Chapter 3 Eastwatch
x x x
Grey Worm was looking grimly at the hundreds of people that now resided in the barracks previously used for the garrison of Lannisport. In moments like these he really wished he hadn't restrained himself from his first instinct to strangle the dwarf. He'd had that impulse back in Mereen when the Masters fleet had surprised them all after all the elaborate plans and talks of Tyrion Lannister.
He wished he hadn't stopped then and had killed the dwarf. If it wasn't for this little smooth talking midget, he wouldn't be trapped here in this wretched castle. He would be with his Queen and Misandei.
'Wishes, wishes…'
He and his brothers-in arm had quickly invaded and taken over Castlerly Rock, only to find the granaries empty and his ships and food supplies trapped and destroyed by Euron Greyjoy. Grey Worm had found himself in the impossible situation to feed 8000 soldiers, more than 400 hundred people than had survived from the ships and around 100 captured servants and Lannister soldiers.
He had sent the news by a raven to Dragonstone and for the first time in his life he had to think plans and strategies. He was unused to it but he had to quickly learn how to do it.
He had located posts around the castle and sent scouts to find villages with food but everything around Casterly Rock was abandoned. He had seized control over nearby city of Lannisport that had been left by the Lannister forces and the people offered very little resistance when his soldiers marched in the streets.
The only example Grey Worm had seen of how to rule a city was his time in Mereen, watching Tyrion Lannister deal with the chosen leaders of the common people.
So Grey Worm had done his version of the same here in Lannisport. He had declared city under the protection of Queen Daenerys and had abolished some of the taxes, all the others cut in half.
Then he had done what Queen Daenerys wanted to do with the Masters in Mereen but she had too good soul to do it. Grey Worm had executed all officials from the previous regime and installed his people on their places.
The only exceptions were the Maesters and the religious septas. Grey Worm believed only in his Queen but he knew that she tolerated all faiths. As for the Maesters he thought they should put their heads to use and had ordered them to find solutions to various things that has plagued the city.
He had divided the city in quarters and ordered every quarter to choose a leader who will represent its area in his City Council. He had invited the Guilds of the fishermen and all other trades to choose a leader and had a meeting with them all in the Great Hall of Lannisters, telling them of the new rules he had implemented.
He well remembered the stunned looks of the gathered elected representatives. At first they met his new rules with silence, then quickly started asking questions. Grey Worm had dealt with their questions in the same way his has with his subordinate soldiers. He had instilled silence and everyone with a question had stepped ahead and asked, then returned to his group when Grey Worm answered his question.
Surprisingly his actions had swift results. On the next day after the meeting the fishermen and tradesmen had supported him and fought off when some of Euron's fleet had tried to destroy the remaining ships of Grey Worm and the local ships of the fishermen in Lannisport's harbor.
There were no insurrections in the city, trade returned to the market and even merchant ships came into the port. Most active support the Commander of the Unsullied had received from the newly minted Guild of Honest Women. He had vague idea why the prostitutes of Lannisport had decided to call themselves like that but he really didn't care. The Guild Mistress Celia was informing him for everything going in the city with such accuracy that left Grey Worm really astonished.
'Maybe Varys has to talk with her if we survive this…'
When at first the Guild was formed, the other representatives had objected to any women attending the Council but Grey Worm had pointed out they are all under the rule of their Queen and she is a woman too. Mistress Celia had sat on a chair in his Council, actively participating in the discussions and the Unsullied had received a special price in the brothels in Lannisport.
'Houses of free love…' corrected himself Grey Worm. Celia had insisted they were called that in the official documents.
He had found that by the order of Jaime Lannister all armies and lords from territories of the Westerlands south of the River Road were relocated to his army in King's Landing or gathered north at the Golden Tooth.
The cities and villages south of the River Road quickly surrendered, especially after hearing about Grey Worm actions in Lannisport. The Unsullied didn't loot or rape, they weren't interested in that.
Grey Worm managed to organize supply of food but his soldiers were spreading thin in guarding the trains with grain and villages that supported the new rule.
Lord Lefford from Golden Tooth was making raids in the territory south of the road, making the transport of food more difficult. Grey Worm didn't have enough horses or men to stop them and the raids of the lord were quick hit and run. This had caused more and more refugees to come in Lannisport and this made the problem with feeding so many something he hadn't imagined.
In the two weeks here in The Westerlands, Grey Worm had waited patiently for orders from his Queen. He didn't expect that she will come here if she decided not to listen to the dwarf and his plans of King's Landing.
He looked again in the barracks and adjusted the heavy armor he had on. The evening was getting cooler and it was about to rain. Not that this surprised Grey Worm. Westeros was the rainiest place he had ever seen.
He started walking among the barracks. The Unsullied had made order so for now all refugees were fed and he meet respectful stares from the few people walking his way.
He noticed that around one of the buildings there was a line of more than a dozen waiting people. They were standing patiently despite the rain.
Grey Worm wondered what they were waiting for and came closer to investigate. A carved tree trunk stood next to the door and for a moment Grey Worm felt something in him stir at the carved lines of a man's face. He recalled Mistress Celia asking him for soldiers to escort an old woman from the forest near Lannisport to the city. According to her, the old woman was more versed in herbs and healing potions than the Maesters.
'So here is the old healer', realized Grey Worm and was about to turn and continue with his evening patrol, when the door next to the carved tree opened and Mistress Celia emerged.
Smiling cloying at him, she fluttered her long lashes that underlined beautiful green eyes. "Ah, Commander…" she purred, flicking a golden curl behind her ear, "I was sent to fetch you."
Grey Worm felt her arm, warping around him and was pushed toward the door. He looked at Celia, "I am not sick, I don't need to visit your healer woman." He tried to say it politely.
Celia smiled enigmatically, "No one refuses Maggy The Frog…"
Grey Worm met her serious eyes. She had stopped fluttering her lashes and was staring very seriously. The people, waiting in line, didn't object that their waiting will be prolonged. Curious, Grey Worm decided to go inside.
Stepping in, he noticed how the room looked overburdened with herbs, hanging from the ceiling. At the small fire a woman sat on a chair. A dagger on a small table behind the fire, caught the glimpses from the flames.
She was dressed in grey bodice and skirt, that revealed bosom long past her prime. Her mated greying hair spread on her back and shoulders. The woman turned her face to him and he saw her dark eyes. Like Celia, she had used a charcoal to underline them and some red pain on her lips. Her face was middle aged, with slight wrinkles carved around her lips and between her eyes.
The woman smiled, revealing a surprisingly full set of slightly yellow teeth.
"I am happy to see you in person, Commander," said the woman, "You are taller than in my visions."
He stood straight, wondering what to say but the woman continued, "I saw your coming."
At his perplexed look, she added, "You and your soldiers. I saw it in the flames." She stood up and Grey Worm realized she was as tall as him, "Everyone in Lannisport comes to me for a healing potion or to know their future…" She smirked, "Until they know their future."
"You have come invited," she said, "Don't you want to know your future Grey Worm?"
Her eyes were reflecting the light from the fire and Grey Worm suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
"I know my future," he told her, "it is with my Queen."
Maggy The Frog giggled, "And with the one that brought the fear in your heart?"
Grey Worm stood still, 'How does she know?' he wondered. He hadn't told anyone about Misandei.
"So don't you want to know your future?" asked again the woman.
"Will I see Misandei again?' gulped Grey Worm.
"Yes,"answered Maggy the Frog, "You will live long enough to see her and her children raised."
Grey Worm felt mixed feelings at her words. He knew that Misandei loved him, but every woman wanted children and a family. And he…
"Didn't you wonder, Commander, how the Unsullied were welcomed so easy in Lannisport?" the words of the old woman distracted him from his thoughts of Misandei.
Grey Worm's feeling of alert raised an alarm. Suddenly the old woman didn't look so weak and pale. 'She is a witch…'
"When you are sick or need guidance maesters are expensive and only the lords and the wealthiest traders can afford them. As for the common people," Maggy the Frog grinned, "they all come to me."
She turned and started gathering bunches of dried herbs in a woven bag. Grey Worm noticed in the darken corner of the room more boxes, bags and chests.
He couldn't understand what the witch meant with her words but wasn't left in the dark long. Maggy the Frog put another bunch in the bag and tied it, putting it on the pile of other bags.
"You see Commander, I told them to stand and see for themselves. They obeyed." She was talking again to him. "They know that my visions come true."
Grey Worm took a long look at her. "And what your visions say about my Queen?" he asked. "Will she come here?"
"No," the witch smiled, "You will go to her. Soon. And…" she stepped closer, "when she does, I will come with you."
Her eyes unfocused and Grey Worm felt a cold shivering, standing next to that strange woman.
She looked fiercely at the dagger, next to the fire and an expression of pleasure crossed her face. "I want to watch from the front seat when your Queen casts down and takes everything held dear from someone who came uninvited…"
She started laughing and Grey Worm felt a need to flee. He stormed through the door, followed by the curious eyes of the waiting people, Celia and the giggling sounds of Maggy's laugh.
He tried to compose himself and walk with dignity but his hands were still trembling when he walked back to the tower, where the Unsullied headquarters were stationed.
'She is just an old woman…'
Climbing the steps to the upper floor, he reached the platform on the top and was about to inspect the soldiers of the night watch, when he heard a croaking sound. He saw a raven flew at the Maester's watching terrace.
A sinking feeling holed in him. 'Could it be…'
He ran to the Maester's quarters and found him untying the scroll from the raven's leg.
Grey Worm felt his hands shaking when he took and unrolled the scroll.
His Queen herself, had written a message to him. She had arrived with her Dragons to help her ally and defeated the Lannisters at Highgarden. She was telling him that she had sent one of the liege lords of Lady Olenna, Lord Rowan with 3000 riders and 6000 troops to Casterly Rock and they will arrive in four days to hold the Westerlands for her. She ordered him to leave as garrison 1000 Unsullied and chose one of them to represents her and to marsh to the Reach and join her for the siege of King's Landing.
Grey Worm felt immense happiness that his Queen was alive and well. He was going back to her and Misandei.
Turning to the soldier, who had come with him, he ordered, "Prepare a few cargo carriages and go the healer woman in the barracks." After a pause, he added, "And make sure there is a comfortable carriage for her to travel…"
He felt a smile turn on his lips for the first time since his parting with Misandei, when he began instructing the Maester what to write to his Queen.
x x x
Bronn took the knife and put it on the sheath. The leather belt was intricately decorated with gemstones and golden caps, shaped in the sigil of House Tyrell, a present from Lady Olenna. He was asked by the goldsmith what is he sigil of his House and at first Bronn had no idea. He looked at his bride, standing next to his mother-in-law.
The wedding ceremony had taken place this morning. It was short, attended by his Queen, Lady Olenna and some of the lords. Bronn was now officially wed to Talla Tarly and Lord of all lands once in possession of House Tarly.
As a Lord of a new House he had to have his own sigil to be put on the banners.
"I will take whatever sigil House Tarly has…" He tried to remember what the fuck the sigil of Randyll Tarly was, that he wore on his clothes. For Bronn it was all the same, even if a duck was the sigil of his House.
"No, I don't like hunting and killing animals for sport," objected Talla. Her words caused a few raised eyebrows from the surrounding servants and few lords. Her mother cringed in fear.
Bronn wondered how many times the old Randyll Tarly had reprimanded brutally when contradicted. Bronn hunted when he had to feed, he didn't find it amusing to chase and kill animals or humans for sport. It seemed Talla shared his preferences. 'This marriage may be fruitful…'
"What would you like the sigil to be then, my lady?" He asked kindly.
She bit her lip, looking thoughtful, "A silver dragon after Queen Daenerys who showed her mercy to me and my mother."
Bronn realized that he was married to a woman that had more brain than the combine quantity of her father and brother. Choosing a sigil, that openly stated the loyalty of House Blackwater to Targaryen Crown was an extremely clever move.
Talla's grey eyes met his and she gave him a smile. "And the moto of our House will be 'We Follow The Dragon'"
In that moment, Bronn felt something stir in his groins at the glimpse of the inner beauty of his wife. How that smart woman had lived under a narrow minded tyrant like the old bastard Randyll was beyond his imagination…
"Very well," he agreed and looked at the goldsmith, "My wife, Lady Blackwater will instruct you of the details and all the other things necessary for my House."
Talla smiled again and Bronn felt more and more attracted to his wife. The servants exchanged stares, Lady Talla had just won a place of authority and they knew that Bronn will hear her words.
"Now, if you excuse me Ladies, I will go and inspect the army that our Queen ordered me to put in shape," he kissed gently the hand of his wife, in the best imitation of knight's gentlemanly manners, then brushed his lips across the knuckles of his mother-in-law. She was still blinking uncertainly, like she couldn't understand why this stranger, that was married to his daughter, was behaving with such courtesy.
Bronn nodded to the lords and walked from the little family gathering.
He walked to the east wing, where the wounded soldiers were stationed. Most of the wounded had burns that were healing well under the treatment of Lady Olenna's Maester and Bronn expected them to be able to fight and march in five to ten days.
He tried to pay attention to every soldier, ensuring all were well fed and cared for. He noticed the surprised looks of them, not used to a lord, giving a shit for them, once they were useless.
Some of the wounded wouldn't be able to fight, so Bronn told them that he offers to support them while they learn a trade or a skill as craftsmen and then settle them in the lands of House Blackwater.
Some of the soldiers cried and Bronn knew why. They expected to be abandoned now that they were no longer useful. He had seen it done in his years as sellsword, so now he refused to follow what he found repulsive. He didn't think that Daenerys Targaryen will object. From what he had heard of and seen from her so far, she didn't want to follow any tradition or beliefs.
He was inspecting the other soldiers, who were not wounded and were now in tents outside Highgarden, when a servant appeared and bowed to him, "Lord Blackwater, Her Majesty Queen Daenerys, asks you to attend to her Small Council."
Bronn felt the surprised eyes of the soldiers. He had climbed the steps of a mere sellsword and mercenary to Lannisters to a member of her Small Councill in a blink of mere two days.
He adjusted the heavy leather belt, nodded to the new commanders of his army and followed the servant to the castle.
x x x
The Small Council was gathered in a hall with floor-to-ceiling windows on the long side of the walls. The light from the late morning sun was making the painted colors of the map on the wall shine.
It was ten feet tall and six feet wide, painted on a heavy linen paper and hanging on the wall.
The map was intricately done, with mountains and rivers, all castles and roads painted with great attention to the detail.
Daenerys Targaryen was still looking to Bronn like a maiden from the fairy tales. She was so small and slender, with pearly white skin and innocent expression on her face. And what a face she had, he could lose himself in these blue eyes and lips that called for his most basic instincts. Bronn suspected that he was not the only one, judging from the love stares young Lord Thaddeus Rowan was giving her. He had a feeling that the young lord will be very effective in enforcing her wishes in the coming war.
Her silver hair, now in intricately hair-do, made him feel his pants tight. 'Is there a man who can look at her and not imagine her hair, gripped in fist, while those lips are wrapped around his dick?' He asked himself. 'And those eyes staring at him…'
He knew that it was futile to even imagine such thing. She was with Valyrian blood, from the Targaryen House and she yielded Dragons. She was meant to command Kings, not mere sellswords.
He remembered from the briefings about her, how she had left her previous lover Daario Naharis as Viceroy of her holdings in Essos. Even after the separation he was still loyal to her.
'What kind of a woman instigates such loyalty in her discarded bed partners?'
Queen Daenerys was looking intently at the big map of Westeros. She was sitting at the Master's seat of the table, Lady Olenna and the old Maester at her right side. Lord Rowan and his son Lord Thaddeus on their right side. Another lord that Bronn had been introduced during the wedding as Lord Aegor, Master of Coin, was sitting next to the Maester.
The third chair on the left side, next to Lord Thaddeus was empty.
Bronn bowed to Daenerys and she smiled and gestured with a pale hand to the empty chair. He sat on it and took a look around, listening to the Maester and the lords.
They were planning the strategy for the Westerlands. A raven had come from Grey Worm and Daenerys had felt immensely happy that he was well and most of the Unsullied. He had written how he had taken in control Lannisport and the territories south of the River Road, about the raids of Lord Lefford and the shortage of food.
Lady Olenna agreed to send an envoy with food supplies and forces to guard them.
"Lord Rowan," addressed Daenerys the old Lord Rowan, "I ordered my Commander to leave as garrison 1000 soldiers at Lannisport and Casterly Rock. They will guard and keep the cities and the surrounding area. I want you to take your soldiers and enforce peace and order north of the River Road."
The elderly lord looked at her, "Can I offer clemency to the lords, that are doing the raids?"
A silence fell upon the room.
Bronn noticed that the hallo around her that was created from the sun rays on her silver hair, suddenly looked cooler. The illusion of a fair maiden shifted and transformed into something terrifying.
She glanced again at the map, "I want you to deal with this Lefford," she skipped the title of lord and Bronn knew that nothing good was about to come for this Lannister supporter. "All of the lords north of the River Road had received ravens from Grey Worm with my message to bend the knee and they ignored it. They have raised arms against my army…"
Her eyes measured every face around the table and she continued, "I will show them no mercy. Eliminate the nobles that participate in the raids and bring their lands to the Crown's fold. Their castles will be rewarded to those Houses who are loyal."
'These fuckers had awakened the Dragon…' a thought crossed his mind and he could very well imagine what atrocities she was capable of. He was really impressed how she managed to restrained her inner self when she had her Dragons.
He could imagine the massacre the eager lord would spread in Northern Westerlands when Daenerys again surprised him.
"Make sure that no ordinary people are harmed during your campaign there," she addressed Lord Rowan. "I want your people to check every peasant house or that of a city dweller and to supply them with food and help with their needs." She seems determined, "I won't let the common people be crushed under the wheel of the rich and powerful anymore now that I am a Queen."
The lord blinked and looked at Lady Olenna, like she could translate what he had just heard. Lady Olenna gave a thin smile at the stunned lord. Bronn suspected that she really enjoyed how Daenerys was handling things.
It was an unspoken rule that the lands of the mutinied lord will be put under sword. In the history of Westeros the wheel that the Lords had yielded had crushed the common people and no one expected that the daughter of the Mad King will make the wheel lighter.
'She just smashed the wheel…'
Daenerys could see how the eyes of Lord Rowan lit up. He wasn't in favor of burning villages and a new sense of respect crossed his features.
Next the discussion turned to what forces were left in the Reach and what army will be sent with Daenerys to King's Landing. Lady Olenna needed a day to load the needed food supplies. Lord Thaddeus, the son of the old Lord Rowan will command the forces of the Reach and Bronn will join under his command with what was left of Lannister and Tarly armies.
Bronn cleared his throat, "I would like to relocate some of the resources of House Tarly to the soldiers who can't fight. I offered them to teach them trade or a skill as craftsmen and help them build their new lives."
Daenerys smiled at him, "That is a wonderful idea, Lord Bronn." Bronn felt something warmer spread in his chest, just as the revelation he had when he had seen her riding her dragon.
"Make sure that not a single man from my armies is left wounded or abandoned. We will take care for all of them." She continued.
'She really cares for the common people…' Bronn mused. For the first time Westeros had a ruler that saw her subjects as people, not some useful tools to pay the taxes and do the heavy burden.
"The Wise Maesters from the Citadel had agreed to meet with me…" She said after listening to one of the Lords, who was Master of Coin to Lady Olenna explain the organization of the food train to Blackwater Rush. "In the Citadel…'
Lady Olenna frowned, "I will send a raven to the lord of the Oldtwon, Lord Hightower to be ready to escort you and search for every trap that could be laid."
Daenerys was nodding at the discussion, listening with one ear, but in her mind she was mentally in the Citadel
'Could a dragon have an armor?' she thought. "And I wonder what secrets the Maesters hold in their books…"
x x x
Archmeaster Embrose slid his eyes on the left and right, the trepidation was in the air. On both sides of the gathered Archmaesters and lower rank Maesters and apprentices, were the soldiers of Lord Edmund Hightower. The Lord himself was here, armed to his teeth, throwing suspicious glances at them.
Embros knew that the Lord suspected them in something foul, inviting Daenerys Targaryen here. He wanted to step and shout that there was not a single person the Citadel despised more than Cercei Lannister and that abomination Qyburn.
But he had to keep his thoughts to himself. He met the worried eyes of Samuel Tarly, standing with the group of apprentices. He felt pity for him. The young Samuel had discovered about the execution of his father and brother. His sister was married to an unknown lord, a follower of the Dragon Queen and House Tarly has been erased.
Ser Jorah, the patient the young apprentice healed stepped next to the group and Embrose frowned. He was about to summon someone to remove this man, when a roar thundered in the air.
A shadow fell upon him and he noticed three dragons flying over him. The roars made him wish to run as fast as he could.
The two smaller dragons flew away. The biggest one, he knew his name was Drogon, flew lower and landed heavily in the yard. The cobblestones under Embrose's feet shivered, just as his knees.
A small figure, dressed in a black leather coat, covered with polished steel plates, climbed down the Drogon's wing. He saw the silver hair under the shiny helmet and for the first time in more than twenty years he saw a Valyrian in person.
The Dragon Queen met his frightened stare. Drogon roared, intimidating the gathered people and he heard someone shrieking.
Gulping, Archmaester Embrose made a step forward and bowed to Daenerys Targaryen, "Welcome to the Citadel, Your Grace."
She returned his courtesy with a nod, her blue eyes measuring him. He was less than ten feet from the teeth of Drogon and despite his efforts, he couldn't stop himself from noticing that each of them was longer than his arm.
He glanced at her again. Her luscious lips twitched, like she had found his fear from her dragon amusing and plunged her eyes over the gathered Maesters and then to the apprentices…
Then she froze and Embrose felt fear. Lord Hightower hurried to her, "What is it, my Queen?"
She shook her head, reassuringly at the worried lord and Embrose noticed that Ser Jorah had stepped from the group of apprentices and was walking to Daenerys Targaryen.
He was flanked by the soldiers of Lord Hightower but Daenerys waved her finger and Ser Jorah was escorted to her.
He bent a knee before her and glanced hopefully.
"You look strong, my friend," The beautiful voice of Daenerys filled the silence, "You found a cure?"
Ser Jorah nodded with devotion, "I wouldn't be here, if I wouldn't, My Queen!" He stood up.
Then Embrose witnessed something he had never imagined.
The Dragon Queen practically beamed with joy. She hugged Ser Jorah and traced his face with her slender hand, like she couldn't believe he was alive and well.
The fire between Jorah and Daenerys Targaryen was so obvious, that the kiss that followed was like the continuation of the lava flow of emotions that was pouring among them.
When her lips finally left his, Ser Jorah looked like the happiest person in the Seven Kingdoms.
"My closest friend," said Daenerys Targaryen, grasping his hand.
She turned around and Embrose was lit up by her smile, "I will be eternally grateful to the Citadel for healing my friend Jorah."
Embrose felt uneasy, remembering how he had forbidden young Tarly to heal the patient.
But Jorah didn't try to hide it. "My Queen," he gestured to Samuel Tarly, who approached cautiously and bent a knee to her, "This is Samuel Tarly, a Maester here, who healed me. He risked his life to perform a procedure that was forbidden to him and he succeeded."
Daenerys curiously studied Sam, "Are you related to Randyll Tarly?"
He nodded, sweating profusely, "He was my father…" She looked suddenly saddened at him and Sam hurried in his explanation, "He banished me to the Night's Watch because I wasn't fit to his expectations of an heir."
She remembered Varys talking about that and looking at the rounded figure of Sam, she could imagine the reaction of Randyll Tarly. Sam wasn't looking like a knight; he wasn't tall or muscled. He seemed more interested in hot pies and books, than swords and battles.
'And he had succeeded in finding a cure…'
"You have been more brave than any knight could be, when you had a courage to heal Ser Jorah," she spoke clearly and Sam smiled at her words.
"I am a sworn brother of the Night's Watch and served under Commander Mormont, the father of Ser Jorah. I couldn't leave him to die just because I haven't tried."
She smiled broadly, "Are you interested in being a member of my Council, Samuel Tarly. I still don't have a Grand Maester." She looked him up and down, "And I can only admire someone so brave and smart as you."
Tarly blinked surprised and then a pure joy crossed his rounded face, "This will be my greatest pleasure, my Queen…" He was about to say more, when he suddenly remembered something. He sighed, "But I have to tell you something…"
"I was sent here by Commander Jon Snow to find any information useful against the Whitewalkers. I tried but no one believed me and…" He licked his lips, "If I am appointed a Grand Maester I won't be here to search in the books…"
She inclined her head, "And have you studied any of the books so far, Maester Tarly?"
Sam blushed, "I am not a Maester…" At her raised eyebrows, he blurted, "Archmaester Embrose was about to recommend me to be raised as Maester but…" he realized he was blabbering before the most powerful person in the Seven Kingdoms and quickly finished, "I tried to read as much as I can but I didn't have time and access to some of the books. They are so many that I think I won't have enough time to find something useful to help Jon."
"Your Commander, Jon Snow," she tilted her head with a concentrated expression on her face, like she was solving a puzzle, "Came to me at Dragonstone and asked for my help and for dragonglass against the Whitewalkers…"
Sam blurted excitedly, "Did you give him dragonglass?"
She nodded and a smile spread her lips, "I did. I provided him with enough men and resources to take at his heart's desires."
Sam felt a heavy burden lifted from his shoulders. Daenerys smiled seductively at Jorah and him, "Come with me, I have something to say to the Wise Maesters and then we can talk."
x x x
Daenerys squeezed gently the hand of Jorah. She still couldn't believe how he had returned in her life, healed and looking healthier.
Then she took to the podium in the main hall of the Citadel. Her mind checked on Drogon who was still in yard, guarded by the soldiers of Lord Hightower and on Viserion and Rhaeger who had landed in Mountains on the South.
The podium was elevated around ten feet above the floor, facing few hundred seats, managed in half-circle lines. Enormous narrow window cast light on the podium and the acoustics made sure that even whispers could be heard from the place of the podium.
A device that she recognized as Valyrian glass candles produced light in the places, far from the window. She felt strange to see this artifact from the land of her predecessors; that was nowadays considered a magic.
The space on the podium allowed more than one person to stand up. She climbed the steps, followed by Jorah and looked at the lines of seats. The Hall was used to make lectures and teachings and was now fully packed.
Every seat was taken; along the walls were present apprentices and the soldiers of Lord Hightower. The lord himself was standing with half a dozen of his knights around the podium. She knew that Lady Olenna had ordered him to protect their Queen with his life and Lord Hightower was taking seriously his vows to House Tyrell.
Daenerys met the gawking eyes of Archmaesters, all seated on the front seats. Archmaesters looked like they have swallowed something poisonous and were for a discreet way to throw it up. Maesters looked frightened and the apprentices were a mixture of frightening curiosity. She had insisted on giving a public speech, not meeting in private with the Archmaesters. Daenerys wanted her words to be heard from everyone in the Citadel.
Samuel Tarly was standing at the foot of the podium and she could see the resentment of some of the Archmaesters towards him. That infuriated her; this man had risked his life and achieved something extraordinary. He had to be rewarded, not punished.
She took a deep breath, "Ever since the Doom of Valyria, the world had plunged in Darkness," he words echoed in the Hall, reaching to the farthest corners.
"For thousands of years, Valyrians built topless towers and buildings that we can't even remotely copy today. They invented the Valyrian steel that is still sharp and stainless hundreds of years after it has been produced. They built the dragon roads that connected every city in the Empire and provided safe, fast and easy way for people and goods to travel."
The Valyrians had used them to transport slaves too but Daenerys omitted that fact.
"They had glass candles that could burn for centuries without wax or fire and they used them to communicate in vast distances, thousand times faster than we could today with the ravens!"
She noticed some of the Maesters nodding their heads at her words but the Archmaesters still looked cautious.
She glanced around, measuring the reactions of the public, "Today we are living under an endlessly spinning Wheel of misery, violence and ignorance." She continued, "It crushes the common people, devastating their lives and the lives of their children. I saw it in Essos and I see it again and again here in Westeros."
"I am not here to stand and watch the Wheel , destroy the Seven Kingdoms anymore. I am here to crush it!" She paused and looked at the Archmaesters, "I am asking you to join me!"
The hall erupted in shouts and exclamations. Buzzing talks, whispers, astounded faces…
She waited as the Archmaesters whispered to each other. Finally, their leader, Archmaester Embrose, stood up and silence spread again. Everyone was eager to hear what the chief of the Citadel have to say.
He cleared his throat, "We listened carefully to your words, Your Grace." He was speaking calmly but Daenerys could see the perspiration on his forehead, "But you are asking us, you are asking the Citadel to take side in this war. We are not a military power, we barely have enough resources for what we are doing now."
She nodded, understanding his worries, "I am not asking for your money, Archmaester." She smiled, "As Queen of Mereen and the Dragon's Bay and Khaleesi of the Great Dothraki Sea, I assure you I had more than enough before coming here. House Tyrell had pledged their resources to my cause and you know that right now they are the richest House in Westeros."
Archmaester's face could be right now one big question and Daenerys felt the air become lighter.
"I am asking for your help in rebuilding this world! " She turned to Jorah and suppressed a need to hug him again, "My closest friend and advisor, Ser Jorah Mormont, had been healed by the young master Tarly." She faced again the audience, "Samuel Tarly didn't have permission to perform a strange procedure, he wasn't sent here by the King of the North to find cures for greyscale but he had conscience and he couldn't leave Ser Jorah to die."
Samuel Tarly was suddenly a center of attention and he blushed like a beetroot, meeting her eyes.
"I will relocate resources to the Citadel," began Daenerys,"I want to build a better system than what we have now. The common people are on their own when they are sick. I want to make access to healing be free for every man, woman or child under my rule. I want you to teach more maesters and to dare to explore what is considered taboo, just like Maester Tarly did."
She licked her lips and felt her face flushed, "A representative of the Citadel was always seated in Crown's Counsil ever since the days of my predecessor Aegon The Conquerer. I will honor that tradition and will offer a seat for one of you in my Small Council…"
This caught the attention of the people. Silence was so thick that she could hear the breaths taken by the Archmaesters.
"I chose Samuel Tarly as my Grand Maester to represent the Citadel ," she announced out loud.
Samuel Tarly gaped at her words. Murmurs spread in the Hall. The Dragon Queen had chosen a son of a traitor…
"I won't judge sons for the crimes of their parents," sounded her voice in the stunned Hall, "I value people for what they are, not who their father was. "
She fixed the line of gawking Archmaesters and continued, "The King of the North, Jon Snow, came to me to Dragonstone to talk alliance against the Whitewalkers." The sudden change of topic was something no one here expected.
"He is an honorable man like his father Ned Stark. I trust his word and I believe that the danger from the Whitewalkers is above the petty wars Westeros has been plagued." Actually Daenerys still have some back thoughts about Whitewalkers but she wasn't going to admit it. "I allowed him to mine dragonglass but this won't be enough for his army to stop the Night King. So, once I am finished with Cercei…" she made a pause, that clearly indicated that this moment will come pretty soon, "I will help the North."
She smiled internally at the baffled Maesters. This was a very good curled ball, she had just thrown. The effect was going to be similar to what she had done in Astapor…
'Just without burning the city part…' she thought.
The King of the North coming to the Dragon Queen…She could see the wheels in their heads turning at the thought that the North was taking side in the war. And if King of the North was siding with her…
She took the word again, "If you agree to join me and appoint Samuel Tarly as your representative in my Council, I am here to ask you something that will benefit the Seven Kingdoms and help Maester Tarly in his mission." She looked seriously at Sam, who was still looking like the Night King had appeared before him, "Read every book for anything mentioned about the Whitewalkers and the Night King. Any idea how to stop them will be greatly appreciated by me and King of the North!"
Archmaester Embrose looked shattered. He bowed politely and this time Daenerys noticed that his gesture was more servile than the first time he had bowed at her landing.
"We will need some time to discuss your offer, Your Grace," he said and Daenerys nodded politely.
"Of course, Archmaester," she smiled,"I will have a talk with Maester Tarly and Ser Jorah while you decide. I will give you an hour to decide."
Her answer brought the message that the Archmaesters better decide quickly or…
The Archmaester nodded and the whole group from the front line seats swarmed off from the Hall.
She was escorted to a small terrace where eardropping was unlikely to happen. She could see soldiers everywhere around the Citadel . The sky was light blue with slight white clouds but the weather at noon time was warm and pleasant. Slight breeze from the sea made it cooler at times but warm enough for a dragon.
Drogon was sunbathing in the yard below. She smiled at the view of her baby and sat on the stone bench, glancing at Samuel Tarly and Ser Jorah.
"So now that I have given your task to hundreds of Maesters to do, would you sit in my Council?" she asked Sam Tarly.
He blushed and nodding, carefully told her, "It will be my greatest honor, my Queen" with little grace he bent a knee and looked up, "But if Jon asks me to go with him and fight the Whitewalkers , I can't refuse. I am a sworn brother of the Night's Watch."
She smiled, "That is an honorable deal." Her eyes went back to Jorah and her smile widened with pleasure.
"Ser Jorah, I am appointing you my Master of War and member of my Small Council."
He knelt and she came closer, touching the face of the man she hadn't believed she will see again. He kissed her hands with devotion.
Once Ser Jorah stood, she thought back of the weapon at Highgarden.
"I have a task to give you," she began.
"During the battle at Highgarden, a weapon was aimed at me and Drogon, like a catapult with huge arrow," she began and noticed how Ser Jorah's face darkened with anger. "It was huge enough to kill a dragon if he is flying low. I suspect that someone read those history books about Queen Rhaenys and Meraxes in Dorne," she tried to smile but she was still scared from what had been avoided.
"The weapon didn't fire, because the man who was handling it, Ser Bronn decided that I am a better choice and switched sides," Daenerys continued. Both Sam and Jorah followed carefully her words. "But from what Bronn told me, the disgraced maester Qyburn who created this weapon, have made tens or more in King's Landing…" her eyebrows pressed together, "And if he had done it, others will…."
She looked at them, "I am giving you that task. Find a way to make armor for a dragon. It has to be light enough and strong enough to withstand to any arrow a man could create…"
Ser Jorah was in thought when Sam exclaimed, "What about Valyrian steel?" he said. "It is very light and I haven't heard of anything that could break it?"
She pondered on that idea, "But where can we find so much Valyrian steel?"
'Even if I melt all swords in Westeros, made from that ancient metal, I will not have enough to create armor for three dragons…'
"What if we try to make a Valyrian steel again?" asked Sam and felt the surprised eyes of both Daenerys and Jorah on him, "You said it yourself, you want to recreate the greatest achievements of your predecessors…"
He looked at the tower of the Citadel, "There are books; that the Maesters keep locked. I stole the keys and took some of the books. In one of them I found about the dragonglass on Dragonstone and wrote to Jon about it," he blushed again at her raised eyebrows, "and in another I found the description of how one of the Maesters had tried to cure grayscale and used it on Ser Jorah!"
Daenerys felt a surge of hope, "Then, Grand Maester Tarly," she said playfully, "It is time to take the keys again and find if something is written about how to make Valyrian steel!"
She headed back to the Hall, followed by Ser Jorah and Sam. Lord Hightower and his soldiers joined immediately and she was about to barge in wherever the Archmaesters were discussing her offer, when she saw them entering back.
Archmaester Embrose and the rest hurried to her, noticing her agitated look. The group stopped a few feet from her and Daenerys waited impatiently for their decision.
'Agreed or not, I am taking the keys…'she thought.
Slowly, Embrose bent a knee, followed by the other Archmaesters and looked at her, "We have decided that joining you is the best for our Citadel and for Westeros, My Queen."
She smiled gratefully and extended her hand, "I appreciate your wise decision, Arhmaester. I assure you that you and your colleagues will never regret it. Now I would like the keys for your locked library…"
He eyed her and she could see that he wanted to object to her wish. She was now his Queen and this prevailed. The ring with keys landed at her palm and she grasped it.
She nodded to Sam and he immediately headed to where the library was. Daenerys had never seen so many books before. She glanced around curiously but now wasn't the time to gawk.
They stopped before a steel lock and Sam unlocked it. He started reading the labels, climbing up on the ladder and handing books to Jorah. He was giving them to the soldiers of Lord Hightower and soon they had a few dozen books, ready to be studied.
She thanked the Maesters and again followed Sam. He was talking again, telling her about his wife and little son and how Gilly, his wife had helped him read the books.
Lord Hightower promised to take care of Sam's wife and son until it was safe enough for them to go to King's Landing.
Daenerys was deeply humbled how Sam hugged Gilly and his son, who was actually a child, born of her abuse from her father. Gilly made curtsy at her and Daenerys cuddled young Sam. She felt tears emerged at her eyes, remembering her vision of Drogo and her unborn child in the House of the Undying.
'Rhaego would've been Sam's age now…'
They headed back to the yard, where Drogon had begun to befriend the gathered Archmaesters. She told him through their mental link that showing teeth at people, pressed at the wall is not very friendly and Drogon backed from them.
She was still musing about her past when Sam told her, "I am not very good on horse, Your Grace…"
She smiled gently at him, "We won't be riding back on horse, Sam."
He looked surprised at her. They had just entered the yard and Drogon immediately came to her. Sam paled and looked like he will drop under the heavy bags with books.
She climbed on Drogon and extended a hand to Ser Jorah. Lord Hightower brought her the helmet and Danerys nodded to him and the gathered Archmaesters.
Ser Jorah didn't hesistate even for second and when he was seated behind her, Daenerys extended her hand again and Sam Tarly realized what she meant. He clumsily walked on the wing to the back of the dragon.
Once everyone was seated, Daenerys put her helmet on her head and smiled at the gathered people.
Then she focused back on her baby and Drogon swung his wings in the air. With a graceful jump, he lifted from the ground and in mere seconds they were flying above the Citadel.
She felt her blood singing in harmony with the mighty dragon. They were going east and this time she wouldn't be showing mercy….
x x x
Sitting in the cold room of her father's cabinet, Sansa was making attempts to focus on the books. But even if she stared till the day ended the numbers weren't going to change.
Winterfell didn't have enough food and hay to feed the people and horses. She had tried to gather from the liege lords but Lord Glover and Lord Manderly had lectured her on how the war had devastated their lands and they wouldn't have enough to feed their own people. Lord Glover had suggested to expel some of the peasants who Winterfell can't feed. The Northern lords had started to interfere in every decision she was taking.
She felt her hands combing her hair and scorned at that gesture. It was a fortnight since Jon had left Winterfell and the only raven they had gotten was a week ago when he had informed her that he and Ser Davos had arrived at Dragonstone and are guests of the Dragon Queen. She hoped that the next raven won't be with the message that he has become a food of the Dragons.
'Or burnt alive like our Grandfather…'
Bran wasn't helpful, sitting in his room and staring at the flames. He scared her with his new powers and she felt creepy in his presence.
A swarm of crows flew next to her window and headed to the Maester's chambers.
This was another creepy thing happening that she couldn't control. Bran was a warg, she had to face it. Since coming here a week ago, he was taking the minds of all types of animals but he preferred to fly.
A knock sounded on the door. Sansa backed up and tried to look like the Regent of the North she was supposed to be.
Lord Petyr Baelish walked through the door and Sansa felt uncomfortable under his lustful eyes. She felt like he was ogling her not because she was beautiful, but for more sinister reason. She had to always be on her guard around him.
"Sansa," exclaimed Lord Baelish and without waiting for her permission made himself comfortable in the chair on the opposite side of the desk. She didn't let her resent show. She needed the troops of the Vale here. "Lord Robin, your cousin has expressed his displeasure with my long absence from the Vale," he began and Sansa was filled with trepidation. "I can't hold his wish to see me any longer…"
She looked at his eyes, so oily and pretended that she wasn't intimidated.
He looked a little put off by her lack of reaction. "I came to tell you that now that you don't need my help, I and the knights of the Vale will have to leave the North."
"But we need you!" Sansa couldn't stop her fear show up to his delight, "You heard Jon about the Whitewalker, about the War with the Night King!"
"Whitewalkers…." smirked Lord Baelish, "We have your brother hero to deal with them. But when they are defeated and both your King and his armies are weakened, I will be still standing and waiting to reap my reward…"
She gaped at him. "How could you stay and do nothing at these demons, that are coming?"
Littlefinger gave her a look full with pity, "My dear Sansa, you are too young and naïve to realize how the Game of Thrones is played…" He stood up, coming closer and brushed his mouth at her cold lips. He bit gently her lower lip. "Marry me, sweet Sansa….Be my Queen and I will keep my armies in Winterfell…"
She tried to put a distance from him, leaning back at her chair, "I am not a Queen!" she told him. "You saw that the Lords chose Jon to be a King!"
Petyr Baelish laugh filled the room and dampened the sound of the wind outside, "And where is their King now? Trying to persuade the daughter of the Mad King to help him again the things pulled straight from fairy tales and legends…"
He shook his head, "Who knows if he is still alive…Have you heard from him since he left? The Dragon Queen is known to feed her dragons with men…And the Northern Lords will have to choose a wiser King…" he gave her a fake smile, "…or a Queen…"
Sansa tried not to imagine such horrible end for her brother. The mocking smile on Littlefinger infuriated her.
'To marry him will be like to marry Ramsey again!'
"You have this night to decide." He whispered and smugly left her there.
Sansa stood in the dimly lit room, feeling the winter wind blow through the window. She had a sense that she was still a prisoner of Ramsey, just this time her captor was much more sophisticated.
She stared at the stone wall, with nothing else coming to her mind. She thought of running away but where she would go?
'I can run!' she wanted to cry, 'I don't want to marry anybody, I don't want to be under the command of a man again!'
She stood and tried to think. Sometimes walking at the castle's wall helped her to put her feelings in order so she took the walk. The cloak gave her little warmth against the cold winds and the snowflakes of the falling snow.
Sansa was trying to figure out what to do, when the Maester came puffing at the stairs to the wall. He gave her a bow and told her that Bran wants to talk with her.
She went with the Maester, racing for another talk with the stranger her brother had become. He no longer was that smiling and vivid child she remembered.
When she went to his room she noticed that the Commander of the armies of The Vale, Lord Yohn Royce was there. He was not a friend of Littlefinger and when she came in the room, he nodded sternly at her.
Bran was staring at the flames like she wasn't here. Then he turned his head at her,
"I can't let Littlefinger create more chaos…" he mumbled and focused on her, "I told Lord Royce about his betrayal."
She opened her mouth but Bran continued, "I can see everything that is happening and happened. I saw Petyr Baelish betrayed our father and orchestrate his execution. I saw him betray our mother…" His voice faltered, "I saw him poison Joffrey and then put the blame on Tyrion Lannister and you."
She felt red anger stirred in her. Bran confirmed what she had suspected ever since she saw Littlefinger betray the Lannisters who gave him so much.
Bran looked again at the flames, whispering so low that Sansa and Lord Royce had to bend to hear him, "The Night King and his army are marching to Eastwatch. We have to tell Jon."
x x x
"Baelish said that he wants to take the Vale's army by Lord Robin's orders," she turned to Lord Royce.
Lords of the Vale, Lord Glover, Lady Mormont and Lord Manderly were gathered in the Great Hall of Winterfell.
Sansa had done her best attire, sitting on the Lord's chair with the Maester on her left side and Bran on her right side.
She had invited Littlefinger with a letter, carried by a servant, promising him that he will receive what he had desired.
Lord Baelish was standing next to the wall, with a smug expression on his face. He smiled at her and she noticed with great pleasure how his smile faded at her question to Lord Royce.
"Lord Robin Aryn didn't order such thing," announced Lord Royce. He threw an angry look at the suddenly frozen Littlefinger, "We were informed that his stepfather killed Lady Lysa, his mother. The Lords of the Vale decided that they will no longer recognize Lord Baelish as Protector and Regent of the Vale. As from now, I am appointed to take decisions for Vale of Aryn until Lord Robin comes of age!"
"Sansa! Wait!" Littlefinger cried but two guards quickly captured him and forced him on his knees.
She stood up and look at the eyes of the man who had betrayed her and saved her.
"Chaos is a ladder…" her words echoed in the silent hall, "Isn't it what you said to me once, Lord Baelish?"
She met his begging eyes, "You betrayed my father, you betrayed my mother…You betrayed my aunt…" She spoke calmly, "It seems that your ladder helped you climb to heights that scums like you should never have been able to achieve…"
She nodded to Lord Royce, who took his sword and plunged it into kneeling man.
Sansa watched with stone face the execution of Littlefinger until he stopped moving in his own blood on the floor.
She raised her eyed to Lord Royce. He had given a word as Protector to keep loyal the Aryn armies and Sansa had given him a seat in her Council. She had a feeling that the old lord will keep his word.
She noticed the petrified eyes of Lord Glover and Lord Manderly. The execution of Littlefinger had given them a message what happens to those who are not loyal to her brother and her.
Sansa was about to exit the Hall when Bran's voice filled the air.
"When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives…"
Their eyes met and Sansa felt suddenly freezing at the meaning in Bran's words. He wasn't going to let stray wolves threaten the security of the pack. She straightened and nodding at him, slowly exited the Hall.
x x x
Jaime Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West, was sitting in the wooden cage, watching the fields around him. Peasants were reaping the wheat on the rich soil of the Reach, herds of cattle and sheep were grazing the yellowish grass and the weather was still warm.
His hands were tied so he couldn't repeat his stun like before with Lord Karstark in Rob Stark'a army. Bronn had ensured that Jaime won't try anything 'clever'.
Jaime had refused to speak with Bronn, despite the attempts of the sellsword to engage him in conversation.
Jaime wondered where the Dragon Queen might be. She wasn't riding with the army. But she had dragons, so fast that she could fly in mere hours from side to side of the Seven Kingdoms.
He didn't know who he hated more – his sister or his comrade. At least Bronn was honest from the start. He wanted gold and a castle. Daenerys Targaryen had given him both and now Bronn was loyal to death to her. She had lured him with one of the best castles and lands in Westeros, equipped with a noble wife.
Jaime had to admit that Daenerys had surprised him with that. Bronn had talked to him, praising her how she had given mercy to the common soldiers, how she had sent armies to Westerlands to crush the mutiny and to care for the small folks.
Daenerys this, Daenerys that…Jaime hadn't seen Bronn speak highly of anyone so far. Cercei's actions had brought only bitter sneer out from Bronn, even before he switched sides…
And his beloved sister had answered that she won't trade one Lannister for two enemies. Jaime tried to understand why she had done it. Her only ally now was Euron and he had taken his spoil of war with Yara Greyjoy.
An inner voice snickered at his desperate excuses of his sister behavior, 'Without Lannister army and with one hand, you are useless to her…A fool in love…'
That's how Jaime spent the last three days. Travelling in the cage, in the midst of 30 000 Tyrell soldiers and miles of cargo carriages, loaded with food for the army.
'Cercei doesn't have food and doesn't have gold…' he thought, 'she needs me…'
He had travelled this same route with his army, on his way to Highgarden, so he knew very well where he was now. A few miles from Blackwater Rush bridge. Less than two days from King's Landing.
A horn sounded in the distance and Jaime stood shakily on his legs. The army stopped and he tried to take a view from the height of his cage. He was grateful that the high cage allowed to see the view around.
'Maybe Cercei is sending forces to intercept the Tyrell's army and save me?' he hoped.
He was staring at the dust cloud in the distance when Bronn rode to him. The sellsword winked at Jaime, "Nope, not your sister…"
Jaime clenched him jaws at the mocking tone.
Just as he was trying to see through the dust, the first raider came through. His eyes noticed first the horse. Tall, agile and fiery, very different from the calmed and trained horses he had seen. Then he saw the long black hair of the raider, the plated beard and his leather clothes…
The wind has turned from the east, blowing away the dust and his view widened. Tens of thousands of Dorthraki raiders covered the horizon, as far as he could see.
"Dothraki army just arrived," said Bronn.
Jaime's trembling legs gave up and he sat back on the floor of his cage.
'Army of the Reach and the Dothraki horde 2 days away from King's Landing…' he thought. 'Even without dragons, Cercei's rule is doomed…'
He put his head in his hands, feeling the golden hand colder against his face. He refused to look around, even when he heard a lot of noise from galloping horses and harsh foreign speech.
The noise softened and he heard someone cleared his throat. Lifting his head, he saw a little dwarf, dressed in velvet clothes and wearing the pin of a Hand on his shoulder. Behind the dwarf, that he had last seen in the dungeon tunnels of King's Landing were a group of Dothraki bodyguards.
His brother, the dwarf of Casterly Rock and now Hand of the Queen, gave him a smile, "Nice to see you, Brother!" Said Tyrion Lannister.
x x x
Jon Snow was standing on the shore of Dragonstone, watching his ship sail away. They had loaded it with enough dragonglass to make blades for his men and were currently digging more. The ship was on the horizon and in two days will be in White Harbor, bringing the lifesaving thing to his people.
He wondered what was Daenerys doing now. She had flown away with her dragons almost 5 days ago. He had heard from Misandei that she had arrived on time in Highgarden and had defeated the Lannisters. Jon didn't want to admit that he had spent two days worrying about that silver hair woman.
He knew that a Dragon can be killed. His father had told them stories about Aegon and his sisters. He often had dreamed, riding a dragon but he didn't expect that he will ever meet one. Or three.
Just like the dragons, the Valyrians were mythical figures from the legends. And here was he, worrying about a real Valyrian, riding her dragons.
'She is probably busy slaughtering Lannister army…' again this didn't sound like Daenerys he knew.
After learning that she was alive and well after the Battle at Highgarden, he had experienced the most troubling dreams he had ever had.
In his dream last night, he was riding a dragon, when he noticed that the dragon transformed into a beautiful maiden. He kissed her, feeling her tits, when the face of the maiden transformed into Daenerys. She had smirked at him, "If you don't want to kneel to me, Jon Snow…"she had whispered seductively, grasping with a firm hand his groins, "Then I will bend my knees for you…"
He had awakened during the next part when she had knelt on the floor, swallowing his penis like a dragon his prey. Jon could only remember moaning 'Dany' and grasping her silver hair, when he had woken up in his empty bed chamber, grasping his pillow, instead her hair.
Still trying to take a breath at the intense memory, Jon noticed Ser Davos and Misandei approaching him.
He adjusted his tunic. Sporting a bonner when he was talking with them wouldn't be viewed very well by the Dothraki guards and Queen's closest confidant.
With a sullen face, Ser Davos gave him a scroll with a Stark seal.
'Sansa had sent a message!' he realized and quickly unrolled it.
'Bran has returned to Winterfell. He is having visions and warging in animals. He said that he can see what has happened and what is happening now. He saw the Night King and his army marching to Eastwatch. Tormund had reported that the weather is getting colder and the sea may freeze soon. I am trying to prepare us for the Winter but we don't have enough food."
Just above the signature, Sansa had written, 'I executed Littlefinger for treason. The army of the Vale is secured. Your sister Sansa, Regent of the North.'
So many thoughts crossed in his head that Jon didn't know what to focus on.
"I have to go to my people and fight with them against the Night King…" He said out loud the first one.
Ser Davos frowned. Misandei looked calmly at him, "Our Queen didn't give you permission to leave, Your Grace."
Jon looked at Ser Davos who seemed to be thinking. His Hand licked his lips carefully, "Even if we are allowed to go back in the North…How would that change the things?"
Jon felt depressed because he knew Davos was right. They didn't have the numbers, even with the dragonglass…
Misandei stepped aside, giving them space to talk in private.
Ser Davos stepped closer to him, "Do you remember Mance Raider?" he asked.
Jon snapped from his grim thoughts and looked questioningly at his Hand. He remembered well when Stannis had burned this brave man on the pyre. And back then Ser Davos was Hand of the King to Stannis.
"Have you asked yourself," began Ser Davos, looking seriously at him, "How many lives Mance would've spared if he had asked for help against the Whitewalkers and knelt before Stannis?"
Jon had a revelation. It appeared to him that he was absolutely right. Just like Mance he had put his pride before the safety and well-being of the people he had sworn to protect.
'Would it matter to people in the North when they freeze to death or die from hunger or worse are killed by the Night King, that I didn't bend the knee to the Dragon Queen?' he asked himself.
'Would the North fare better under her rule?' He knew the answer. He had seen how she wished to change the world for the better. Tyrion had seen it, Davos had seen it, only he was stubborn enough to ignore it.
At that moment, he realized that his pride had stopped him from doing what was right since the moment Daenerys invited him to Dragonstone.
Taking the decision, he clenched his fists and followed by Ser Davos, strolled to the waiting Misandei.
He was thinking fast, 'Gendry and the last of the Dothraki soldiers, except those left to guard Dragonstone, left the island 4 days ago…'
With the speed the Dothraki army was moving, changing horses, they were probably a few days from King's Landing.
"I want to join our Queen and bend the knee as her Warden of the North," he announced.
x x x
Arya crossed the gate of King's Landing silently, sitting on the back of a carriage, full with straw. She had chosen this one, instead of others with foods, because they were guarded by Lannister soldiers.
The peasant was paid a single copper coin as her stature as poor girl from the Riverlands wouldn't have silver coins. Dressed in simple grey clothes, she had bought from Hotpie, she blended in the crowd. The gates of the Red Keep were heavily guarded.
She found a spot to observe without getting attention from the Watch. Soldiers, carriages with food and wood were brought in. She noticed how carefully the soldiers inspected the loads. Some of the Ladies-in-Waiting of Cercei were going in and out, always followed by at least ten soldiers. They were easy to recognize, as she knew some of them but right now Cercei had made them notorious.
After her Walk of Punishment and her hair cut short by the angry religious freaks, Cercei had cut the hair of her ladies-in-waiting and all servants. Now they were standing in stark contrast with the long hairs of common women.
She thought of killing one of them but they were heavily guarded. Arya watched during the whole day and decided to eat. Walking in a pub, she paid with another three copper coins for a cup of porridge and sat in a dark corner to eat it.
After dinner, she waited till it was completely dark and dressed in her dark clothes. Swinging her bag on her back, she climbed carefully on the wall and after near an hour of climbing in the dark and waiting for the soldiers to pass over her, she climbed over the wall of the Red Keep and hid in the shadow of one of the towers. Waiting and sneaking in, she crossed one yard, keeping in the dark. Finally, she was in a storage and found where to hide in the hay. The horses were on the lower level and it was stinky but warm.
Lowering her guard, she took a bottle with water from her bag and took a solid gulp. Suddenly she felt a presence behind her. Turning around with a knife in hand, she noticed the soldier standing. He was dressed in armor and he noticed the insignias of a commander. The man was middle aged, with long red hair and blue eyes.
She grasped the knife, preparing to strike. The man gave her a smirk and took his left hand to his chin. His fingers sunk in the skin and with a single move he peeled his mask.
Jaqen H'ghar smiled kindly at her, "A man is pleased to find the girl is well."
Arya felt a strange happiness seeing him again. She put the knife in her hidden sheath and sneaked a peak at him. "What are you doing here, Jaqen?"
He raised his hand, holding a golden coin between his fingers, "A price is paid to kill a Queen." At her sudden worry of him taking her spoils of war, Jaqen smiled knowingly, "A man came to offer the girl to kill her."
He flipped the coin and Arya caught it with ease, "A girl name is Arya Stark," she stated, "And I accept your offer!"
x x x
Tyrion stood next to Jaime, watching the adoration on the faces of the Dothraki riders.
"Just imagine," told Tyrion, "She had burned their leaders in Vaes Dothrak and emerged unburned from the great fire. They see her as a Goddess and she has named them all her Blood Riders. They will kill for her with pleasure," Jaime felt shivers ran down his back.
He knew that Tyrion was telling the truth.
"I can no longer suppress her wild side…" sounded Tyrion and Jaime met his sad eyes, "Daenerys wanted to burn King's Landing and I talked her out of that. Then Cercei angered her with Euron, capturing Yara Greyjoy and the Dornish ruler…"
Jaime heard the dragon roar again and two more roars sounded from the sky. He saw two more dragons land.
"Do you remember the story that Father told us about Aegon melting the Harrenhall with his dragon?" asked Tyrion and Jaime knew that it was a rhetorical question, "Imagine what King's landing will look like when she do it with three dragons…"
The roars of the Dragons thundered again in the red light of the setting sun. Jaime could imagine King's landing burning in the same light when the Dragon Queen was done with the city.
He knew that Cercei won't give up the throne that she craved so much. He had to talk with her, make her see reason…
'I have to stop Cercei…' he realized.