Chapter 19; The ones we care for
Characters of the chapter
Brandon Stark, also known as the Three Eyed Raven, mage advisor to the court of King Jon
Daenerys Targaryen, The Mother of Dragons, the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, the Breaker of Chains, Queen of the of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men of the South, Queen of the South Kingdom of the Twin kingdoms and Protector of the Realm
Gendry Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End, Master of Laws on the Small Council
Grey Worm Master of War on the Small Council of Queen Daenerys, High Commander of the Royal Army
Robb Targaryen Son of Jon Targaryen and Daenerys Targaryen, Crown Prince of the Twin Kingdoms
Sansa Stark, Lady of Winterfell and the Eyrie, Wardeness of the North
Cursive/Bold text is in Valyrian
Gendry moved among the tents of the royal army, heading for another planning session. Around him men were rushing about to make themselves ready for battle. The army had moved to the Trident river, and their scouts had brought word of a force from House Blackstar was holding the crossing, intending to block their advance toward the Orlesians. And so the royal army was moving to force the crossing, towards their first true battle in this war. He was running a little late, having been held up dealing with some issues with their baggage train. The Queen and her Master of War likely had a good grip on planning the strategy so the absence of a blacksmith-turned-lord who had never planned a strategy in his life was unlikely to be a great loss. Nonetheless he thought he should be on hand to offer what insight he had as well as receive his orders for the upcoming battle.
Gendry was about half way to the Queens tent when a runner came to him. "A raven from King's Landing, my Lord. I believe from Lord Tyrion." The runner said between gasps for breath.
"The Queen is in a meeting. I'll deliver it to her. I'm heading in that direction anyway." Gendry said with a nod, taking the scroll from the runner and sending him oh his way. Then he opened the scroll and began to read. His eyes widened in shock and he took off running towards the Queen's tent.
"So House Blackstar remains where it is? They're not retreating any further?" Daenerys asked, eyeing at the map.
"They are not. They've made hastily built fortifications just on the far side of the river. Our scouts think these fortifications are built partially underground, perhaps in an effort to escape the worst of the dragonfire." Grey worm stated.
"Did they now? Well we'll see how well that works for them." The Queen said, a dark smile on her lips. "How many are there?" She asked then.
"One, maybe two thousand. Far less than us, and far less than there should be." Grey Worm said.
Daenerys frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The numbers of house Blackstar are estimated to be at least twice as many as we now face. And since we discovered their holdfast abandoned the rest of their forces are unaccounted for. Some of this can be explained by forces raiding elsewhere, but this still cannot be all that are missing." He explained.
"And where are the rest of them?" The Queen asked, understanding.
"We do not know this yet My Queen. Our scouts seek them, but have yet to discover their location." He said.
She nodded. "Find them as soon as you're able. We should not leave an enemy behind us."
"It will be done my Queen. In the meantime we should plan the battle to come." He said, turning his attention to the table.
"The enemy fortifications are a complication. The river crossing is a narrow path that will keep us from using our full strength against the enemy. Crossing units will be closely packed together, vulnerable to ranged weapons. Once we reach the fortifications formations will have to break up to cleanse the area. It will be a desperate struggle at close quarters, fought tooth and nail, man to man. There is danger that the assault will cost us more men than we are willing to lose." He said.
"Then we will deny them the advantage of their fortifications." Daenerys decided. "They are mostly made of wood are they not?" She asked.
Grey Worm nodded.
"Then I will start this fight by setting fire to their fortifications. Given the choice between abandoning their positions and burning, I think we can anticipate their response. Then will come the army to finish them off." Daenerys said.
"That is a good plan." Grey Worm said, not mincing words as usual. "Though the enemy may expect this approach. They know of the Dragon. They may have planned for him."
"That could be, but without knowing what they intend we cannot yet plan how to counter it. We will make our own plan and if the enemy does something unexpected, then we'll adapt." She said firmly.
"Once I'm done our heavy cavalry can move in and deliver the finishing blow. The Dothraki can screen our flanks in case these unaccounted troops you mentioned make an appearance, and the infantry can mop up remaining enemy pockets if necessary. Do you approve?" She continued.
Grey Worm leaned closer to the map, examining it closely, looking for factors that might present problems with the Queen's plan of action. Finally he straightened his back once more. "I approve of this plan, my Queen."
Daenerys nodded and smiled. "Excellent. It's settled then. You can relay our plans to your officers this evening. As always, I'll entrust you to give more detailed orders to your men and manage the tactical decisions on the ground. You know the composition of our forces and how to use them to their best effect."
"Where's Gendry? I thought he would be here by now." She asked suddenly, glancing at the tent's entrance.
"He should be. Something must have come up." Grey Worm said.
"I hope he shows up soon. I'd rather not hold this meeting twice." She said, shaking her head, giving a slight grimace.
"Now then, what news from the larger Westeros?" She asked then.
"On the far side of the trident I must report the destruction of our training units against the Orlesian main force. Those that survived and managed to escape have retreated to the Twins, preparing to defend against Orlesian attempts to cross the river." Grey Worm told her.
The Queen nodded her understanding. "Well, if they manage to hold their ground then at least we won't have to worry about the Imperials getting around us."
"Meanwhile Jaime Lannister is moving his army south from the Goldroad to defeat house Sea and then move back north to join forces with us. Thanks to our warning he reports that his army is well prepared for combat." He continued.
"Then I wish him good fortune on the field of battle. With everything that is going on we have dire need for some good news." She said.
"And what of the North? What is Jon…" She began to ask before Gendry suddenly burst into the tent, red faced and out of breath. As he steadied his breath the Queen and Grey Worm briefly stared at him with raised eyebrows, surprised at his lack of tact. What could have possibly have rattled him badly enough to make him behave this way?
Daenerys was the first to recover from her surprise, giving Gendry a welcoming smile. "Ah. Gendry. There you are. We were wondering where you were at. We were just about to…"
"There has been a message from lord Tyrion. A very important one." Gendry blurted out before she could finish.
She briefly narrowed her eyes, irritated that she had been interrupted again. "You can put it on the table. I'll look at it in just a moment. For now…"
"This cannot wait!" He again interrupted, almost pleading with the urgency in his voice.
Daenerys gave him a long, curious look, then wordlessly walked around the table and took the letter from him. She gave Gendry one more puzzled look, then turned her eyes to the letter. When she was finished reading she raised her eyes to Gendry's her face now a mask of utter horror.
"Winterfell? Th-they've struck Winterfell?" She stammered, all color drained from her face.
"Yes, and many other places as well. They have…" Gendry began to say. He never finished because the Queen suddenly rushed forward, pushing past Gendry and running out of the tent.
"What the…? Hey!" Gendry said, calling after the Queen. "Where is she going?" He asked of Grey Worm. As his response Grey Worm ran out of the tent as well, going after the Queen. Gendry was left standing where he was, his eyes moving around the now empty tent. He sighed.
"Well. Okay. I grant that my news was very bad, but I was hoping for a little more constructive response rather than everyone just running away." He said to himself, rubbing the back of his head. He wondered if the Queen had even read past the portion that mentioned Winterfell.
The Queen ran through the camp as fast as her feet would carry her, shoving past any that were in her way, nearly tripping over several times in her haste. Such rushing about was not exactly presenting a regal image, but right now she didn't give a damn about appearances. All that mattered to her right now was where she was going. Her path took her away from the camp into an open field of grass just outside.
As she neared him, Drogon stirred from where he had been sleeping. Sensing her need, the dragon lowered himself to the ground, allowing her to climb onto his back. Fortunately the dragon-saddle was still on him, left on from a scouting flight she had flown with him a while back. Not that it would have mattered to her at this moment if it had not been there. If the saddle were absent, she would have simply flown him the old fashioned way.
She quickly dropped herself in the saddle and with fingers made clumsy from the haste began to attach the straps that kept her in the saddle during flight.
"My Queen! Where do you go?" Grey Worm shouted, having just arrived.
"Winterfell! I'm bringing my son back to King's Landing. I need to make sure he remains safe." She shouted back.
"But… what of the battle?" Grey Worm asked.
"Start without me, or wait until I return! You decide. I'll come back as soon as I can, but this is something I must do." She said, then urged Drogon to take flight. Grey Worm had to shield his eyes from the dust storm the dragon's wings raised and take several steps back to avoid being toppled by the gusts of wind. He was left standing on the ground, staring after the receding form of the dragon, a stunned expression on his face.
Wind whistled in Daenery's ear as she urged Drogon to fly faster and faster, the dragon eventually starting to make sounds of complaint as he was getting pushed to his limits. Even so the Queen would not relent in her demand for speed as she made her way towards Winterfell. She had to make it to Winterfell, right now! She had to! She had to know that her son was safe, or that… no, she could not consider that possibility as real. Every minute she had to live with this uncertainty it paralyzed her with fear and worry, making her unable to think or act unless it was towards dispelling the uncertainty.
"Oh Tyrion, if only your letter had mentioned what had happened to my child, perhaps then I could take hold of myself." She thought. "But how could you have done this? To confirm it would take more time, and this attack needed to be reported at once. And perhaps you even did mention him in your letter, and I simply missed it? I did not read very far, after all. The moment you mentioned assassins in Winterfell I panicked and left to go there. You performed you duty exactly as I would have you do it, and delivered the news that needed to be delivered. How I responded… is my own failing."
She was being irrational right now, she knew, letting her emotions make her decision for her. At worst she was flying into a trap right now, at best she was wasting everyone's time by behaving so impulsively. Yet this was her son. In this she had no choice. This she had to do.
As she flew, she prayed. She did not believe in any gods, and so she was not certain to who or what exactly she was trying to beseech, but even so she prayed:
"Please, let Robb be alive. Let my son be alive and safe. Don't take him from me. Not again!" Thought she. Three children she had lost in life, one human and two dragons. A fourth might be more than she could bear. A fourth might break her. It might poison her with grief, and then she would have no control over the effects.
"People of Orlais, for your sake I hope that you have not done anything to him." She thought, her mood turning sour. If the Orlesians had so much as harmed a hair on her son's head, she would set fire to their nation and burn them to ash, this she promised herself. But then she realized the road her thoughts had taken, and it was enough to make her hastily retract her silent vow, and remind herself of the true consequences of following through with it. Not all in Orlais were responsible for what had been done. She could not lose sight of that. Dragonfire would murder the innocent and guilty alike, caring nothing what any of them had or had not done. It was a blind tool, so she could not afford to be.
She recognized a familiar darkness in her in that moment of careless thought, a rage that was cold and fiery at the same time, one that could grow into a flame that would consume all before it, and part of her recoiled in fear upon feeling it again. Many years ago, during a pivotal moment, she had overcome this emotion and had assumed she had freed herself of it permanently. Yet here it was again, like an advisor that had fallen to disfavor but returned to whisper in her ear during a moment of weakness. She felt such shame in allowing even this momentary lapse.
"But this time is different. This time I recognize this instinct for what it is. I know better than to give in to it. I will keep it under control. I will remember who I am, the things I fight for, the principles I uphold. The fire in my heart will help me defeat my enemies, but will never enslave me. I will not let it twist my sense of what is just and fair, and make me into what I'm not. Never again." She told herself. And yet… if her son had been killed or harmed, would her answer still be the same then? She hoped it to be so, reassured herself that it would be, and felt disappointed in herself that she could not give her answer with as much confidence as the world deserved.
"Faster, faster!" She again urged Drogon in her mind, but the dragon would agree to no more. The only reason he had tolerated this abusive pace as long as he had was the fact that it was his mother that was the one doing it, and because on an instinctive level he too could sense her urgency, her distress.
Finally Winterfell was in sight, and Daenerys directed Drogon into a descent.
"Have you sent the captains to nearby villages to ask for more recruits?" Sansa asked of Davos, the both of them walking toward Winterfell's courtyard. By now most of the damage from the attack on Winterfell had been repaired and life in the castle was slowly returning to normal. But even as they were recovering much work remained ahead.
"I have, but I can't promise they'll be successful. Most villages in the North will have been swept through and emptied when Jon was building his army. There might not be all that many able bodies left." Davos replied.
"They have to succeed. The soldiers we lost in the attack must be replaced. The attack has thinned our ranks unacceptably low. If we have to fight for our lives again we can't accept fighting with less men than we started with. And seeing as we were not the only ones hit I don't think we can rely on anyone riding to our rescue should we have need. We must fend for ourselves." She said.
"I'm sure the captains will do everything they can. But even they can't call up soldiers from thin air. And there are only so many we can call upon to be soldiers before it damages other work that needs to be done. War or no, crops need to be harvested." He countered.
"I know. Soldiers will do us no good if they starve to death." Sansa agreed. "And Jon's army has needs greater than our own, ones that must be met first. At least the Maester tells me that our efforts to gather supplies at Winterfell are proceeding as planned, so we aren't facing an immediate problem of shortages. We just need to make sure that remains the state of affairs. Even so, more soldiers need to be found somewhere. We must figure out the ways to meet all our needs."
"If you want more soldiers, perhaps we might hire mercenaries?" Davos suggested.
Sansa opened her mouth, about to refuse, but then she reconsidered. "Perhaps, but only if we can bypass the difficulties usually associated with sellswords. Currently there is not enough coin on hand to afford their services for an extended period and we can't rely them to keep fighting for us if the odds turn against us. And as we already had traitors and infiltrators in our midst, for the time being I'm skeptical of any group of unproven loyalties."
"From an old friend I have heard of a group on offer that might meet these requirements. With your permission I will take a closer look and return to you with the details."
Sansa stopped walking and turned to look at the Onion Knight. "Oh? And who is this old friend?" She asked.
"A pirate. Goes by the name Salladhor Saan. We go back a long ways. Does things purely out of self-interest, but a person who can be reasoned with, a businessman through and through. He contacted me in the hopes we would pay him for using his ships to bring the group here, past the Orlesians." He said.
"It would be a single payment, and his rates are typically reasonable. We can hear the price he asks for and decide if we want to accept." He added quickly.
"And the group itself?" She asked.
"From what Salladhor said they would prefer to be compensated with land to settle on rather than gold. Nothing fancy, and they're not asking for ownership of any specific building, just a plot of land that will belong to them that they can build over. From what I know of the North there are surely unsettled lands that we could give. And if things fall through we will get the opportunity to add mages to our ranks." He said.
Sansa's eyes widened at the mention of spellcasters. "The group has mages? How many?" She asked.
"All of them. The whole group." He replied.
"Thedosians?" She asked next.
"Obviously. I'll be certain to be absolutely sure of their loyalties before I take them into our service of cource." Davos said, offering reassurance to the unspoken question.
Sansa grasped her chin. "Hmm… mages would be an asset. There is an imbalance there that could stand to be alleviated. What they ask in payment is somewhat unexpected, but not unreasonable I should think. If they truly wish to be paid in land, then we indeed have plentiful places to settle them in." She mused. "How many mages are we talking about? She asked then.
"I don't know yet. But given the rarity of mages in general I think two or three dozen would be a reasonable expectation." He said.
"Not so many then. But even then they might prove a great help to our efforts." She said, nodding. "Very well. Return to this friend of yours, and speak with him again. Speak to members of this group if you can. Find out who they are, what they are about, what specifically they want from us and why do they want it. Discover for me what this bargain will truly get us." She told him.
"I will." He promised.
"Good. In the meantime I'll be asking Bran and Kieran to check that we have wiped out all the traitors in our midst." She said next, resuming her journey towards the courtyard.
"I believe they have. They assured me there would not be any further threats from inside the castle." He replied.
"Well I'll ask them to take a second look anyway, and I'll be making my own investigation alongside theirs." She countered. "Of late my confidence in their visions has been shaken. If their abilities had been working as they should this plot against us should have been stopped in its tracks before our enemies had a chance to act against us. And they didn't just miss the attack on Winterfell, they missed all the other attacks that apparently took place all over Westeros, the Qunari intrusion to Bear Island, and bloody hells they missed the whole Orlesian intention to invade in the first place. One slip up I'd understand, but not all this. Something is wrong with their abilities. I don't know what it is, but the lack of reliability is real. I'm sure they're doing the best they can, but for now their best just hasn't been good enough. What happened here… it cannot be allowed to happen again."
The two of them finally arrived in the courtyard, where they found Robb and the other children training yet again. By Sansa's direction the prince had resumed his studies, as soon as it was convenient for the castle staff to do so. During the morning there was training with Winterfell's Master-at-arms, and later during the day he would be attending lessons provided by the Maester. During his free hours he was permitted to spend time with the other children at Winterfell. At the edges of the yard Sansa was pleased to note some of the castle's soldiers keeping an eye on the prince. She had quietly arranged for them to be there, instructing them to be as subtle as possible about their presence so as not to impact the prince's day to day life. Even so Sansa suspected that the increased security had not gone unnoticed by Robb, but if so he had chosen to say nothing. Better protection did come at a cost in inconvenience, but given the circumstances she thought it a better option to leaving the prince vulnerable to attack. She had arranged for more protection to herself as well, and she was more than willing to tolerate their presence, at least until the war was over.
"It looks like he's feeling a little bit better." Sansa commented.
"A little. But you can still tell he is bothered by what happened. It's not obvious, but having had sons of my own I can tell." Davos said.
"Agreed. He hides it fairly well though. He doesn't want to bother others with his troubles unless he has to, because he thinks it would be un-princely. And I think he prefers brooding. He takes after his father in that regard." She said. "Just like in most other respects." She added. The boy retained almost none of the features characteristic to his mother, having the same dark eyes and hair as his father. Only very small details marked him as the Dragon Queen's son.
"I have been meaning to ask, are you sure you want him to keep up his training? Considering everything that has happened…" Davos said.
"I think it's good for him. There's comfort in everyday routines. In knowing that even when there is great turmoil some things will remain, in knowing that things will eventually get back to normal." She replied.
"Like it is for you?" He asked.
Sansa gave him a look of surprise, then her turned just a fraction colder and more guarded. "I'm not certain what you're saying, ser Davos. I'm fine."
But then Davos gave her a look that told her he'd rather hear the truth. "I haven't slept very well since that incident. I have had my life threatened before, but not like that." She admitted, closing her eyes. "This time there was no advance warning, and this time it happened at my home, the one place I thought I would be safe."
"Well, it's safe again now." Davos tried to console her.
"Perhaps, but that's what we thought before they attacked us. If they could hide among us for so long without us knowing it, why not again?" She said. "But then again, that's probably what they want us to think. They want us afraid, always worried about when there might be another attack, thinking they might be everywhere at once even if they really aren't. But that's why I need to be sure that we got them all, and why we need our days as normal as possible in the meantime." She added.
"If there is anything I can do to help…" Davos offered.
"Thank you, but I will be alright, given time. I have survived far worse in my life. And you are already doing more than enough to help us." She said.
It was at that moment the prince suddenly motioned for the master-at-arms to call for a halt, then walked to Sansa.
"Aunt, I don't feel like training today." He told her.
"You should keep at it young man. It's the only way you'll learn. It's what you father would want." She replied.
"But father's not here is he? Or mother? Why does it matter if I train of not?" The prince protested.
Sansa gave a slight sigh, walked the prince a little to the side, then knelt so their eyes were at level. "Robb, this isn't about the training is it? So tell me, what's the real problem here?"
Robb looked at the ground. "Bad people attacked us here. What if more went after mom or dad?"
"We'd have heard of it by now. And both of them have an army of people with them who will keep them safe." She said.
"I should be there too. I want to help them. But I can't do it can I? Even if I train as hard as I can I won't be ready in time." He said, tears welling in his eyes.
Sansa sighed, taking a gentle hold of his shoulders. "These things take time, Robb. But we are doing everything we can. Your parents will be safe, I promise. The best thing we can do now is to keep ourselves strong, and safe. Knowledge that we are alive and well will help keep them going. And if you want to help them, attend to your studies and your training. Be the best prince you can be. That way you can be ready one day to help defend us all."
The prince nodded, looking determined although still teary eyed. Sansa smiled. "Come here." She said, taking him into a hug.
"I miss them. I miss them both." He said, pressing his face to her shoulder.
"I know. I do too." She replied.
"Even mom?" The prince asked.
There was a short pause. "Of course. She is family, and we are friends. Friends that sometimes disagree and argue, but friends can do that and still remain friends you know."
It was at moment, as if on que, that a familiar roar could be heard overhead. She released Robb from her embrace and the two directed their eyes skyward, along with everyone else in the castle, seeing the dragon fly over Winterfell.
"Mother…" Robb breathed.
"What in blazes is she doing here!?" Davos exclaimed, instinctively moving to Sansa for instruction.
"Alert the castle staff. And I'll need an honor guard. Hurry it along." She told him. "Unbelievable. I don't understand. Why would she just appear here completely unannounced? What is she thinking? And in the middle of a war no less." She muttered to herself.
The yard began buzzing with activity, people frantically trying to get themselves into something at least resembling a state where they could receive the Dragon Queen. But without an advance notice of any kind it was already too late by far. Before anything was ready the dragon had landed and the Queen strode through the gates, eyes wild as she tried to find something among the gathered crowds.
"Well, at least she doesn't appear to be any more prepared than we are." Sansa thought as she moved to greet the Queen, taking note of her rushed appearance.
"You Grace, I apologize for all this, but we weren't notified…" She said aloud.
"Where is he!? Where is my son!?" Daenerys demanded so abruptly that Sansa was stunned into silence, at a loss for words despite simplicity of the question.
"Mother? What's going on?" Robb asked, having just pressed his way through the gathered crowd.
Upon seeing her son Daenerys's eyes flashed with joy and relief. "Robb!" She exclaimed, running to him and catching him in a tight embrace. "Robb… Robb… my boy… my baby." She sobbed, crying tears of utter relief. Then she lifted her face to look into Sansa's eyes, then to the other in the yard, beginning to pay attention to the public setting she was in. She released Robb from her embrace and slowly raised herself back on her feet, adopting a bit more formal posture.
"Lady Stark… I heard what happened. About the assassins. I apologize for intruding like this, but I was worried for my son's safety. But clearly those concerns were unfounded. You have my thanks, for keeping him safe." She said. "And of cource I'm glad to see that you're unharmed as well, and that Winterfell remains in Stark hands." She added hastily.
"Of cource. I did promise Jon that I would keep Robb safe like he was my own child." Sansa replied.
Daenerys smiled. "Then you are a woman of you word my lady."
"You have done well, but even so I would be more comfortable if my son was in King's Landing, where our defenses are stronger. I have come to take him there." She said then.
"We're leaving? Already?" The prince asked, surprised. In his life he had divided his time between Winterfell and King's Landing, but this was earlier than he had been expecting to move.
"Yes, my sweet. It's necessary." Daenerys told him.
The prince looked at the shape of the dragon, clearly visible through the open gates. "Will I get to ride Drogon?" He asked.
"Yes, yes, you'll get to ride him." She said with a smile, making Robb's face light up with excitement. "Now go and pack up your things while I have words with your aunt." She said then.
The prince left to do as he had been bid, and Daenerys moved to speak with Sansa again. Together they went to the walls where they could speak privately.
"You know, I have been thinking, Jon's army is not terribly far away. If you wanted to meet him…" Sansa began to say as they walked the wall.
"I don't have time for any more detours." Daenerys interrupted. "…I'd love nothing more than to see him again, but I don't think reality will allow me the luxury. There's a war going on and my army needs me back. This antic of mine probably used up time I time didn't have to spend. I just hope consequences aren't too severe." She then explained.
"You took action to make sure your son was safe. I'd hardly call that an antic. Sansa said.
"Maybe not. Still, I don't think it was the wisest thing I've ever done, especially now that I know that he is safe and sound. But that is the kind of thing you do for the ones you care for." Daenerys said.
"I knew someone once who told me that's why we should never love anyone but our children. Because we end up doing stupid things for the ones we love that we would not do otherwise." Sansa said.
Daenerys scoffed. "She sounds like a cynic."
"She was. In the extreme. And ultimately I think she was wrong in this. Our affections do create vulnerabilities for us, but they are necessary ones. To refuse them would mean being less than human." Sansa said.
Daenerys nodded. "I think you are right. But who is this other person you speak of?"
Sansa smiled. "No one of import. She's dead now anyway."
"But tell me, what do you intend to do about the attacks that took place elsewhere?" She asked then.
The Queen was stopped in her tracks. "Wait… other attacks!? The same thing happened in places other than Winterfell?"
"Yes." Sansa said, frowning. "Are you saying you didn't know?" she said, cocking her head.
"I… may have skipped over a few things in my rush to come here." Daenerys admitted. "I told you I wasn't making my wisest decisions back there." She added, smiling apologetically.
Sansa chuckled. "I see. Then I guess we'll have to fill you in here. You should take copies of our recent messages when you go, for comparison. Just in case something has escaped Tyrion's notice. I'll see to it that the copies are made for you with haste."
"I will. And thank you." Daenerys said.
"There is one more matter, Your Grace. Something else you might not be aware of." Sansa said. "There was a message some time after Jon left with his army, from Lyanna Mormont. It said that Bear Island was under attack. By Qunari forces. After that message we have heard nothing. Unless we hear otherwise we have to assume that we are under attack by a second invader."
"Qunari." The Queen breathed. "Our enemies keep appearing like mushrooms after rain don't they?" The she said with a heavy sigh. "Does Jon know?" She asked.
Sansa shook her head. "But he will, as soon as I have had the time to compose the messages. Given everything that is going on that might take a while. Word about the attack on Winterfell has been sent though."
"I hope he reacts to the news better than I did. He won't have a dragon to get back to his army quickly if he decides to come back to Winterfell." Daenerys commented.
"A similar thought did cross my mind, so I did try to tell the most reassuring part first in my letter, that his family is alive and well and Winterfell did not fall. And hopefully the lack of a dragon will be a sufficient deterrent to rushing about.
"Hopefully indeed." Daenerys said. "What you told to me about the Qunari attack is very concerning. We don't have the resources to fight both opponents at once. The Orlesians are already in the mainland, so we will have to focus on them and hope the Qunari situation doesn't grow out of control in the meantime. Once Orlais is defeated we will turn around and deal with the Qunari as well." She added with a frown.
"Yes, I suppose that's what we must do. But we can't just ignore the Qunari either." Sansa said.
"No, of cource not." Daenerys said in agreement. "We will keep an eye on them, and if the situation with them develops further we will adapt as best we are able. I trust you will handle doing so on your end?"
"Absolutely." Sansa said, nodding.
"Good. And I will be making sure my people in the South Kingdom are doing so on their behalf." Daenerys said. "I'll also need to send messages to Yara. She will also need to make the Orlesians her first concern. The Orlesian navy must be defeated so we can slow their mobility and stop their supply lines."
"That could prove to be a difficult order for her to follow. Bear Island and the Iron Islands are only a short distance from each other. If the Qunari want to continue taking territory Yara's home would be a logical next step, particularly since a lot of the seapower in the Twin Kingdoms come from there." Sansa said.
"Yes, that's what I'm worried about. If she decides that the Qunari are a bigger problem for her, it could impact our overall strategy in a very serious way. That we cannot afford. Not with all the setbacks we have already suffered. I intend to point out as much in my message to her. I just hope she listens." Daenerys said.
"Agreed. As bad as Qunari situation could be, and as understanding as I am of ones need to protect their own home, this is a bad time for waging war independently. If we want to emerge as the victors here we must work together, as a unified front." Sansa said.
Daenerys smiled. "I'm glad we understand each other in this."
As soon as the recent messages had been copied and brought to her, Daenerys made ready to leave. She was eager to move on, knowing full well that time was of the essence. Fairly soon she was back on Drogon, the prince seated in front of her and a satchel full of papers at her side.
"Now hold on tight my sweet." Daenerys said to her son, putting an arm around his waist to make certain that he would not fall off during flight. Then she turned her eyes to Sansa, who was standing on the ground in front of Drogon, giving her a long look.
"Stay strong lady Stark. Our dawn will come yet." Daenerys said, then urged Drogon to take flight. Drogon opened his wings and lifted himself to the sky, rapidly rising high and heading southward.
"I do hope you are right Daenerys. For all our sakes." Sansa said to herself, looking after the shrinking form of the dragon.
In the godswood Bran, seated in his wheelchair, turned his gaze to the sky to watch the dragon flying overhead. Once he had gone the turned his face back to the weirwood tree in front of him. He laid his hand on the white trunk of the tree, and his eyes rolled over in his head. Hours passed this way, people knowing not to disturb him when he was doing this. Eventually his eyes returned to their normal position, and he turned his face back to the sky.
"How odd… what does this mean?" He said quietly to himself.
"Pity that she already left." He thought to himself. "She will want to know this. But it is not important now. That much I know, even if much is still uncertain. It can wait."