend from the Arbor knows someone intimately in the Targaryen camp, who he met all those years ago in the Free Cities. The man's name is Minoru Lim."

"Who is he?" Margaery asked.

"From my sources in the Free Cities, Minoru Lim is now a high-ranking member of this so-called Jade Company, who Jon Targaryen had managed to recruit from Yi-Ti. From what I can learn about this Jade Company, they are among the best soldiers that the world has seen, bringing the entirety of the Slavers' Bay under the rule of the dragons. Not only that, they were able to defeat and annihilate the Maegyr triarch and most of the tigers in one sweep. That sort of force is not to be trifled with. And with the newly-freed slaves adding to their army, it will only be a matter of time before they return to Westeros. I imagine that their first stop would be Volantis, to exact vengeance on the tigers and perhaps to empower the elephants."

"How do you know all of this, grandmother?" Margaery was still amazed at her reach, but she was not aware of how wide it was.

"I know many people. I might not be Varys or the Master of Whisperers, but I have my ways of knowing things. And the reason why I am telling you this is not just because we should side with the Targaryens. There is a way that we can avoid the sinking ship that is House Lannister. We appeal to the Stark side of this Jon Targaryen, if him being the son of Lyanna Stark has some veracity. And we know that he grew up with Robb, so anything he will say will be heeded by him."

Margaery leaned back against the side of the carriage. "So, I have to marry this Robb Stark. Is that what you have in mind?"

Olenna breathed out. "Look, dear. It is as you say. All of the lordlings remaining in this continent are beneath you and if we are talking about rank and station, Robb Stark is the only one who can match you. As far as anyone is concerned, he is the rightful Lord of Winterfell and the Warden of the North. No disrespect to Sansa Stark and what she is doing with the Valemen, but if she knows that her brother is alive, all of her efforts would be pointless. And a marriage to Robb Stark would allow us some protection against the Targaryens, for Jon Targaryen would never harm any of his family."

"He is a Targaryen. They have not been above killing their own kin to get power."

"But not this one, from what I hear," Olenna told her. "He is the only male Targaryen left, and there are only two other Targaryens in the world. Daenerys Targaryen and Rhaenys Targaryen are about to change the world with him, and we have to make sure that we are on the right side. He will never kill them, not after what he had been through and what they had to experience for all these years on the run. And he will never kill any of his Stark relatives, for I hear that he is too fond of him to do that. That is what we must use to our advantage, his affection for his blood."

Margaery let out a chuckle, but it was not out of happiness. "It is because of our family attachments that we were here in the first place."

Olenna kissed her hands. "Look, dear. It is because of our attachments that we got here in the first place. Loras died, but that freed us because we were able to get you out of that marriage. Your father might be incompetent, but he knows what is the most valuable thing and he is willing to protect you, Willas, and Garlan. And you love our family, and you know what is important as well. It is because we know how valuable family is that will allow us to get close to the Starks and the Targaryens, both of whom are embodied in this Jon Targaryen."

Margaery was not completely sold on marrying Robb Stark. The reports that she heard of him while he still had an army to call upon was that he was dashing and brave, but the events of the Red Wedding proved that he still had much to learn when it came to the more unreasonable side of men.

On the other hand, the fact that he was able to survive for this long and make it all the way to the Slaver's Bay, where he was fighting alongside his Targaryen cousin, that spoke volumes to Margaery. No other lordling in Westeros would have been able to survive his tribulations, all of them testing a man's soul, and husbands would have usually killed each other if they failed to protect their families. But he's still alive, and that means he still has a part to play.

The more Margaery thought about it, the more her grandmother's words became more attractive. But she could not answer just yet, for her grandmother looked out the carriage window. And thinking back on Renly, she could only think with some humor, Mayhaps, I'm not to wed a current king. Maybe a former one.

"Ah, look. Home." Olenna took in a deep breath. "And I no longer have to smell the shit from five miles out."

Margaery looked upon the magnificent castle and the lush fields that was Highgarden, and her heart was filled with content. "Let us stay here, and enjoy home while we still can," her grandmother urged her.

Margaery nodded eagerly. "And we shall plan, grandmother. We shall plan and succeed." She was met with her grandmother's approving nods.


"Even though I've been around death, I can never get used to the smell of horse shit," Mingyu told Arya.

Arya had to agree with her on that while she felt her nose scrunch from the strong scent of horse droppings. "And I thought the stables in Winterfell smelled bad."

"Still, have to admire the Dothraki's mastery over the horses," Mingyu noted. "Only the Jogos Nhai can match them in terms of horsemanship."

"Don't tell Yongpo that," Arya jested with her. "He will give you a thumping for that."

"If he can even get close to me at all."

Arya chuckled. Yongpo was strong and large, but Mingyu could take him down in an instant. And now the rest of the Dothraki learned to fear her, as she took down one of the khals with her bare hands and feet and proved that her slim frame was no obstacle in killing someone.

In the few days that followed after the khals were burned and Daenerys reasserted herself as the Khaleesi of all of the Dothraki, she had been busy meeting with all of her newly-obtained peoples, with both Jon and Rhaenys at her side. Rhaenys was more comfortable amongst the Dothraki, since their preference of proving worth and leadership through force spoke to her naturally aggressive side. Arya saw Rhaenys confront a blood rider after he made a very suggestive comment about her.

"What did he say, exactly?" Rhaenys asked her aunt.

"He said that he will like to mount you and see if you are as tight as he hears of a Dornishwoman." Daenerys was not amused at the blood rider saying such words, and the blood rider still had to learn how to respect her as the khaleesi.

Not that it mattered for Rhaenys. She smiled, wrapped one arm around his neck, and was about to kiss him before she kicked his cock hard. The blood rider, not expecting such an attack, groaned and fell to his knees while he grabbed his bruised balls. Without another word, Rhaenys grabbed his neck and backhanded his temple, knocking him out on the ground. The other blood riders nearby, who just watched their fellow rider be bested by her, merely stepped back and gave her space.

Arya instantly respected Rhaenys for what she did. While she saw that she was quick to fight, Arya was very much like her and that allowed her to see her as someone to emulate. The fact that she was able to become strong without becoming part of the Jade Order very much impressed her.

And looking back up, she was enamored by the dragons flying above her. She was enamored by the sight of all four dragons flying through the air and she felt that she had to end the day with at least a dragon ride. However, she would rather not take that chance because she did not have dragon blood. Sadly…

For Arya, she spent the last few days moving about around Vaes Dothrak, becoming familiar with the land of the horselords and becoming familiar with their ways. She began to observe their various customs. The Dothraki ate horseflesh, which they preferred to beef and pork. Arya could not understand that, especially when they expressed their belief that horseflesh made a man strong. Meat is meat, all the same. They also ate black sausages, blood pies, and sweetgrass stews, all of which she was not totally enamored with since she did not like the taste. If I could not get used to blood pudding, I certainly would not be able to eat that. The Dothraki also drank a mildly alcoholic beverage derived from fermented mare's milk along with pepper beer, both of which Arya had to struggle to not spit out of her mouth from how strong they both tasted. Why couldn't we just stuck with good old beer?

Arya also listened closely to their strange beliefs. The Dothraki hated and feared the sea and the ships in it, as they mistrusted all water that their horses could not drink. They referred to the sea as "the poison water" and the "black salt sea". Water is just water, and the sea is just the sea. There is nothing to be fearful about for that.

However, she did like the Dothraki's belief that anything of importance in a one's life had to take place beneath the open sky. If only Gendry were here, then I can fuck him under the stars.

Arya had to admit that many of the things that the Dothraki did, she would have trouble adapting to. And she was also not exactly enamored at the Dothraki's emphasis on men, since everything that was to happen happened on their whims and not the women. Perhaps what Daenerys did, as well as Jon and Rhaenys, regarding the burning of the khals, had to be done. Can't have narrow-minded men ruin things while we change the world.

Just like with Mingyu, the Dothraki learned to respect Arya and then the other men that came with them, especially her Jade Order friends. Namhee's skill with the tanegashima were respected, for it matched some of the Dothraki's skill with the bow. Wendi scared them the most, especially after she demonstrated her craftiness by poisoning one's drink. Fortunately, it was not fatal and whoever had the misfortune was able to recover within a day. Unsurprisingly, Seonjoo, Renxi, and Masaku were the most popular, especially Seonjoo since she could shoot arrows from horseback. Renxi was able to best the best blood rider due to her wild nature and her willingness to cheat, which she demonstrated by throwing sand in their eyes during one fight. For Masaku, she destroyed the blood riders with her blade, easily disarming them. With them by her side, she was safer.

Arya soon found Rhaenys, Daenerys, and Jon coming back. They were returning from their latest round around Vaes Dothrak, possibly to gain the last of the leaders that were not khals of the Dothraki on their side. She noticed Daenerys wearing the attire of the Dothraki, her skin being more exposed than her other dresses, with Jon wearing the Dothraki clothes as well while Rhaenys dressed in Dothraki dress as well.

They were surrounded by bloodriders, who came to a semblance of attention as they stopped in front of them. The bloodriders were grinning eagerly at a bison pelt secured to his shoulder.

Arya remembered the name of the two of the bloodriders, Rokharo and Khovaro, both of them laughing at Jon while speaking to him in Dothraki. Daenerys merely smiled, while Ghost was busy dragging a dead bison carcass with him.

The large riding party had the four dragons flying above them. Arya hugged her brother tightly while the rest of the party dismounted.

"How was the hunt?" Arya remembered that hunting was how things got down in Vaes Dothrak.

"Uneventful actually. I have Ghost to thank for that," Jon told her.

"Good boy, Ghost." Arya scratched his nose. She noticed Jon stealing glances at Daenerys whenever he could. "Come on, Jon. Don't be so simple-minded."

"That's rich coming from you, considering Gendry is a strapping man and you steal glances at his muscles whenever you can."

"Shut up," Arya replied at the jest. "So, when will we be going to Volantis?"

"Soon. We have been trying to get the other leaders, the ones who were not khals, in line so as to get them to assemble as much of the bloodriders to ride south. As you can imagine, that is not an easy task to do, especially since they are not known to be disciplined."

"What about Daenerys? Won't they follow their khaleesi anywhere?"

"It's not that simple, I'm afraid," Daenerys joined in. "They know to follow me, but I have to ensure to them that they can go across the Narrow Sea with confidence. Superstitions and stubborn beliefs cannot be just overcome overnight. We have to be able to show them that they can fight as one. Once they can see that, it will be easier to get them across the sea."

"Do we even have enough ships to transport over one hundred thousand Dothraki across the sea?" Arya was not an expert on ships, but she remembered that the Jade Company did not have enough ships to do that and they burned down most of the tigers' fleet outside of Meereen.

"Volantis still has enough ships to do that. Most of the tigers' ships that were sunk were the ones that could do battle, and the rest are transports. As soon as we can get to Volantis and the elephants take control, all of our transport problems will be solved," Jon told her. "But you should join us. There is going to be a meeting tonight and your opinion would matter greatly."

Arya smiled. "I will be happy to attend."

Jon and Daenerys continued while Rhaenys hung back with Arya. "So, I never had the chance to talk to you really. We have much to talk about, regarding Jon, or Jon."

"What do you wish to know?" Arya was very eager to tell her.

"Anything that he did that I should know about. How he treats his sisters?"

Arya immediately knew what she had to say. "Before Jon went to the Wall, he gave me a sword, Needle." Arya pointed it on her waist. "He gave it to me as a gift, because he knew that I like to fight with the sword while my mother never allowed me to hold a blade. The first thing that I did, I hugged him."

Arya still remembered that time and would never forget it.

"And even though Sansa did not treat him as well as she should have, she did not abuse him. And Jon treated her with kindness and how a brother would. If only more were like him, being the better man," Arya added.

Rhaenys looked at her, touched and happy.

"Clearly, you have made his life better while he was in Winterfell. It is only right that I grant you a special request. Tell me what it is and I shall grant it."

Arya didn't have to think hard. "A dragon ride."

Rhaenys chuckled. "Can you handle it?"

"Look here. There are many things that I can handle, but the one thing that I cannot handle are those who think that I cannot handle anything. If I can handle being in the Jade Order and then survive a journey across the world, I sure as the Seven Hells can survive a dragon ride through the air."

Rhaenys nodded and raised her hands up in acquiescence. "If you say so, Lady Arya. After we get the whole business in Volantis done, I'll give you that dragon ride."

"Not if I ask my brother first."

"Now wait a moment. He's my brother, my blood," Rhaenys had to say.

"And I was also with him at Winterfell. He has my blood as well, so we both did our parts in making him happy."

Rhaenys rubbed her ears. "That's what I like about you. You know what is important and blood is not really important when it comes to treating my brother with the decency he deserved. For that, I will give you more than one dragon ride. Anytime you want, but after Volantis has fallen."

"It is a deal then, Rhaenys. May I call you that?"

"For treating my brother as a man and as a sister should, you can call me whatever you want."

Arya patted her back hard. "All right then, Rhaenys."


Jon fell to the ground, rubbing the punch that the Hound gave him. All the while, the bloodriders were hooting, expressing their enjoyment of the brawl, while Daenerys, Rhaenys, Arya, Mingyu, and the others looked on.

"Is that really the best that you can do?" the Hound challenged him

Jon was using everything that he knew to fight the Hound. He tried to punch his face, kick his head and his chest, and go for his legs in an attempt to bring him down. However, not only was the Hound taller than he was, he was much more resilient than expected. And despite Jon having good endurance and power, the Hound was made of rock solid muscle and none of his strikes were enough to bring him to the ground.

Come on, Jon told himself. He scolded himself for underestimating any of his opponents, especially the Hound even though it was a mere sparring match. First impressions were important, especially when it came to the Dothraki. Like the northmen, the only way for the Dothraki to respect anyone was through strength and he had to prove that he was the strongest of them all. And by strength, they were not looking for how strong he was with both Meleys and Ghost, but by himself. The horselords acknowledged Daenerys as khaleesi for now, but he had to win the future fights regarding leadership by silencing them through brute force, and who better than Sandor Clegane, brother of the infamous Mountain?

Jon took a deep breath, calming his mind before he allowed himself to take a stance again. He cracked his neck and raised his hands, while the Hound reciprocated by raising his fists. Both of their eyes became harder, preparing themselves for the clash that was coming. Jon decided to let Sandor make the first move, beckoning him to come forward by waving his hand towards himself.

"Come on, Jon!" Arya shouted.

The Hound immediately responded by moving forward, his first move being to punch Jon with his right hand. He ducked his head under each punch and spun around to the right after Sandor tried to kick him. Jon jumped up and tried to punch him, only for Sandor to catch his hand. However, that was what Jon wanted, for he was able to get close enough to flick his fingers at the Hound's face, causing him to blink in distraction. Using his opening, Jon punched rapidly under his left eye. The Hound staggered backwards, not expecting such a quick succession of strikes and his legs struggling to himself straight. Jon ran forward, jumped up, and kicked him on his chest with both of his heels like a horse would. The Hound was caught by the bloodriders and pushed back, making Jon roll out of the way and then dripping him while still on the ground. Jon push-kicked himself up while the Hound somehow recovered quickly by standing up again.

Jon had to keep pressing, so he used his hands to deliver a flurry of punches onto the Hound, most of which the Hound was able to block. On the last punch that he blocked, the Hound managed to grab onto his forearm and used his opening to knee him in the stomach. He tried to use his left hand to punch Jon in the face to knock him out, with Jon only barely able to see what was coming and ducking.

Jon was able to recover and get back into his stance, with the Hound delivering punches at a faster rate. Seeing that his throat was exposed, he remembered what Hoon Ti taught him and turned his fist into a knife-hand, his first two strikes not doing much. The Hound tried to catch his hand by using his chin, but Jon used his free hand to slap at his forehead. His chin jerked up in response, allowing Jon to strike him again. This time, the Hound reacted as intended and stumbled. Jon moved in and used his body to push him backwards, finally getting him on the ground.

The Hound was not done yet, for he got up with all of the strength that he had and raised his fists up. "One more go, King Jon."

Jon nodded, obliging him by getting in his stance again. The Hound struck again, using his form to grab onto Jon and squeeze him with his hands. He found it very hard to get out of the Hound's grasp, and he felt the air getting out of him.

"No more fancy tricks, dragon. Just pure brawling, like my brother did to me," Sandor grunted.

Jon tried to his arms and legs to kick himself out, but the Hound was too strong even for him. He might have had a lot of practice and much experience, but the Hound had to grow up not playing fair and he did not intend to lose to Jon, even if it was a sparring match.

That was when Jon had an idea. He knew it was crazy, but he had no other recourse. Like with Sandor, he was not going to show that he was weak in front of the rest of the Dothraki. Without taking another moment, he aimed his forehead and hit against the bridge of the Hound's note, causing him to groan and the both of them to feel an overwhelming pain in their heads. But at the very least, the Hound let go of him and they both fell to the ground, clutching their heads and groaning.

"All right. That's enough!" Arya shouted while she, Daenerys, and Rhaenys rushed to Jon's side. "Let's not have them kill each other now."

Rhaenys and Arya helped him up, while Daenerys rubbed his head and kissed the top of it.

"You think that they would be killing each other," Daenerys looked at Sandor and then at Jon. "Why did you do that?"

"I was not thinking, Dany. Sorry," Jon told her. Meanwhile, Sandor's partner, the physician that looked after him in Yin, approached them both. She came with Sandor along with five thousand other Jade company men who were also trained to fight on horseback as well as from foot, along with the entire contingent of Jogos Nhai accompanying them to supplement the Dothraki. She first checked on Sandor and they exchanged a few words, and Jon could not believe that the Hound was actually smiling. I never thought I would see the day.

She then went to Jon's side and checked his eyes and cheeks. "Well, it seems that you are not seriously hurt. Just rest for a little bit and you will be fine."

"Indeed," Rhaenys looked at him closely. For a moment, Jon could feel something else forming in her eyes. It was the same feeling that he felt for Daenerys, and it was growing stronger by the moment. She put her fingers over his cheeks and forehead, but the touch felt… like a lightning striking on the ground. What is this?

"I will help him up," Daenerys offered, with Arya and Rhaenys following suit as they were guided into their tent. Before he entered, Jon looked back at his sister, seeing a knowing look in her face. But at the same time, he recognized a look of desire in her. Perhaps another time.

As soon as they were alone in the tent, Daenerys looked at Jon, desire in her eyes as strong as Rhaenys'. Much of her body was exposed due to her Dothraki riding clothes, and Jon noticed how muscled and toned she had become from all of the hard training she was undergoing. She was not as developed as Rhaenys, but there was certain elegance that contrasted with his sister.

"Well, what are you waiting for, King Daeron? Are you not going to mount me?"

"If you say so, Queen Daenerys," Jon spoke back. "Although I have to admit, you will find yourself in competition soon enough."

"With Rhaenys?" Daenerys raised her eyebrows while her hands were on her waist. "I doubt it. Competition would imply that someone would lose something, but we are of the same family. Why should we lose?"

Daenerys jumped into Jon's arms and wrapped her legs around his torso, looking down into his eyes as she kissed them again. His legs gave in and they fell to the ground, the desire for each other reaching uncontrollable levels. She moaned as their kiss became longer, sloppier, and more desperate.

Breaking off the kiss, Daenerys and Jon started to remove every piece of fabric that was covering them. While Daenerys worked on his thin robes and leathers, Jon moved to take off the top part of her Dothraki attire. He turned her around and went for the bottom of her top, his fingers impatiently pulling it before they were all unraveled and allowing him to open her dress from behind, exposing her entire back to his feasting eyes and then her breasts when she turned around to him.

Seeing his queen dejected that he got his hands off of her, he waited until Daenerys saw his shirt thrown in front of her and she turned around to see his exposed chest and abdominals. He definitely didn't slack off during his time during and after the war had ended, as his training had developed him into a warrior with chiseled chest and sculpted abdomen. Seeing how much she liked it, Jon unbuckled his breeches, almost allowing her to see his length before coming down on her again.

Jon could see that Daenerys felt an inferno rising in her as their skin touched, his lips went on her neck, and his tongue licked the length of her back. Her breath hitched and she felt her heartbeat become faster from how he worked her. Jon turned her on her back, went for the shoulders, and pulled down her dress, exposing her still growing breasts. Daenerys ran her hands through his hair while he bit at her cleavage and sucked her right breast. Her moaning became louder as he moved to the other breast and then kissed his way down to her belly.

The joy that came from riding Meleys was the only thing that matched the feeling that he had with Daenerys.

Jon pulled the bottom part of her riding attire from her legs, now showing her full bare form to him. He then totally pulled down his pants, causing a gulp in Daenerys's throat as she finally saw her love without all of the layers that he had to wear.

Taking the initiative and wishing to taste him, Daenerys sat up, looped her arms around his ass, and took his length in her mouth. Her tongue swirling around it and her lips sucking as hard as they could, Daenerys's eyes turned to the face of her love, whose eyes rolled back as waves of pleasure flowed through him. What made it more joyful was with each slide of her tongue, his cock grew harder than it already was.

Daenerys knew what would happen, but she wanted a taste of Jon before he got a taste of her. Her fingers reached up and scratched his balls, causing his breath to become shaky.

Jon lost track after he inserted his length into her behind, causing a loud moan from her. His rhythm increased after he felt the fire become uncontrollable, and he pulled Daenerys close to him, running his arms around her and squeezing her breasts while he kissed her neck.

"If this doesn't end with a child in my womb, I'm going to be very disappointed," Daenerys told her.

"Well, let's go faster then." Jon complied and started to push harder into her, causing her moans to grow louder. He could swear that the rest of the Dothraki could hear them, but he had only one thought in his mind. Must… have… this… joy…

Jon forgot how long they did, but it was more than pleasurable for the next thing he knew, he was next to Daenerys under their fur blankets. She was moving her hand on his face and smiled at him lovingly.

"So, you have feelings for Rhaenys?" Jon was stumped, and afraid of what she felt. "It is all right. She's beautiful and we are dragons, so it is not strange. And she has been unsafe her entire life, so you should provide the assurances that she needs from anyone, especially you."

"Dany, I—"

"Shhh," Daenerys put her finger on his lips. "Let me finish. But I do have practical reasons for you going after Rhaenys. I said that I wanted a child, but I am not sure if I can."

"Why?" Jon then remembered. "Rhaego."

Daenerys nodded sadly. "And after that, I am not sure if I can carry children. But Rhaenys can, and through her, our house can survive."

"Please don't say that," Jon had to stop her. "Nothing is impossible."

"It's all right," Daenerys said again. "You helped me through my darkest time, and now you should help her. But I would ask that you don't wait too long. You don't want to keep a woman waiting."

Jon had no words to say, but Daenerys spoke through her eyes that she didn't need him to say anything.

"But we can talk about it more at another time," Daenerys finally told him. "Perhaps we can keep trying?"

Jon didn't need to be asked again and he held her tight. "If you say so, Your Majesty."

A/N: Sam is busy with making his own mark on the Bay, while he is about to start a new family with May.

Margaery and Olenna plot, with Margaery getting the idea of marrying Robb to secure an alliance and favor with the Targaryens when they do finally come back.

Arya is getting close with Rhaenys over Jon.

Jon and Sandor are evenly matched, while he is about to feel something more for Rhaenys. But I hope the whole thing with Daenerys, especially the end, was good enough.