"I couldn't help but notice, that there are no slum areas here." Tyrion noted as he and Varys walked their routine routes around the blocks of Mereen, "In Volantis, there were plenty of them." Varys raised his head slightly at this, "That's because Volantis is not run by the Storm queen. She takes care of her cities, makes sure the people are well off regardless of social class." he returned evenly.
"Keep in mind we have not strayed more than four blocks away from the pyramid since we entered the city but the point still stands." it was easy to ignore the four soldiers following them. They were more like ghosts or shadows anyways. "You know what I would like to know?" Tyrion voiced eyes locking onto the top of one of the great structures of Mereen that wasn't a pyramid.
"Hm?" Varys acknowledged. "What is that? We always pass it but never are close enough to fully look at it. I think I seen two others right before the dragons dropped us off." Tyrion stated. Looking to where Tyrion's eyes were pinned "That, is a fighting pit. One of three of the Great Fighting pits left in Mereen. All the others were destroyed during her initial take over I imagine. Mereen used to be full of them." Varys informed.
Tyrion nodded in understanding but stopped in his tracks when the sound of dragon cries came from above. Looking up along with the fellow people of Mereen, the very same dragons were spotted flying above and flying towards something to the North West. A general hush had fallen over the crowd as they watched the trio disappear further into the distance and bells began tolling in the distance "Mhysa!" a voice rose up, triggering a domino effect of others to rise up as well.
"Mhysa!"
"Mhysa!
"Queen Ranta!"
"The Queen's returned!"
"Queen Ranta!"
Tyrion watched with a look of surprise as the people around him and Varys began stampeding towards the harbor of Mereen. Venders left their stalls, goods purchased were dropped onto the ground without a second thought, kids bolting forward with their parents. Brow furrowing in recognition, Tyrion realized just how much these people worshipped this woman. "Are you just going to stand there. Or are you going to go meet the queen at the docks?" Tyrion turned and looked up at the Unsullied who had shockingly spoken. During the entire time they had been in Mereen, none of the Unsullied had spoken. Not until now anyways. Now that he thought about it, he could of sworn one of them was named White Rat- perhaps this was who had spoken.
Blinking harshly, Tyrion slowly turned his head to Varys who nodded ever so slightly. In unison the duo began following the crowd at a brisk pace, breaking out into a light run as they got closer and closer. Thankfully the crowd parted like a snake through the grass when they seen the Unsullied coming so it was much easier to travel.
"Mhysa!"
"Mhysa!"
"Queen Ranta!"
Docks, docks, docks. There were so many docks, why were there so many docks? Tyrion cursed in his head. How was he supposed to figure out which dock-? Oh, well he supposed seeing the Queens council members standing upon a dock with Unsullied, and a brigade of Sellsword soldiers forming a protective bubble around it would suffice to say.
"Ahhh, look who made it past the pyramid district." Daario commented when he spotted the resident dwarf and spymaster approaching them on the dock. "Couldn't resist the temptation." Varys returned lightly, "Especially when the dragons are flocking to see what all the commotion is about." he lifted his chin. Missandei, Daenerys with her Dothraki, Daario, Barristan, and the Greengoods that had been in the room when he had first arrived.
All of them gathered on the dock as a welcoming party atop the citizens of Mereen, and the dragons perched atop nearby pyramids that would support their weight. "Quite the welcoming party. Everyone in Mereen must be here." Tyrion noted. "Everyone and their mothers." Daario scanned the crowd being blocked off, smirking lightly at the look Cerran sent him.
"Still, she's made good time. What did you put in that letter to get her here so fast, Missandei?" Daario asked as he watched Old Glory and The Iron Giant get closer and closer to the docs. "The truth." the woman answered simply, hands held in front of her delicately. "The nobles are being restless, Jorah had stepped foot in the city, Lady Daenerys has arrived and so has her ….enemies." she hesitated on the last word with a sideways glance towards the two men hinted at.
" Not enemies, just a couple of deserters wishing to help the cause." Varys ever so calmly corrected and the crowd's cheers suddenly grew much louder as the ships slowed as to not ram the mainland when pulling up to the dock. Squinting against the harsh rays of sun, the welcoming party members were able to see the head of the blue queen standing on the ship's upper deck, hand waving to the crowd gathered for her.
"Mhysa!"
"Queen Ranta!"
Drogon, Viserion and Rhaegal launched off their perches and met the woman half way much like they had when she first left. Ranta smiled to the people of her city, touched by their eagerness to see her and she wouldn't lie - it was good to see them again too. "Queen Ranta." a crew man called from below, "Look at your dragons." he instructed with a grin before looking upwards.
Following his gaze, the woman barked out a laugh at the sight of the black, green and tan creatures flying towards her eagerly. Quickly descending down the stairs and crossing the deck, Laemyx and Vaemarr appeared above water, the eggshell snake offering himself as a vessel to meet his brothers out in open water as Old Glory and the Iron Giant focused on docking safely. Back on shore, Tyrion and Varys could not believe what they were seeing. They were some what aware of the snakes yes, but seeing and hearing were two different things completely.
"You didn't think the rumors were true, did you?" Ser Barristan asked with a smirk when he seen their reactions. Tyrion said nothing but move off more to the side to get a better look at the water monsters carrying the blue figure in the bay to the hovering dragons. After more gawking, the dwarf looked at the sight before him for another second before looking to the Queen's council with a slack jaw much to their amusement.
"I take it there are no such things where you come from." Rakharo's accent hit his ear drums. " They get bigger and bigger every time I see them, isn't that right Jhogo?" the war lord smirked to his companion who returned the smirk with a nod. "Seems like just yesterday she was stealing them away from the Khaleesi on her wedding day." Jhogo's equally accented voice sounded.
Daenerys laughed herself at this, "I thought she had lost her mind when she first asked for them, but who was I to deny her?" Tyrion turned to the Dothraki group incredulously, "You speak as if we are talking about a dog or a cat." he stated. "Your point, little man?" Rakharo grinned, "Do not let Little Sister hear you comparing her snakes to a mutt or a cat either." he cautioned.
" Those are her children." Dany noted. "I suppose having human children of her own would be too much to ask, then?" Tyrion asked. "She'd need a man for that." Missandei now joined in. The Lannister blinked once, "She doesn't have a man courting her?" Daenerys shook her head negatively. "I've never seen her be courted by one. There were some when we were younger and on the streets, but they were old perverted men." she shrugged with a heavy frown and slightly distant look in her eye.
Cerran risked a glance at Daario and seen the man was practically glowing on the spot, "Makes my own conquest even sweeter." he purred into the grey eyed man's ear. Cerran snorted with a smile and shoved him away lightly. "If it's any consolation, I don't think she'll be taking in anymore mythical creatures." Daenerys smiled at the sight of her sister now nearly within arm's reach along with her snakes, having been traveling towards them since a few moments before.
Pushing her way to the front on the dock, Daenerys had been the first to reach the queen of the city - wrapping her arms around the neck of her sister and pulling her in for a tight hug the moment Ranta's feet touched the dock. "Daenerys!" Ranta laughed lightly and returned the hug fully. "It is good to see you again, darling. I'm glad you're safe" she murmured, reveling in the familiar comfort of the young blonde.
"I'm glad you're okay, too." Dany returned, breathing in her sister's familiar scent. Pulling away after another moment, the duo separated and smiled at each other - silently doing once overs of each other to try and find any outward injuries or signs of exhaustion. "Your grace," Missandei's soft voice touched Ranta's ears. The Naylor turned and smiled at her soft spoken advisor, also pulling her in for a hug impulsively.
Missandei returned the embrace with a smile before they pulled away a few moments later, the rest of the greetings went in a similar fashion with the rest of the welcoming party with exclusion of Tyrion and Varys. "You have a habit of disappearing without warning, your grace." Rakharo grinned, pulling out of his slightly longer one armed hug with the blue haired woman.
"Can't resist the temptation, I'm afraid." Ranta returned with a toothy grin. "Does that mean you won't be able to resist these either then?" from out from behind his back in his other hand had been a small cluster of sweet otosie flowers like he had gotten her years before. Slightly stunned, Ranta took the small pink flowers and stared down at them for a split second before looking up and laughing.
"You and these flowers." she playfully scolded, "Where do you keep finding them?" Cerran harshly bit his lip to stop the laughter from coming out and nudged his brother harshly. "Ouch." Kiran hissed lowly but then diverted his eyes to Daario when beckoned to do so by Cerran. The brunnete man was not pleased in the least at the actions of the dothraki man, his facial expression just said what kind of murder was running through his head.
Biting his own lip in amusement, Kiran nudged his mother while Cerran got the attention of Barristan, Missandei and Grey Worm. "Think of them as a welcome back gift...and as a way to see you smile once more before you get mad." Rakharo explained. "Get mad? Why would I get mad? The city is still standing, the people are safe, you all are in good health…" Ranta trailed off with a quirked brow. The horse lord looked to Jhogo knowingly before retreating back a few steps, revealing the forms of Varys and Tyrion.
Oh. Right, these men must have been the enemies Missandei wrote about in the letter. They didn't seem very threatening but then again a silver tongue and spy master didn't need to be threatening to be a threat. Tyrion desperately needed a drink, the gaze of the exotic woman's eyes made his skin crawl with the way she was staring at him and his friend. No doubt wondering if she should cut their heads off now and be done with it. The council members no doubt believed she had been thinking the same thing clearly from their wary facial expressions.
Without a word Ranta walked forward, keeping her eyes pinned on the duo until she shockingly passed right by them before tearing her eyes away and smiling to the crowd in one smooth motion. Speechless, the welcoming party looked amongst one another before scrambling after the Storm queen who was moving through the excited crowd with ease. It didn't take long to figure out that the Naylor was steadily leading them back to the Great Pyramid and at a fast pace at that.
Entering the Great pyramid for the first time in months, Ranta climbed the flights of steps of the audience chamber that led to the great stone chair and sat upon her backless throne with ease. Missandei, Barristan and Daario were quick to follow her example and take their posts by herside while Grey Worm and his men stood at the bottom of the steps like they usually did. The Dothraki trio along with Cerran and waited in silence for someone to begin speaking, Ranta still had yet to open her mouth to speak. After observing the dwarf and his companion once more, said men exchanged glances uneasily.
Why wasn't she speaking? This was the queen Varys was so excited for him to meet?
"Guests of Mereen." Missandei's voice suddenly echoed through the air, breaking the silence albeit hesitantly. "You stand in the prescence of Lady Ranta of House Naylor, First of her name, the Storm Queen, Queen of Mereen, Queen of the Unsullied, Little Sister of the Dothraki, Liberator of Slavers Bay, and the Mother of Beasts." Missandei introduced before turning partially to Ranta.
"Your grace, these are men from Westeros. The one on the left is Varys the Spy master and on the right is Tyrion Lannister. They have proclaimed that they wish to help you in your fight for the throne." she informed the monarch. "It truly is an honor to meet you, your grace." Varys stated truthfully with a bow, elbowing Tyrion so he'd do the same.
"The rumors of your beauty truly do you no justice." he complimented. This earned the man a small smile that pulled on the corner of her lips, "Is that all you heard?" she asked. Varys inclined his head slightly, "As a master of whispers I'm sure you've heard more things about me besides appearances." Ranta lightly rubbed her finger on the back of her other hand.
"Of course. I've heard many things about you, nothing unflattering though not to worry." Varys returned. Ranta snorted and grinned at this though the situation did not necessarily cause for humor, "Lies will get you many places in this cruel world we live in, Varys, but you do not need to use them with me. I am sure there are plenty of unkind things being said about me in and outside of these walls." she beckoned Missandei closer and then proceeded to whisper in her ear.
"Bring us bottles of wine, as many as you and Daenerys can carry - hurry please." Missandei nodded and lifted the folds of her skirt as she made a rapid descent down the stone steps and up to the silvery blonde. Whispering into the Targaryen's ear and relaying the message delivered to her, the duo left at a brisk pace. Inching forward as far as she could go without falling off of the stone throne, Ranta stuck a under her dress - careful not to flash anything and unclipped the flask strapped to her thigh before fixing her clothing again. The men of the room emotional enough to show expressions upon their faces looked to the Naylor with a variety of emotions.
Seeing this Ranta grinned, "I've been stuck on a ship and dealing with pirates for the last few months. I picked up a thing or two despite my queenly stature." she said with laughter in her voice, tossing the flask into the air and sending it soaring towards Tyrion. Catching it soundly, the Lannister blinked up at the woman in surprise. "Worry not friend, more is on the way." Ranta informed him before reaching under her dress once more to unclip the other flask strapped to her other thigh and tossing it to Varys. "I like the way you think." Tyrion tipped the flask towards her.
Fixing herself, Ranta stood and sat on the top step in front of her throne - beckonging the two men forward. Exchanging a look, Tyrion and Varys cautiosly climbed the stairs leading up to the noble Naylor until they were about a foot away from her.
"Sit. Drink." the monarch ordered calmly. The two did as commanded and sat down upon a stair below the solitary woman's own. "Since your arrival to Mereen." Ranta spoke once they had gulped some of the alcohol down, "You have been treated well, yes? Outside of initial reactions mind you." she added and was relieved to see dual nods. Good, that was good.
" I do not care about what crimes have driven you across the sea." Ranta stated looking at the duo," I like to believe in giving most people second chances, giving them a fresh new start to their lives and I help those under my protection accomplish this. Money...food...clothes...medicine….supplies… I do what I can to make them happy and I'd like to believe that I do a good job at it." at this point Daenerys and Missandei returned with three bottles of wine each and wine glasses to go with. Their timing was impressive.
"With that being said, please accept these small welcoming gifts of mine" Ranta took a bottle from Missandei as Dany gave out the other two to the guests. " and tell me what can I do to make you both happy? Besides by not chopping off your heads." Ranta uncorked a bottle and began to pour into her cup. "Sit on the Iron throne?" Varys suggested. "I'm working on that, have no fear." Ranta assured recorking the bottle.
"You say you do whatever you can to make your people happy." Tyrion spoke, appreciating the wine lingering on his taste buds. " What do you require the people to give in return? High taxes, tribute, services?" he listed, drinking more of the wine provided for him. The exotic woman looked at the dwarf strangely, " What do I require in return?" she echoed, " Certainly not tribute, nor services. There are taxes but they're not very high. As long as they aren't killing each other in the streets, coming after those who work for me, my children, or my head then I'm fine." Ranta admitted. A queen who puts others before herself, that certainly was the complete opposite of Cersei.
"Hmm, already better than Cersei." Varys mused off handedly inadvertently agreeing with Tyrion's thoughts, "Cersei bleeds her people dry of all their coin, she demands they worship the ground she walks upon and has boys torn away from their families to fight for her." he filled in for the noble in front of him.
"She also had her own daughter in law killed with wildfire, along with the hundreds of others caught in the crossfire of the Sept of Baelor's explosion just because she couldn't stand the fact that someone else was better loved and supported than she was. When her last remaining son found out, King Tommen, he look his own life- unable to live without his wife by his side, or live with himself because he hadn't been able to stop his own mother." his friend added in.
Ranta's brows rose well into her hairline, "It seems Kings Landing has a curse surrounding it. Westeros moves through kings like a fish moves through water." she noted. "A curse that will hopefully be broken when you ascend the throne." the spider returned. "You seem to be very adamant to see her rule." Daenerys interrupted with narrowed eyes, "Tell me, Lord Varys, Lord Tyrion." she slowly began to approach.
" Do the people of Westeros really call out for their true queen? Drink secret toasts to my sister's health? Plot against the current ruler and revel in the idea of a new one? In the idea of Ranta sitting on the throne?" the silvery blonde came to a stop before the sitting trio. "They used to tell my brother those kinds of things and he was stupid enough to believe them." Dany drolled. "And if I am stupid enough to believe them?" Ranta challenged, defending the duo before her
"Then that's what you have me for." the Targaryen returned. Ranta rolled her eyes lightly, "You think they are lying" the woman stated. "Do you think they are singing songs about your return?" Daenerys fired back. "They'd sooner be singing songs about me than you." the Naylor felt a bit of guilt at what she said, but it was true. Daenerys opened her mouth but then shut it, "Fair enough." she reached down and stole away the blue haired woman's cup and bottle.
"If Viserys had the kind of army you have, he would of sailed for Westeros long ago." Daenerys drank. "If Viserys had the army I have, then Westeros would be nothing but ashes." Ranta reached for her glass back but had no luck, " I have not worked as hard as I have just to add on Ranta - Queen of the ashes to my title. I can conquer Westeros easily, I know that." the older woman spoke.
"But it's not about military strength, it's all Aegon had and look at where we are now. I want a better world, Dany. Not one where lies, decite, murder and brutality are considered normal. I don't want to live in a world where men and women are scrounging around in the gutters for a rotten piece of bread, or where girls no older than twelve selling theirselves as whores just to put a few pieces of food on the table as boys are off pawning off what little possesions they have for money. No one deserves to live like that, regardless of house name or social class. It's not right." Ranta shook her head, faintly the woman was aware that her voice wavered a small bit and was doing her darnest to make sure it would not do so again.
Swallowing back the own lump in her throat, "So you don't want them to have our childhood then. To go through the things you did." Daenerys summarized quietly. An uncomfortable silence filled the audience chamber "No, I don't." Ranta ignored the burning gazes of the occupants of the room, especially the one of the small Lannister in front of her.
"I cannot build my world without the help that Tyrion and Varys can provide. No one here knows how the game is played better than these two. If I wanted to spare myself the trouble then I'd unleash the soldiers and let them do what they want, I'd get the throne for sure but for how long? One year? Two? Ten? Then what? Someone else comes along and the same old things happen again, and again, and again. Never changing." On and on the wheel spun, crushing those on the bottom. But there would be no more, not if the Naylor had anything to say about it.
"I need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the houses that will either joy or oppose me, the lands I want to rule, the people I want to rule. I may be a fool, but at least i am a fool that knows that i cannot do this by myself. I need all the help I can get. If they turn out to be spies or traitors then you can tell me I Told you so when you visit my grave, but until then I need you to trust me on this." Ranta finished.
The silvery blonde was silent for a long moment before sighing and nodding her head in resignation, "Very well then. Trust them but know this," she turned to the two men in question, "if you ever conspire behind my sister's back or give reason to doubt your loyalty... I'll burn you both alive." the Targaryen threatened lowly with dead eyes. "We would expect no less from the Dragon queen" Varys responded evenly.
The blue haired Naylor sighed at Dany's actions but left it be because at that moment a maester of the pyramid walked in but did not venture more than two steps past the doorway. " A thousand apologies for the interruption, my queen," he bowed lowly, " but a raven has come for you, a red ribbon tied around it and with the sigil of a house from across the sea. From who I cannot say, I'm afraid." A red ribbon indicated that the letter's contents had urgent news and was needed to be opened and read immediately.
"That is quite alright my friend, thank you for going out of your way to bring me this." Ranta flashed a warm smile towards the aged healer as Daario took the letter from him. With a final bow, the maester left and Daario handed the letter to the woman before returning to his post. Rotating the scroll, the Naylor monarch was greeted with the sight of a dire wolf seal hiding the letter's contents. House Stark? What could the wolves possibly have to say to her of all people?
"This isn't a letter telling me to send you both back across the sea to meet the hang man's noose is it?" Ranta asked very tempted to break the seal to read the letter. "Depends on who it's from." Varys returned. "House Stark. The king in the north doesn't have a reason to want either of you dead does he?" Ranta mused but both shook their heads, neither of them had qualms in the snowy region that were passionate enough to warrant any hostile feelings towards either of them.
"You may or may not care for the words that come from a dwarf you have only just met," Tyrion spoke, "But I do strongly suggest that you open the letter, I like Ned Stark's bastard. We traveled to the wall together years ago when he joined the Night's watch. I trusted him which is a rare feat in its self and I am an excellent judge of character if I do say so myself. With him being king in the north he would make a very valuable ally. The Lannisters executed his father and conspired to murder his brother, Jon snow has even more reason to hate Cersei than you do." he said as a matter of fact.
Running her long and slightly overgrown nails over the palm of her hand, Ranta contemplated Tyrion's words for a few moments before breaking the seal on the parchment of paper. To gain trust you must give it after all. The throne room was so silent that each person could count the amount of breaths the other took while Ranta read the contents written out to her.
~Queen Ranta of House Naylor, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jon Snow, King in the North. For centuries our families have been friends and allies despite our differences in who we supported for the Iron Throne. There have never been any squabbles between our houses and I wish to extend that tradition between us now. Word of your prowess and ambitions have reached the four corners of Westeros. We know that you are coming with your sister Daenerys Targaryen, your armies, your dragons and your snakes though we are not sure when. I am going to take this opportunity to urge you with haste to sail back to Westeros so that we can meet and reconsile our family alliance. The great war to come is fearful and the night is long, only together can we win this war. I look forward to meeting you the day you finally make your return home. Warm regards, Jon Snow King in the North.~
"Missandei." Ranta beckoned without giving anything away in her face. Obediatantly, the curly haired woman stepped forward and stood beside her queen only to be pulled down to sit next to her. "Entertain yourself." the monarch instructed handing her the scroll before laying back on the stairs with a deep sigh despite how uncomfortable it was. Reading through the letter given to her, a frown ended up marring the translator's pretty face by the end of it.
"The great war to come?" Missandei questioned looking to her queen who now had her eyes closed, though if it was in thought or out of fatigue she was not sure. Confused and conflicted looks were exchanged within the audience chamber of the pyramid at the words spoken by the Naylorian woman's advisor, what war was being spoken about?"Who knows." Ranta scoffed before sitting up, passing her bottles of wine over to Tyrion and Varys and stood up.
"Stick a guard on Tyrion and Varys if they do not have one, I want them protected as they explore the city and set up rooms for them as well. Rakharo, I need you and Jhogo to get word out to the Dothraki on the roads to find Jorah and call him back. The rest of you, do what you wish but leave me to rest." the blue queen commanded as she climbed the steps leading to her plain throne though she had no plan to sit upon it.
No, she had every intention on returning to her bed at the top of the pyramid and getting the rest she desperately needed, especially to get rid of the humming in her head that was not from the wine. Stopping at the top of the stairs however, Ranta stopped and turned back towards Tyrion and Varys with an even look upon her young face. "If you truly are here to serve and not to decieve then welcome to the campaign, my lords. It is a honor to have you." and with that, the blue haired woman turned and continued her journey to retire to her quarters.
0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0.o0.o.0o.00o.o..0oo0.0o.o.
There were some things that Missandei had come to hold reservations about in her life. Entertaining her queen when bored, was one of them for she without fail, found something extreme to entertain herself with and today had been no exception. "Why do you two stand so far away? Don't you want to get closer?" Ranta had dragged Missandei and Tyrion outside of the city for a reason unknown to them before now.
" No thank you, I am quite content to watch from here!" Tyrion called from beside her, the man equally as uneasy as she had been. Before the duo had been Ranta, all five of her beasts, a catapult and a crates filled with young dead animals that were managable for the monarch to lug around. Feeding time, she had called it if Tyrion recalled correctly though he was sure the mighty beasts were more than capable of getting their own food.
"I don't think I've formally introduced you to them, have I?" the Naylor asked pulling out a dead sheep and placing it in the catapult. " The black snake is Vaemarr." Ranta pulled the trigger and sent the animal soaring into the air for the basilisk to catch. Releasing a stream of blue fire, the serpent cooked his meal to perfection while it was still in the air and let it fall into his mouth still ablaze and all. "The white one is Laemyx." Ranta repeated the process with different animals, the eggshell snake had been gifted a ram.
"The black dragon is Drogon." a young deer went soaring.
"The green dragon is Viserion." another ram went flying.
"And the tan dragon is Rhaegal." this time a young cow was sent into the sky but before its' roasted corpse could fall into the scarred dragon's mouth, Viserion lunged forward and snagged the animal away much to Rhaegal's displeasure. "Viserion!" Ranta snapped with a small glare, "Spit it out!" she demanded a split second before the tan dragon lunged for his brother in an attempt to reclaim his meal. It didn't take long for the trio of humans to quickly scatter out of range of the brawling beasts. The dragons were nothing but a wriggling throng of green and tan limbs as they tussled over the cow locked in Viserion's jaws.
Eventually the green culprit had managed to kick away his lighter colored brother and had every intention and swallowing the food in his mouth before he could be attacked again, but was stopped by a great force slamming down on the top of his head. Hissing, Vaemarr continued to slam his tail over his younger brother's form in an attempt to get him to spit the cow out. Dropping the cow after a particularly harsh hit Laemyx snuck his own tail into the mix and flung the abused animal corpse before Rhaegal.
"They're rather rowdy today, aren't they?" Missandei mused as Rhaegal was quick to eat his meal and Vaemarr and Viserion engage in a screaming match of sorts. "Must be something in the air." Ranta acknowledged before snatching up a dead rabbit from within one of the crates and holding it out to Tyrion. " Hold this." she requested, shoving the dead animal into his chest. "Laemyx, come here" she beckoned the eggshell basilisk who obliged with ease. Shoving his head into her awaiting hands, Laemyx purred in her hold as Ranta ran her hands over his tough exterior.
"Since your brother is still screaming at Viserion." Ranta glanced at the two behemoths exchanging words in their own way, " Why don't you say hello to Tyrion. He even has a treat for you." the Lannister's eyes widened in understanding as to why he now held a dead rodent in his hands. Turning his head, Laemyx narrowed his eyes slightly on the snack sized man who wreaked of fear and nerves.
"Go on, say hello." Ranta prompted. Snorting, the beast moved forward until there was little distance between him and the imp. " 'Eeellllooooo" the basilisk bellowed in his baritone voice that shook people to their bones, though what he meant to say afterwards was nothing but gibberish. "Now toss the rabbit." Ranta grinned to the bewildered Lannister once Laemyx had finished trying to speak outside of the word 'hello', "He performed a trick, did he not?" she asked when he hesitated.
Blinking out of his stupor, Tyrion obliged and tossed the rodent into the air, watching the beast dubbed Laemyx catch it with ease and swallow it whole. Mesmerized by the basilisk, the dwarf held out a shaky hand experimentally to see if the animal would allow himself to be pet though he had no idea if he would be swallowed whole himself or beaten with a tail like Viserion was. Hesitating, Laemyx eyed the little man for a long moment before slowly allowing the Lannister's hand come into contact with his armor.
"They probably grow tired of being here, and wish to know how much longer we will remain in Essos." Missandei suggested. "Time." Ranta smirked, "Despite the false sense of reality I have put myself in, time is not on our side. It's something we're running out of." she said as a matter of fact. "Our time in Essos is coming to an end. The day we sail for Westeros comes closer and closer everyday. Daario and Barristan have been running over battle strategies with Cerran and the Grey Worm." Ranta trailed off looking to her mythical creatures.
"Battle strategies, army formations and ranks, calvary...it all adds grey hairs to my head. " she scoffed lightly, "one of the few things that doesn't is thinking about your mount." Missandei looked to her queen confused. "My mount? He's just a horse." she stated. Ranta smiled at this and looked at her with a bit of mischevous in her eye. "Not a horse, no, he's far from that." Ranta shook her head and looked pointedly to Viserion who had stopped his yelling match with Vaemarr. "You cannot be serious." the translator breathed. "Oh I am very serious." Ranta assured before calling out for the dragon at hand to come closer.
"Then I really must protest, your grace. I do not think-" Missandei cut herself off when a gust of air hit her from the side. Whipping around Missandei was graced with the sight of Viserion looking down at the two woman expectantly. Ranta reached out a hand welcomingly as she smirked up to the green beast. A series of what could only be described as deep clicking rumbled within Viserion's throat as he pushed his muzzle into the warm palm of the Naylor's hand. "Hello you naughty boy, are you done being mean?" she scratched his leathery skin comfortingly.
Missandei did her best to calm her racing heart pounding in her chest, none of the dragons, especially Viserion ever showed hostility towards her but the fear inside was still a given. Especially after the miniature showdown he had with his brothers. "Will you not greet him?" Ranta asked without taking her eyes off of the dragon before her. Biting her lower lip nervously, Missandei took a moment to calm her nerves before reaching a hand up to stroke the leathery snout of Viserion. Despite his inner longing, Tyrion restrained himself from reaching out for the green dragon like the two women had. He could handle petting one mystical creature for the day, there was no need to get greedy.
"When I was a child my uncle asked what gift I wanted for my name day." Tyrion spoke softly,
" I begged him for a dragon, it wouldn't even have to be big. I told him that it could be little like me but everyone just laughed at me like it was so hilarious. The next thing I know, my father's telling me that the last dragon died a century ago and I'm crying myself to sleep."he finished. "That is entirely depressing, do you know that?" Ranta quirked a brow. "I may not be able to cheer up your childhood memories, or get you a dragon of your stature, but perhaps one day I can get you a ride on one. Maybe even today if Missandei cooperates." the monarch rolled her head dramatically to look to her advisor.
Raising her brows in surprise, Missandei retracted her hand from Viserion and withdrew on herself. "Look, if I'm going to bring the dragons over to Westeros then I'm going to need someone to watch their backs as they're flying around during battles. Make sure no one shoots them down." Ranta explained herself, "Daenerys will be paired with Drogon, I will be with Rhaegal and you with be paired with Viserion. It's best you get used to him and the idea of flying" she finished.
"What about the snakes?" Tyrion asked curiously, casting a glance to the eggshell snake still by his side. "The snakes do not need someone to watch their back, their armor cannot be pierced with a blade. Dragon skin is another story." Ranta mused, grabbing the dagger Missandei kept at her side and jabbing experimentally into the white armor of the basilisk. Hearing the resounding 'tink' 'tink' coming off of the beast, Tyrion was impressed to say the least. "Swords, arrows, spears...they'll all bounce right off. The only weak points on them is under their armor," Ranta pushed against Laemyx's neck to reveal his vulnerable flesh underneath when pushed far enough at a certain angle.
"But even then the blade would have to pierce them at the most precise and exact angle possible. draw any blood." Ranta ceased her pushing and allowed the behemoth to return his head to a natural posture. "Now, will you work with me willingly or am I going to have to order you?" the Naylor said to her right hand, "The dragons are trained, I worked with all three for years. They know how to fly with someone on their back, they know how to pull evasive maneuvers and they know how to protect the rider. They won't let anything happen to you while you're with them." she assured.
After being silent for a long while Missandei finally sighed heavily, inwardly cursing herself as she placed a hand on the dragon's snout but looked to Ranta as she spoke. " I will always be willing to do what you ask of me, your grace...have no fear." from there on Tyrion watched and listened to the two women chat for hours about how to ride Viserion - the ques he and the others knew how to work with. Beyond that the trio continued to converse about whatever they could until the two women finally chased the dwarf back to the city with their chatter and lack of wine. The dragons had also been chased into the sky while the basilisks fled to the sea, which left Ranta and Missandei alone outside of the city to rest in the grass.
It wasn't long though until the human blood hound known as Daenerys Targaryen found the duo, and by the gods did she look determined to speak and Ranta had a feeling she knew what about. "Daenerys, I am resting. Leave me be." the Naylor said before she could speak.
"You've been resting long enough, I think you've had plenty of time to recover your strength. Now get up."
Missandei watched uncertainty as the silvery blonde woman with violet eyes tug at the limp form of her blue haired and blue eyed queen in the grass. In all honesty, Ranta had not much left her room since returning to Mereen unless it was to address concerns citizens had in the audience chamber but those sessions had been quick and brief, compromise and solution easily found that both sides were happy with. .
"Allow me to wallow in self pity then."
"You've been doing that your whole life."
"And what a joy it's been."
Daenerys huffed in frustration before walking over to the pitcher of water sitting available on the ground for either woman to drink when they grew thirsty. Eyes widening in realization, Missandei was unfortunately too slow to stop the Khaleesi from dumping the pitcher of water on top of her sister and watched with a wince as Ranta awkwardly scramble in place in an attempt to get away from the liquid being pouring on top of her. "Enough you silver haired-!" Ranta cut herself off before any harsh words could escape past her lips and settled on glaring daggers at her sister that had succeeded in sitting her up.
Sighing heavily, Ranta blinked the water of her eyes and rubbed her face free of excess water. "Can I help you with something? Are you dying or in extension bleeding to death?" the Naylor asked exasperatedly, semi shivering when the cool breeze danced across her damp form. "No." Dany answered placing the now empty pitcher back where she got it from, " But I want to ask you a question." Ranta stiffened at this and looked to her sister carefully. A question huh?
"Does this question have to do with Jorah?" the Naylor mused. "Yes." Ranta plopped herself back down onto her back and closed her eyes, "Then you already know my answer to it." she simpered. Daenerys let out a frustrated grunt and began pulling on the blue queen's arm to sit her back up, "But I do not want to wait until he returns." Dany held the older woman's shoulders steady now that she was up once more. "Who knows when he will arrive." Ranta opened her eyes and raised a brow at this.
"Technically you should, it was your Dothraki I sent out." Daenerys sighed and rolled her eyes. "Okay so they've found him and they all will be returning here any day now, but I cannot wait. Just tell me, can it really be that bad?" the blonde asked exasperatedly. Frowning, Ranta said nothing but looked at the younger woman in front of her with a particular expression. Mimicking the look, Daenerys slowly released her hold on the older woman and sat down on the ground next to her.
"Forgive me if I overstep any boundaries, your grace." Missandei could remain silent no more, "but perhaps you should simply tell her able Ser Jorah's actions before he arrives. It would give her what little time she has to process the information before he returns to the city." she advised. Ranta sighed heavily and looked back to the young violet eyed woman, lips sealed. The Khaleesi huffed with a non-humorous laugh, " You both act as if he commited murder or treason. Surely whatever he did can not be so bad." she mused. More silence enveloped the room much to the Targaryen's displeasure. "...Can it?" she asked hesitantly.
"Some say there are worse crimes, and there are." Ranta finally acknowledged, " but it hurt no less." she pulled off the two leather hair ties around her wrist. "Would you like to take a guess out of the two options you gave yourself?" The woman parted her hair down the middle before tying both sections off into separate low ponytails to hang over her shoulders. Missandei moved forward out of instinct and brushed back a few pieces of hair that had refused to be bound in the leather ties.
"Nothing?" Ranta fiddled with her blue locks at Daenerys' silence and then looked to her advisor in a meaningful way before turning back to the blonde. "Jorah was spying on us Dany." Ranta finally revealed. Daenerys' violet eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "He spied on us thinking he'd be welcomed back into Westeros a free and pardoned man as long as he did as King Baratheon told him." the blue queen explained. "W-when did you find out?" the Targaryen got out.
"A little after we took Mereen," Ranta sighed, " he came to me and confessed. Showed me the letters he and Robert Baratheon exchanged, the pardon he recieved. Conveyed to me every single regret he had and begged for forgivness." the woman told. Missandei and her queen watched as the Khaleesi's breathing suddenly grew labored and frantic as a furious expression over took her beautiful features. "And you forgave him and are welcoming him back into the city?!" she exclaimed incredulously shooting up from the ground, Ranta following at a slower pace. "I banished him and now I feel he has paid his dues." Ranta corrected calmly.
"He betrayed us. He betrayed you, from the first." Dany furrowed her brows, "How do you know he is not still spying on you? That he doesn't have his own sources feeding him information about you?" the Targaryen questioned. " Jorah has learned from his mistakes-" Ranta tried but was cut off by a humorless laugh. "Mistakes?!" Daenerys echoed shaking her head, " No. Confusing the amount of rice needed from the farm lands with the amount of pillows shipped over seas is a mistake. Mistaking a dark red for a dark orange is a mistake. Going behind the backs of the people you serve and selling their secrets to men who would see them dead is not a mistake. It is treason punishable by death!" she argued.
"So you would have me kill the man that is responcible for the success we have now." Ranta argued back without mising a beat and with no less heated frustration as her sister. " Jorah is not responcible for either of our successes. He was not the reason why the Dothraki follow me nor why they and every other person under your command follow you." Daenerys stopped her pacing breifly to a finger in her direction before starting up again.
"He's not the reason? Jorah's not the reason we are where we are today?" Ranta asked slapping a hand against her thigh after shrugging her shoulders. "No he's not." Daenerys denied. "Then why do we stand were we do Daenerys?" Ranta asked closing the distance between the two, increasing the ever so anxiety of Missandei standing idly by. " Would you be Khaleesi of the Grass sea had Jorah not been there to even teach you their language and cultures? To integrate you into their lives? Yes you had Doreah who could communicate with you but what did she teach you? How to fuck Drogo and that was it, she isn't even by your side now!" Ranta cried throwing a hand into the air.
"Doreah would not have given you the backbone Jorah has given you to kill off the khals and take their riders as your own. I wouldn't have obtained a single inch of Slaver's Bay, or a single soldier on my own if I didn't have Jorah by my side. You would not be alive if he hadn't been with you in Vaes Dothrak when the wine merchant poisoned you." The Naylor pointed out. "A wine merchant that he probably knew." Dany shot back. "He did not know the wine merchant!" Ranta snapped. "Jorah never knew Robert would send assassins go kill two women across the sea - especially one that was pregnant."
"How do you know?!"
"Because why would he stay for the attempt?! Or why wouldn't he do it himself if he truly was against us? Why would he allow us to climb so far up and not tear us down sooner?"
"How should I know!" the blonde cried angrily, "How should I know how you think?" she asked. "You should know to trust me on this, I'm your family." Ranta returned testily. "Yes," Daenerys laughed mockingly, "And we all know how family is, look at Tyrion's. His own sister set fire to her own people and in-laws, his father would of had him executed for a crime he didn't commit." she listed. "Because your father was so much better, he released wildfire onto my family too!" The Naylorian queen snapped back causing the Targaryen to grow still.
Ranta took a page out of Daenerys' book and began to pace restlessly, "You Targaryens burned my family. Sent them scattering across the world -leaving me behind to the dogs and yet here I am. I still stand here years later after Rhanella and Viserys died, watching over you. Because you're family. Family loves each other, family trusts each other, family is there for each other. If you can't even give me-" the monarch was cut off when Missandei abruptly grabbed her arm. While the figurative blood siblings had been arguing, the translator switched between watching the duo and their surroundings and on the horizon not too far away did she spot something. Multiple somethings as a matter of fact.
"Your grace, who are they?" Missandei asked lowly, nodding her head to the outlines of their observers on horseback. Turning their heads in sync, Daenerys and Ranta both looked to where Missandei had motioned to and stilled. The mysterious figures were too far away to see the details of their faces but close enough for them to identify the clothes they wore and weapons at their sides. "Those are not Dothraki." the Khaleesi breathed. "Nor are they Second Sons." Ranta added equally as quiet before tensing greatly when she seen the figures begin making their way towards them.
"Back to the city, quickly. Alert the guards." Ranta placed a hand at each of her companions backs and gave a push forward. They weren't any of her men and she wasn't expecting any guests, the only thing Ranta was left to think of was that they were a threat of some kind. "What about you?" Daenerys asked noticing the older woman eyeing down the newcomers with a steady eye.
"Someone's got to slow them down if they mean any harm." Ranta stated as a matter of fact. "You are no soldier, you cannot stay here to fend off a bunch of armed brutes you know nothing about." Dany narrowed her eyes. "I may not be a soldier but I am a queen. This is my city, and my people and I will protect them, including you. But I cannot do that with you here." the monarch argued. "And when you end up with your throat slit?!" the blonde asked incredulously. "Then you will fall into my place and lead my armies into Westeros!" Ranta snapped, stunning the blonde.
"But you cannot do that if we are both dead. Now hurry and go." with one final push, the Naylor woman succeeded in driving away Daenerys along with Missandei to get help. Hopefully a situation would not arise to wear guards were needed during this confrontation. Tearing her eyes off of her companions, Ranta turned back to the new arrivals with a suspicious eye.
There had been fifteen to twenty of them in all, all men and one woman from the looks of it. But the closer they grew, the more Ranta was able to make out the allegiance colors two of the figures bore. "House Greyjoy?" she murmured to herself in confusion, recognizing the color scheme of their clothing. What were Greyjoys doing all the way in her lands? Regardless of warning letter, Ranta remembered Ser Jorah's words about the kraken warriors from so long ago. House Greyjoy were enemies, unlikely to side with her in the war to come.
They were more likely to be seen trying to sink her ships in battle than appear on land before her. So why were they here? However, the Greyjoy representatives were not the only ones the Naylor was able to recognize. Leading the party had been a familiar figure that Ranta had not seen in years, nor this far away from his home. "Lord Illyrio?" she stated loud enough to draw the party to a halt.
The Pentos lord was not surrounded by his usual guard. So who were the people with him? Pulling his horse to a stop at a respectable distance away, Illyrio dismounted his horse, triggering the others to do the same and flashed a warm smile to the blue woman. "Greetings honorable Storm Queen." He bowed along with the people of his party. "Long has it been since we have crossed paths, my dear" Illyrio grew closer to the woman until they were nearly toe to toe and embraced briefly.
" I remember the days when you were running through my halls, harassing my servants to make you pastries every hour on the hour... look at you now." Ranta smiled fondly at the memory herself, "Those were the days back then, things were much simpler." she admitted, "You're a long way from home, my friend. What are you doing so far beyond your lands?...And with some new friends nonetheless." The monarch added with a pointed look. Illyrio turned to look at his traveling party he found himself apart of when leaving Volantis.
"Ah, yes. If I may, your grace, I have some people to introduce you to... Yara, Theon" he beckoned with two fingers. Stepping forward, the two Greyjoys broke away from their companions and approached the nobles before them. Yara had a strange build between that of a delicate woman and seasoned male warrior, Ranta noted, though she reckoned that was to be expected considering the house she hailed from. Unlike her build though, the woman and man shared brown hair and similar facial structure but their eyes also differed. The woman with deep brown eyes and the man with grey blue.
"It's an honor to meet you, your grace," Theon spoke, Ranta noticed how the slender man seemed to fight with himself to keep his shoulders unhunched and eyes up. It was like a beat dog trying to regain its confidence with a new master. "If it had not been for your people in Volantis, I reckon it would of taken us a bit longer to find you." Theon stated much to Ranta's confusion. "People?" the monarch slightly spat, noticing a slight wince from the male Greyjoy. "I had no people in Volantis," Ranta shook her head, " I was ready to go to war with them and Lord Illyrio is of Pentos, a dear friend." she noted. Theon and Tara exchanged confused looks, "So those aren't your people?" Yara asked jerking a thumb over her shoulder to the cluster of men behind her. "No." Ranta denied.
"I thought you said those were her people. Her Naylors?" Theon turned to Illyrio but before he could respond the blue queen interjected. "They are not my people." she started but cut herself off when the sound of seemingly hundreds of hooves hitting the ground hit the air followed by the unnerving shriek of the Dothraki. "Those are my people." Ranta finished turning to look and seeing a small horde of a hundred or so riders streaming from the city gates with Daario and Rakharo leading the charge.
Daenerys' blonde head could be seen riding behind them with Missandei rising beside her. "That was pretty good time they made" Illyrio commented casually, unbothered by the screaming horse lords unlike the party of people he brought with him. The poor souls looked like they were about to shit themselves if they hadn't already. "Wasn't it?" Ranta smirked off handedly. In no time at all the Dothraki had closed the distance between their Little sister and them and circled the party sitting on the hills outside of the gates.
"Nice timing... sister, Missandei" Ranta acknowledged Daenerys as she dismounted her pure white steed, Missandei following suit. "I would say so considering your still alive." Dany returned and then blinked in shock when she seen just who one of the unannounced guests were. "Magister?" the Targaryen princess breathed. Illyrio smiled at the silvery blonde woman and bowed respectfully. "Khaleesi," he greeted kindly, "I am happy to see you are fine and well." he stated honestly. "And you as well." Daenerys returned with a small smile to the man that had taken her family in when no one else would.
"My brothers." Ranta stated clearly, drawing attention from the horse lords. "Remove them of their weapons." she ordered. Without pause the long haired, painted men dismounted from their horses and began stripping Illyrio's party of their weapons, some more harsher than others when resistance was found. Appearing at his queen's side, Daario looked to the pale brown haired duo expectantly. "You two are no exception. Weapons off." he ordered taking a step forward and holding out his hand expectantly. The siblings exchanged glances with one another before complying and removing their weapons belts from around their waists.
"Before you said that those people, were mine." Ranta started, " Again I'd like to correct you in stating that they are not mine, nor are they Naylors. They are no Naylors on this side of the Narrow Sea besides myself and to the south where my cousin resides." the monarch clarified. Illyrio shifted uneasily at this, the Greyjoy siblings' pointed states did not help the matter.
"But...those are Naylor. They bare the house symbol on their armor." Yara said slowly and was pinned by Ranta's bright sky blue eyes in return. "The tall one," Theon spoke drawing her eyes to him, "With the black hair and green eyes. He leads them." he finished. "There hasn't been a Naylor sighting in decades, besides Ranta." Daenerys suddenly spoke with a strong voice, "Now all of a sudden they're popping out of the ground like daisies. Where were they all this time?" she asked.
Shifting on his feet in front of the fiery Targaryen, Theon gulped subtly and shook his head. "I do not claim to know where they've been." he started. "We only know what we're told." Yara piped in, not as easily cowed like her brother, "And we were told those were Naylor, but the Naylor family drama is none of our business. We've come to you to seek help with our own." she finished looking to Ranta. "And your business with me, Magister?" the monarch asked after a moment's pause.
"Just a guide for these wandering lost souls my dear." he smiled weakly before placing a hand on her shoulder. "A bit of advice before I go though," he leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Keep an open mind, not everything is as it seems and there are no easy decisions in war. You have a good heart my dear, I have seen it for myself and so have the thousands you've rescued. Do not be quick to close it off and allow it to harden. You and your sister have the perfect balance, do not allow the scale to tip." and with that the Pentos lord pulled back with a comforting smile.
"I will direct your ships and weapons from Westeros to Mereen once I return home, my lady. Should you need anything from me do not ever be afraid to ask. Whether it be money, council, soldiers or refuge, I will give it with no hesitation. The next time I see you, it will be in Westeros on the Iron throne, yes?" Ranta smiled at the question and nodded her blue head in confirmation. "Do you not want an escort back to Pentos?"the monarch asked when the Magister made for his horse once more and mounted the steed.
" No, I can make it to Yunkai and obtain a ship ride to Pentos from there. You have far more important things to worry about than my passage home anyways. Good day to you all and I wish nothing but the best of fortunes upon you." Illyrio turned his four legged beast around and kicked the horse into action. Even though he was now leaving, the Pentos magister would be lying if he said he had left his traveling party behind with a clear conscious.
When Colren Naylor requested of him to escort him to Ranta Naylor after finishing their business with the Volantis leaders, he was skeptical but agreed nonetheless. When the green eyed ravenette then disclosed that he had not been the only Naylor in the city of Volantis that needed to be brought to Mereen he was near hysterical. The Greyjoy siblings hopping along on the way with them after eavesdropping on a conversation or two did not help Illyrio's state of mind. There wasn't much he could do to dissuade any of them from their cause though, and found himself playing escort to the group of over twenty men and one woman.
One Naylor showing up at Mereen's doorstep was explainable, twenty of them was another story and Illyrio only hoped Colren had thought up of something when he went into the audience chamber with Ranta for his sake. "It seems we should take a page from his book." Daario mused from beside Ranta, "You have a lot of people to talk to." he frowned at the strangers before him. "So it would seem." Ranta acknowledged.
"Grab a person and bring them back to the pyramid!" the monarch instructed the warlords before turning and mounting Daario's horse in one smooth motion. Quirking a brow, the recently reinstated sellsword captain was quick to throw himself onto the animal behind her before she could spur the animal into action. "Stealing my horse?" he mused, clicking his tongue and urging the mount into a walk, knowing that they would be followed.
"Naturally." Ranta smirked. "First you steal my heart and now my horse, they should call you the Thieving Queen." Daario tsked wrapping his arms around her waist and snaking his hands over hers to grasp the reins already within her grasp. Ranta raised a brow at this but did not do anything to remove his calloused hands from on top of hers. "Lies and slander, I have stolen nothing. For you have given your heart to me and I am merely borrowing your horse until we reach the pyramid."Ranta corrected.
"Ahh, so you are away that you hold my heart after all."Daario mused. "It would be hard not to be aware of the fact, yes." the Naylor acknowledged with a smile tugging on her lips. "And yet you continue to lead me on." the man drooled. " I do no such thing!" Ranta denied, " It is you who allows yourself to continue this pointless chase, knowing that I cannot give you what you want."she pointed out. "And why can't you allow something between us? For however long it may last" Daario questioned. "I cannot be attached to a lover for when we sail to Westeros. I cannot bring a lover to Westeros, only soldiers and advisors." the blue haired woman said pointedly.
"A king wouldn't think twice about it." the brunette frowned lightly. "Well I am not a king, and I do not have the time to deal with broken hearts and petty retaliations when I eventually will have to marry for alliances." Ranta shook her head. "Petty retaliations?" Daario echoed with raised brows, "Do you really think me petty enough to serve under handed jabs at what ever pathetic perfumed aristocrat marries you out of my own jealousy?" he asked and Ranta actually turned around to face him at this. "Yes, as a matter of fact I do." she said with a straight face before breaking out into a grin at the same time Daario did.
"Well you'd be absolutely right in that statement." the duo laughed, Daario embracing his queen from behind as he did so. "You are a good man Daario," Ranta mused as he brought one of her hands up to his lips for a kiss. " Do not let anyone ever tell you different...and one day you will find a woman to marry that you'll love and give children to her." she murmured. "And what if I already found her? What if she's right in front of me but just doesn't see it yet?" Daario rested his chin onto her shoulder. "Then you are in for a long life time of longing and pinning over this woman. She has no choice in the matter when it comes to marriage." the monarch mused a bit dejected herself.
The concept of marrying for any reason outside of love was depressing entirely. Anyone would find it so. "You always have a choice, even the slaves did. Slavery or death. You are queen, you have the freedom to do whatever you want." the sell sword countered. Ranta smiled sadly, "No I can't, no matter how much I wish I could" she stated. "Then you are the only person in all of Slaver's Bay that still holds a chain around your neck."Daario frowned. "And so such is a fate fallen upon me...now no more, we are in the city." Ranta hushed the man behind her as they passed through the great stone gates of Mereen.
After riding through the gates, Daenerys had disappeared from the train closing in on the pyramid along with Rakharo though she had expected it. The duo had been screaming at each other not too long ago and now that the Targaryen knew her elder sister was alive she probably remembered her original anger and frustration with the Naylor and left to vent to her right hand. Sighing internally, Ranta mentally shook her head at the fiery Khaleesi. Daenerys really did need to get a hold of her temper and start to see things from her point of view. The ride to the great pyramid was a short one, getting into the throne room was an even shorter one and the Naylor was glad to see that Tyrion just so happened to be in the area and dragged them into the spacious room with her.
First to be addressed, the Greyjoys.
Standing by her side along with Missandei and Daario, Tyrion narrowed his eyes onto the slightly hunched form of Theon standing before him with his sister, Yara. Something that did not sneak by the queen. "If you stare any harder, they'll burst into flames. You know them?" Ranta asked Tyrion. "The boy I am familiar with."Tyrion admitted without taking his eyes off of said man, "The last time we saw each other was at Winterfell years ago. He was making jokes about my height...the height of nobility, a man of your stature, someone to look up to." he trailed off bitterly.
Ranta frowned at this as well, not seeing the humor in such cruel jokes. "And look at him now, he looks rather downtrodden doesn't he? I can see that and I don't even know the man" she mused. "Downtrodden indeed," Tyrion agreed, " I gather things haven't been going well for him since we last seen each other. If it had I don't think he would have murdered the Stark boys and strung them up for everyone to see." Ranta's brows rose at this but stayed silent when Theon was quick to come to his own defence.
"I didn't murder them." he denied, "but I did do things that were just as bad or worse." Theon admitted. "He paid for them." Yara added. "Oh has he? Then why is he still alive? I would hardly call that paying for his crimes." the Lannister pointed out, " It was complicated for you, I suppose, growing up in Winterfell. Never really knowing who you were, but then again we all live complicated lives now don't we? The queen here, is the public face for living a complicated life."
Shifting her weight on her feet, Yara sighed heavily. "Look, we can go in circles all day about Theon's piss poor life and the mistakes he made, but it won't defeat the purpose as to why we are here." she proclaimed. "And why are you here?" Ranta questioned, " History dictates that by all means you would rather see me six feet under the ground." the monarch narrowed her eyes slightly. "We need your help," Yara stated, "Until recently I held the Salt throne of the Iron islands. My uncle Euron returned home after a long absence, murdered my father and took the throne from me. He now hunts us to finish what he started. I have brought you one hundred and fifty ships from the Iron fleet with men to sail them as a gift in hopes you will help us." she finished.
"Along with her word to support your claim to the salt throne, one could assume." Tyrion interjected knowingly. "One would be correct in assuming so, yes." Yara nodded after slight hesitation. For a long time the Naylor monarch did not say a word, going over their conversation inside her head time and time again. Though every time she did, a sense a dread filled her frame, not for herself but for the siblings before her.
"Yara and Theon Greyjoy, I feel for you. Really I do, you both have my greatest sympathies and respect for what you have gone through. Are stories are all too similar, a murderous usurper hunting us down over the years... the everyday struggles to reclaim your homeland from one who would sooner see you dead than prosper...little family left to call your own and small support from Westerosi houses I assume because I know you would not be here should you have had it." neither voiced any complaints at what the Naylor has said for it was true.
"But I cannot officially support your claim or accept your offer." Ranta finished with a sigh, effectively stunning the siblings. "I am trying to bring Westeros together, under one crown - under one rule. I cannot have independant kings and queens popping up all over the country. There are two of them there already that I will have to take care of." the blue haired woman frowned. "I-is it the number of ships?" Yara stuttered since the first time speaking to the blue queen, "I can get you more and the men to go with them!" she promised. "Sweet girl, it is not your ships that I want." Ranta cooed, " I do not doubt that you would be able to provide if that's what I needed you to do. It is a matter of principle." she explained.
"Then we will fly under your colors!" Theon spoke desperately, looking close enough, Ranta was able to see that the man was beginning to shake and there was a slight twitch to his eye. " You cannot fly under my colors either." Ranta shook her head sadly. " My pirates to the south have quarrel with you, it's one of the main reasons they have agreed to fight for me. So that they could get their hands on a Greyjoy and get their revenge." she explained. "Quarrel with pirates?" Yara and Theon looked to each other, "We never did anything to them, we've never even seen pirates before. You heard Tyrion, Theon grew up in Winterfell and I never sailed into pirate waters before in my life. I don't even know where to find them." Yara denied passionately.
"My cousin and her men say otherwise." the Naylorian spoke softly. "I-It w-was Euron then!" Theon's voice cracked. "Euron must have started a fight with them when he was gone. We'd never do that, ever! You have to believe us!" he cried. Standing from her stone throne, Ranta approached the duo and stopped before them. "I do believe you." she said honestly, "But I cannot have my people killing each other in the waters, I'm only trying to help you." they really were making it much more harder to refuse their cry of need.
"Cersei is your enemy yes?" Yara tried, "That's who you need off the Iron throne and I need Euron off the Salt throne. Euron and Cersei are bound to form an alliance, in fact I'm willing to bet my life on it. That is a very dangerous combination. One that cannot be allowed to stand for too long. Queen Ranta I am begging you to help me stomp this fire out before it gets out of control, I am even willing to give up the Iron Island's independent status as payment. We will bend if that's what it takes."
Ranta used to joke with Rakharo about how she didn't have any grey hairs, but now, she was sure she did. She could practically feel her blue hairs turning grey. "Having the Iron Islands under your thumb certainly would set a mile marker in history." Tyrion voiced a bit optimistically. "However it will not come to pass if Euron Greyjoy is running amuck with the title of King and in cahoots with my sister. One way or another, he will have to be dealt with." he held his hands behind his back.
"And who knows a Greyjoy better than a Greyjoy? Having Yara and her men on your side will be easier than having them as not. Accept her offer." Tyrion declared. "I know you feel for them, I can see it in your face. Invite them in, place them under your wing. Have Yara's men presented before you, summon this cousin of yours to the south and have her look over the sailors. Gods merciful, there will be no need for any bloodshed between your pirates and Greyjoys and the pirates wrath will be unleashed onto Euron's half of the house. Euron dies, the pirates receive their justice, Yara reclaims her throne and in turn continues to serve you. Everybody wins." Tyrion finished calmly.
Grinding her knuckles against each other in contemplation, Ranta had to admit Tyrion was right and made more than quite a few good suggestions. He had admittedly swayed her into forgetting her reservations on the matter at hand with only a few good points of compromise. This man really did have a tongue for politics.
Looking to Yara, Ranta sighed once more before speaking. "You will hold up your end of the offer by bending the knee and in return I will make sure you are returned to your rightful throne. You will bring your men to me so that they can be presented before Tarla and your house symbol will have to be altered so that there is no confusion on the battlefield. The Naylor symbol above yours will do just fine, I want the symbol placed on your armor as well. Do we have a deal?" the Naylor offered an arm.
"..."
"..."
"We have a deal."
One house down, one to go.
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