Daenerys
After hours of flying, Dragonstone finally came into sight. The castle seemed to brighten in the light of the sun and Daenerys could see a group of Dothraki riding along the cliffs. She could hear their victorious screams all the way from the sky. She guided Drogon to land near them as they approached the ground. As Drogon slammed onto the grass, the Dothraki approached her, dismounting and kneeling.
"Khaleesi! We're glad to see you returned to us!" One of them exclaimed.
She smiled triumphantly down at them. "It's good to be back. I'm afraid I suffered an injury in my leg during my capture. I'll need assistance walking." She carefully began the slow process of climbing down Drogon.
"Of course, Khaleesi." The Dothraki turned to his followers before dismounting. "Go get Missandei and tell her the Khaleesi had returned!" The other riders spurred their horses and galloped to the castle as the Dothraki who stayed slowly approached Drogon. The warrior extended his arm as Daenerys grabbed hold of him and leaned on him, limping on the grass. "Are you going to be alright, Khaleesi?"
"Not for a while, but soon." She said. "But as you can see, I can still ride." The Dothraki grabbed the reins of his horse and pulled it forward. He helped her onto it and they both began to make their way back to the castle. At this time, Rhaegal and Viserion landed near their brother and began to curl up in the grass.
As the two trekked on, the dothraki spoke to her. "What happened to the one who took you? Did you get revenge?"
"I did not. But someone else did with fire and blood." She smiled thinking of how Jon must've felt to ride on a dragon. He told her about how he had to warg into Rhaegal and guide his actions on what to do. Soon, he wouldn't need to.
As they approached the gates, Tyrion, Varys, Missandei, and even Ser Davos all were waiting to greet her. They all were greatly pleased and relieved at her return. "This will be far enough." She said as she dismounted carefully. Another Dothraki had fetched a walking stick for her as she slowly approached her counsel.
Missandei couldn't seem to help herself as she quickly embraced Daenerys. "I'm glad you made it back." She said, her voice shaking with past fears. She noticed Daenerys's hair was cut greatly and let strands of it slip through your fingers. "Your hair."
"It's only hair, it will grow back." Missandei smiled again as tears began to well up in her eyes. "I'm happy to see all of you."
"I speak for all of us when I say we're relieved that you made it back," Tyrion said. Daenerys let go of Missandei and looked at her Hand, smiling. "What of the fate of King Jon and the others?"
"They're alive and well. They are making for Winterfell as we speak. We'll discuss what happened inside." Tyrion bowed and stepped out of her way as they all walked together into the castle.
Inside the Chamber of the Painted Table, Daenerys sat down at the south part of the table as the others stood around it. "Where should I begin?"
"If I may," Ser Davos interjected, "might I inquire my King?"
Dany nodded. "He suffered some serious burns on his back protecting me from Wildfire, but he's recovering quickly. The flames only burned his skin." The words both rocked and amazed Davos and a few others. "I owe him my life and much more for what he did."
"A bit pointless," Tyrion commented, "given your ability to walk through flames unscathed."
"Except Wildfire seems to burn me." Tyrion looked at her, worried. "Something about those flames aren't natural. The fires of pitch do not affect me but those green flames. They are something else."
"Can we be expecting Jon to return soon?" Ser Davos asked.
Daenerys shook her head. "He's on his way back to Winterfell as we speak to address the proud lords of the North. Unfortunately, he received a raven informing him they have renounced him as King in the North and crowned his sister."
"They what?" Tyrion inquired, shocked.
"Your grace," Varys said, "If I may, I have been hearing songs from my little birds that Sansa Stark now has the North because of a certain Lord who spends an awful amount of time staying close to her ears and whispering supposed guidance for her rule."
"Littlefinger," Tyrion said.
"His words have manipulated many to their doom, no doubt he's trying to do the same to her and her family."
Daenerys didn't answer immediately. Her thoughts seemed to worry about Jon. 'Would he really be alright returning?' "I have faith in Jon. If he could rescue me from Euron Greyjoy, he can withstand whatever he has coming his way." She straightened herself and her gaze seemed to fall upon all of them. "That being said, there's something important I learned about the bastard of Winterfell." Ser Davos seemed to be paying the most attention when she said that. "I finally learned of which Targaryen's blood flows through Jon's veins."
"That's an interesting thing to know. Now we might have some progress." Tyrion said. "Was his mother a Blackfyre? Maybe a Bittersteel?"
Daenerys straightened herself and spoke with utter truth. "He's the son of my brother Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark."
Everyone seemed to freeze except for Missandei who looked confused. "Your grace," she said, "forgive me, but I thought his father was Ned Stark."
"As did I," Tyrion added. "As does everyone who knows him."
Daenerys told them all of what Jon had told her and the others in the cells of Pyke. She then told them about what Euron did to them, but before she could go into the details of the battle as Jon told her, a Dothraki servant girl walked into the room and handed a raven scroll to Varys. "A report from my little birds, your grace." He broke the wax seal and unrolled the paper, reading the contents. He looked grim as he set the scroll down.
"What is it?" Tyrion asked.
"Your grace," Varys asked, "when you secured the Iron fleet, were there any ships unaccounted for?"
"Yes," she confirmed with a curious look, "two hundred."
Varys folded the scroll into his sleeve. "They're currently in Essos. It seems Cersei hired the Golden Company with the Tyrell gold and even as we speak, they're preparing to sail to Westeros."
Sellswords? This was was interesting turn. None of them had expected Cersei to become so desperate to hire men more loyal to gold than oaths. "Do you know how many?" She asked.
"Twenty thousand men and five hundred elephants." Currently comparing the numbers, the added strength would make Cersei's military power nearly equal to House Targaryen's.
"Do we know when they'll sail for King's Landing?"
Varys seemed to not want to answer for some reason. But when he did, Daenerys understood his grimace. "They're not sailing for King's Landing, they're sailing for Dragonstone."
"Damn," Tyrion said. "And I was just starting to like it here," he jested. "How long until they reach us?"
"They won't be leaving for another two days, but they'll most likely be here within the fortnight."
Daenerys felt all the eyes of her counsel turn to her, awaiting her guidance. "Then it seems our time here is at an end. Spread the word to everyone on the island that we'll be leaving Dragonstone and sailing for White Harbor."
"The North, your Grace?" Tyrion asked. "Forgive my objection, but they may not take kindly to your presence given that your Father murdered two Starks himself. They remember, always."
She expected no love to found there and very well knew the risk of going. "I promised Jon I would join him at Castle Cerwyn, and I don't like to break my promises."
"But with the current situation with Jon Snow in the North, I'm not sure it will be as welcoming as you first expected. Perhaps we should make for Sunspear-"
"I understand your concern, my lord, but I also understand that it doesn't change my objective of winning over the Northern Lords." She assured him. "Which reminds me, there's a matter which I'd like to discuss with you." She seemed to only mean Tyrion as all eyes fell on him.
"Of course, you have my ears as always."
"Could we have the room as well?" She asked the others around her. Varys, Missandei, and Ser Davos all left the room, leaving Tyrion with her. "Do you think Jon Snow can win back the other lords?"
"It's hard to say, they don't have much love for you because of your father, but Jon made it clear when he first met you that he doesn't hold a father's sins against his children. I heard that he vouched for the Umbers and the Karstarks after the Battle of the Bastards when the children of the previous lords took command. They owe him greatly for his mercy and may stand with him."
Should that be the case, then the sides of loyalty have switched since the Battle of the Bastards. "Jon constantly spoke of how honorable his country was. Proud would have been a better word. But it is a start. Should he become the King in the North once again, he won't bend the knee."
"He does act in the interest of his lords, but also in the interest of their survival. Unfortunately, that wasn't good enough for them. They won't accept a Southern ruler, only a Northern one."
"And what if a Northern ruler was in the south with me?" Her brow arched, hoping what she was implying reached Tyrion.
He seemed to understand as his mouth fell open slightly, losing his words for a moment. "Are you suggesting a unity?"
"I am. I won't ask him to bend the knee, I'll ask him to rule beside me."
"But he's your nephew by blood."
Daenerys stood up, grabbing her walking stick and paced towards Tyrion. "Before I was engaged to Drogo, I always believed I would become Viserys's bride. Luckily that didn't happen and I didn't want it to. But when I see Jon and think about it, it feels different."
"Will he feel the same way? Before he left here he was in love with you, but are you sure he still is knowing what you are to him?"
Daenerys told Tyrion of the game Euron played with her and when he asked her if Jon loved her. Tyrion seemed entranced as she told him about Jon being burned by Wildfire for her. "Fucking hells, he never ceases to amaze me."
Daenerys suddenly recalled what Tyrion said before she told him about Pyke about Jon loving her before he left. "How did you know he was in love with me?"
"I figured he wasn't staring at you longingly at times because he was hopeful for a successful military alliance." Tyrion told her. "Gods, where is some wine when you need it."
Daenerys giggled a little before wearing a light smile. "If we make it through this the way we hope to, he'll be ruling the Seven Kingdoms."
"Both of you will," Tyrion corrected.
She looked at him, saddened but still smiling. "I can't have children Tyrion. He'll be the future of our family, I can't take that away from him."
"Daenerys," Tyrion said, this being a rare time he didn't say 'your grace,' "I honestly don't know what to tell you about something like that. But what I can tell you, is that Jon is someone who doesn't give up easily, and I can guarantee that he won't ever plan or agree to give up on you if it comes down to that."
Daenerys's gaze turned to the North, tracing the areas around Winterfell. "We'll see."
That night, Daenerys was tended to in her room by Missandei and a few of the Dothraki maids. The mess she remembered the Ironborn had maid kidnapping her was gone but the things broken and destroyed had yet to be replaced. Not that it mattered now.
A warm bath was drawn and Daenerys soaked in it, feeling the rejuvenating effects of the warm water. One of the Dothraki women had a pair of silver shears she found in the castle and was snipping away at Dany's hair, evening out the strands.
Missandei had taken her dress from Pyke and discarded it. She brought some of her usual robes to her and even a Winter dress that had been finished during her absence. It was a beautiful white fur gown with streaks of red running through it. It would surely provide enough warmth to fight against the cold of the North.
"We had to use your other gowns to finish the measurements." Missandei told her.
"I'm sure it will fit perfectly." Daenerys replied faithfully.
"I nearly forgot," Missandei walked over to one of Daenerys's chests of things and pulled out two books. "I had your copy of fixed and managed to complete a translated version as well." She revealed that one was the book that Jon had received from their Uncle Aemon and the other was the translated version she asked for.
"You have done wonderful work, my friend. I suppose now, you may know a bit of my dragons than myself."
Missandei smiled shyly. "One or two things, your grace. But you will always know your children greater than any." Her work pleased Daenerys greatly. She was eager to delve into the book and discover what knowledge she had yet to learn. It excited her to think how Jon would react to have a translated copy. Despite that, he would have to learn High Valyrian sooner or later.
After nearly a week, the final preparations for departure were being made as ships from White Harbor anchored off shore. Varys had secured help from Lord Manderley by calling in a favor he seemed to owe. There were twenty ships including the three they already had at Dragonstone and the last of the Dothraki were boarding their boats to the ships. The only ones who remained were Qhono and his guard, and Abroko who was reporting the last efforts of the mining to him. "We mined as much as we could, but there are still vast amounts in the island."
Daenerys still needed the help of a walking stick, but not as much anymore. Her hair had been trimmed and because of its length, she was unable to do her four braids. In their place, Daenerys had a single braid that rested over the rest of her hair. On it were four rings, each made of a different material. The top ring was of gold, representing the crown of gold Viserys was given at his demise, the ring below it was made of dragonglass, representing the birth of her dragons, below that one was a broken ring of steel to resent the chains of the slaves she freed, and on the bottom, tying off the braid, was a ring of bronze to represent her victory to gain the loyalty of the Dothraki hordes. She was finally back to wearing something befitting a queen.
"How much did you mine?" Daenerys asked. Hopefully the amounts they had would be a decent bargaining chip or incentive Jon might be able to use to buy loyalty back if everything else failed.
"There should be enough for about fifty thousand spears, daggers, and just as many bunches of arrows. And twenty thousand axes, halberds, and various other weapons."
"When we are ready, I want as many crafters as possible working the glass into weapons. I hope it will be worth all the efforts put into getting it."
"To be honest, if what the Northern Khal said is true about dead men, I hope it is. I'd rather not face an enemy like that no matter what the reward was."
Daenerys nodded, agreeing with him. No enemy has ever scared the Dothraki, but something about what they heard is coming from the North seemed to disturb them. They were rather superstitious people from time to time.
Abroko left to join the last of the Dothraki and took to his boat for his ship.
Daenerys approached one of the final boats that was about to take to the sea, saying her final words to her companions. "I'll make sure the lords of the North will remember to treat their guests with respect and hospitality when you reach Winterfell."
"How will you manage that?" Tyrion asked.
"I'll remind them that they are better than the Freys." Tyrion snorted as Drogon began to approach the beach. Daenerys gave Missandei a warm hug as to assure her they would be alright. She finally turned to Varys, leaning forward to whisper something to him. "If you can, see if your little birds can hear any whispers that would give us leverage against the Northern lords."
He didn't say anything to her as she pulled away, he only bowed his head silently. Danerys looked out to the ships as if double checking there were enough. Oddly, there was one more ship than she was told. The sails of it were grey and had no sigil on it. "Whose ship is that?"
"That would be mine." Ser Davos said, stepping forward to her. "I won't be heading North just yet. There's something in King's Landing I need to retrieve before all hell breaks loose."
"I know this is last minute," Tyrion spoke, "but would it be possible for me to join you?"
Daenerys looked down to him, concerned. "What business do you have in King's Landing."
"I may have figured out a way to deal with the problem in the North, without having to worry about the enemies to the south. I have a contact in King's Landing who may be able to grant me a safe audience with someone I trust. I'm afraid I'm short on time, but all I can ask of you is to please trust me."
"How will you get past the guards? The gold cloaks will recognize you."
"That's why I was hoping to go with one of the best smugglers in Westeros," he answered, looking at the Onion Knight.
Ser Davos sighed exhaustingly before answering, "If the gold cloaks recognize yah, I'm afraid I'm not much of a fighter."
"We'll be gone before they even think to look my way." Tyrion looked back at Daenerys, hoping she would approve.
"I can't lose my Hand before the real battles begin." He seemed discouraged, looking down to the sand. "So you better be careful Tyrion." He looked back up to her, nodding before he and Davos approached one of the last boats and hauled into the water.
Drogon at this point had landed onto the beach and awaited his mother to climb onto his back. Daenerys gave one last look to her companions before approaching her dragon. She tossed away the walking stick as she reached his side and began to climb onto his back. The moment she finally gripped onto his spikes, Drogon spread his wings and sent powerful gusts of wind across the sand as he took to the skies. The two of them were soon joined by Rhaegal and Viserion, flying over Dragonstone one last time. Daenerys hoped to return one day, not to plan a war or evade her enemies, but to enjoy what the island offered.
