~:Meeting The Dragon:~

Between them they agreed that Maester Aemon, Arya, Nymeria and Tyrion would go to the Great Pyramid to meet with Daenerys and tell her of the situation with the White Walkers and their plan to stop them. It was also agreed that Ser Jorah would stay aboard Sweet Lily because they didn't want to risk angering Daenerys. He wouldn't be much use convincing her of the situation anyway after he had made it clear that she wouldn't trust him after he had betrayed her.

When the ship finally reached the docks they all departed together. Arya looked at the pyramids which were scattered throughout the city. The Great Pyramid however dominated everything. They had plenty of time to take in all of the sights as they walked through the narrow and twisting streets of Meereen, Maester Aemon could only walk very slowly and they had to stop to rest no fewer than seven times. Arya didn't mind though as she had grown quite fond of the elderly Maester and sympathised with him. She wished that she would still be as mobile as him if she reached his age, though that was a long way off.

Nymeria stayed close to Arya's side and was getting a lot of attention from everyone that saw her, Arya could almost sense their fear. Nymeria didn't seem to mind though as nobody dared to get too close to the huge direwolf, backing away from her where they could. 'What an odd bunch we must look' Arya thought to herself with a grin as they walked. 'An old maester, a dwarf, a direwolf and me'

Arya started to wonder what Daenerys looked like as they approached the Great Pyramid. She had read about the Targaryen's from some of her books back in the House of Black and White and wondered if it was all true or was it just stories like Old Nan used to tell her back in Winterfell. 'I wonder if she has silver-blonde hair and violet eyes like the books say?'

When they eventually reached the base of the Great Pyramid they slowly started to climb the stone steps. Arya and Tyrion both helped Maester Aemon as he struggled with the steepness of them. Arya ignored Tyrion when his short legs cramped up and made no attempt to help, she had no sympathy for him. After a while they reached the entrance which was guarded by two strange looking guards. Arya recognized that they looked the same as the guard at slaver's mansion in Yunkai.

"Unsullied." Tyrion said to Arya as he saw her looking at them. He gently rubbed the back of his short legs as they cramped up again, but Arya didn't care.

"I know who they are." Arya snapped back at him, pulling her face a little. She didn't know who they were really, but she didn't want to look naive in front of the imp. He was becoming more annoying than Sansa used to be. 'Maybe I'll sheepshift his bed if I get the opportunity...then I'll kill him.' She thought to herself as they walked past the two Unsullied guards. 'Or maybe I'll just kill him?'

The two Unsullied studied them as they walked in. They were clearly a little unsure of Nymeria and watched her closely. It was clear that none of them were armed and Nymeria was calm so they let them past.

As they walked in to the main audience chamber another Unsullied readied his weapon at the sight of Nymeria. Unlike the other Unsullied that they had seen, this one didn't wear a helmet. 'He must be their leader' Arya thought to herself. He looked to be at least five-and-twenty and had a stocky build like a warrior, though not as big as Ser Jorah. His face had almost no expression and was cleanly shaved.

Nymeria snarled back at him and bared her teeth as she felt threatened by him, so Arya gently stroked the top of her head to try and calm her. "It's ok Nymeria." She spoke softly as she looked at the elderly knight that stood next to Daenerys. He seemed vaguely familiar somehow. Maybe she recognized him from King's Landing when her father was Hand Of The King? She couldn't say how, but she definitely knew him from somewhere. The elderly knight looked back at her just the same. 'Does he recognize me too?'

Daenerys looked down at them from her simple marble throne, her hands resting on her lap. She wore a beautiful white gown, simple just like her throne, yet elegent. "Step forward." She said calmly.

Maester Aemon slowly shuffled forward, Arya could hear the links in his maester's chain rattling as he walked. "Daenerys Targaryen..."

"This is Daenerys Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of Meereen, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea and Mother of Dragons." Said a slender female that stood by Daenerys side, making a proper introduction.

Daenerys smiled and leaned forward slightly as she looked over at them. The elderly knight leaned down to her and whispered something to her. Arya couldn't hear what he had said, but thought that Daenerys looked beautiful, maybe even more beautiful than Sansa. 'She really does have violet eyes and silver-blonde hair just like the books said'

"Tell me, why a man of the Night's Watch..." Daenerys looked down at Maester Aemon. "A Stark..." She then looked over to Arya. "And a Lannister have travelled so far?" She finally looked down at Tyrion. She clearly knew who they were, but how?

Daenerys paused for a moment as Arya and Tyrion looked at each other in surprise. "The Stark's and the Lannister's are my enemy. The Stark's are traitors that fought alongside The Usurper Robert Baratheon and the Lannister's betrayed my father and murdered my family. Have you come to try and kill me too?" She confidently raised an eyebrow and sat back as fifty Unsullied entered the audience chamber. Some of them blocked the doors while the rest surrounded them, pointing their spears at them.

Nymeria snarled and showed her huge fangs. "Nymeria, no." Arya said in a firm tone as she tried to calm her loyal direwolf, stroking the thick grey fur around her neck. "I didn't come here to kill you or for revenge." Arya replied as she looked up at Daenerys after Nymeria had finally settled.

"Revenge?" Daenerys replied, confusion written across her pale face as she looked down at Arya. "Surely, it is me that should want vengeance on you?"

"Perhaps you should hear what they have to say your grace?" The elderly knight said, looking to calm the situation.

Daenerys took a deep breath and nodded.

"My father once told me that your father had my uncle and my grand sire killed purely for his entertainment." Arya replied, her wolf blood starting to get the better of her. She felt tired after the long journey from Braavos and the heat didn't help. Braavos was warm compared to Winterfell and she was used to that now, but Meereen was warmer still.

"This is true your grace, I was there that terrible day, in the throne room. Five hundred people watched on, all the great knights of the Seven Kingdoms. Five hundred men and the room was as silent as a crypt, except for the screams and your father's laughter." The elderly knight said to Daenerys, who looked quite shocked at what she was hearing, or maybe it was shame.

The elderly knight then looked down towards Arya. "I am Ser Barristan Selmy my lady. I knew your father from when he became King Robert's Hand, he was an honorable man. I am sorry for your loss."

Daenerys looked up at Ser Barristan almost in disbelief. "Her father was a traitor and a rebel."

Arya glared up angrily at Daenerys, her wolf blood now starting to boil over. She had loved her father dearly and still hurt from that awful day in King's Landing when Ilyn Payne took her father's head. She could still hear the people cheering and see the birds flying off in terror as Yoren held her in his arms. It still haunted her dreams and left an aching hole where her heart should be. "Your father was a madman and a murderer." She snapped angrily like the little wolf that she was.

Tyrion laughed a little. "And my father was cunt!"

Everyone stopped to look at Tyrion, Arya couldn't help but smile a little and shook her head. She couldn't disagree with him on that! 'He was a cunt and I'm glad he's dead' Arya thought to herself, remembering back to her initiation with Jaqen. She could still see the look in Lord Tywin's eyes as the lifeblood drained from his open throat, the throat that she had gladly opened.

"We could stand here all day talking about the things our fathers did in the past or we can deal with the issue at hand." Tyrion continued as he stepped forward, trying to defuse the situation.

Ser Barristan signaled for calm as the tension rose. "Your grace, Eddard Stark was fighting to free his sister who had been taken by your brother Rhaegar."

"Lord Tyrion is right. Whatever happened in the past is done and we can do nothing to change it. We can, however, change our future." Maester Aemon interrupted. "Arya, remember why you are here, remember what you must do." He continued as he squinted over to her.

Arya nodded back to him and tried to calm herself. She knew that he was right, she came to Meereen for a reason. "I didn't come all this way to fight you. I came because Westeros needs a queen to unite the Seven Kingdoms again. Winter is coming and the White Walkers have returned."

Silence suddenly filled the room at the mention of the White Walkers. Daenerys looked up at Ser Barristan who looked back at her. Arya could tell that they looked surprised.

"All that has happened in the past cannot be undone. However, we can change our future. That is why we have come your grace." Maester Aemon paused to catch his breath as Arya walked over to support the elderly maester. "There are much bigger things at stake than mere revenge."

Arya looked over as a fat bald man wearing colorful robes entered and stood next to Ser Barristan "I am afraid Lady Stark speaks the truth. My little birds whisper to me. Even in the far north they whisper, and they tell me that the White Walkers have returned."

Tyrion looked surprised to see the colorful bald man. "Lord Varys?"

"You look surprised to see me my lord, however I cannot say the same for you." Lord Varys replied as he looked down at them all with a wry smile. "Will Ser Jorah not be joining us?"

Arya looked up at Lord Varys, astonishment written across her slightly grubby face. "How do you know about him?" She couldn't help but ask, the question slipping from her lips without her realising it. She vaguely recognized Lord Varys from King's Landing and then she remembered who he was. 'He's The Spider, Master Of Whisperers'

"My lady it is good to see you alive and well." He bowed his bald head towards her slightly before continuing. "My little birds whisper all kinds of secrets to me."

Ser Barristan turned to Daenerys with a look of concern on his face. "We should at least hear them out your grace. Maester Aemon is wise, he wouldn't have come all this way had it not been of upmost importance. If it really is true that the White Walkers have returned then we are all in danger."

Daenerys thought for a moment and then signaled for the Unsullied to back off, which they did. "We shall talk somewhere more private." She said as she stood.

Arya followed everyone into a nearby chamber which had a large stone table in the center of it. Daenerys sat at the head, Ser Barristan to her left and Lord Varys to her right. The Unsullied leader, Grey Worm and the slender female, Misandei stood either side of Daenerys. Arya led Maester Aemon over to a seat and helped him into it before sitting next to him. Tyrion sat opposite, though his head barely showed above the table.

When everyone had settled Daenerys looked over to Arya "So, tell me everything."

Arya took a deep breath and started to tell them everything that Mathis Paege had told her, all except for Jon being half Targaryen. She still found it hard to believe that Jon was her cousin and not her brother, though she knew deep down that it was true. 'I'll tell them when we are all together, but after I've told Jon the truth first. Then I will only have to say it once' She thought to herself.

She spoke of her time in Braavos at the House of Black and White and the true nature of the Faceless Men. She told them how Mathis had convinced Aegon Targaryen to conquer and unite Westeros over three hundred years ago for the same purpose. "Westeros must be united and strong, the White Walkers must be stopped at all costs." She said as she looked around the table at the many faces that looked at her and listened.

"The Stark's are always right eventually, winter is coming. The freefolk flee south and speak of the walkers, our best rangers have gone missing north of The Wall" Maester Aemon said. "Young Arya speaks the truth, we are all in terrible danger. Unless Westeros is united as one it will fall and the land will be covered in darkness and eternal winter. The darkness will spread across the world and everything we know will be lost."

Daenerys stood and silence fell over the room as everyone looked at her. "You need my Unsullied and my dragons to unite Westeros and to battle the White Walkers. But, why do I need any of you?"

"There must be three heads of the dragon. You must one Daenerys." Maester Aemon replied to Daenerys as he squinted up at her. "We know from the Three Eyed Raven that Arya's brother Bran is the second. You will need a third."

'I don't know who the third is' Arya thought to herself. 'Mathis didn't tell me.'

"What do you know of dragons?" Daenerys asked Maester Aemon, curiousity was written across her pale face.

"Ah, before I was Maester Aemon of the citadel and the Night's Watch I was known as Aemon Targaryen. I have the dragons blood the same as you Daenerys Stormborn." He replied, a little smile appearing on his pale wrinkled face.

Arya looked at Maester Aemon, she already knew that was a Targaryen after he had told her when they first met, but she still found it hard to believe. His hair was white, not silver-blonde, but then he was a hundred and two years old she supposed. Arya looked at him closely to study him and saw for the first time that his blind eyes were a faded violet. 'He really is a Targaryen'

Daenerys looked a little shocked and looked over to Lord Varys who nodded slightly, knowing that the elderly maester spoke the truth. "So you are the third?" She asked him, looking unsure about the whole thing.

Maester Aemon laughed softly and shook his head. "I am too old and frail to tame and ride a dragon. Patience, the third will show in time."

Arya nodded knowing the truth of his words. She didn't know who was the third and agreed with Maester Aemon that things would all fall into place by the time they had reached The Wall and Castle Black. She only hoped that she would get a chance to talk to Jon alone and tell him the truth of who his parents really were.

"And what of you?" Daenerys asked as she turned her attention to Tyrion. "What use do I have for you? How can I trust you?"

"If you are to take the Iron Throne you will need to take King's Landing first. This will not be quick or easy. With my help this task can be made much easier. I know King's Landing and the Red Keep well. I know the secret doors and the hidden entrances. You will need my cunning if you are to defeat my sweet sister, she will not give up her power even if it means the life of every soldier and gold cloak in King's Landing."

Lord Varys nodded in agreement "I am afraid Lord Tyrion is quite right. Cersei will never surrender and King's Landing will not fall quickly or easily. Many lives will lost unless you have a plan. Many innocent lives."

Daenerys finally looked over to Arya "And how can you help me?"

"Arya has travelled across half the known world to bring you this information at the risk of her own life and without any thought for reward, she owes you nothing more." Maester Aemon said as he placed a pale wrinkled hand on her slender shoulder.

Arya smiled at his reponse and thought for a moment on her own before replying. "First I'll convince my sister to join your cause. She can help you."

Tyrion and Varys look at her unconvinced. "How will your sister be of any use in taking the Iron Throne?" Lord Varys asked. "Not even my little birds have seen her since Joffrey's death."

"My sister is alive and is the Lady Of The Vale." She told him before explaining a little about her mission in The Eyrie and Littlefinger's demise, before turning her attention back to Daenerys. "And second, if you help me to take back Winterfell from the Bolton's you will gain the support of the north. My brother Rickon still lives, he is the rightful heir to Winterfell after Bran."

"A fair deal your grace. Reinstate the Stark's to Winterfell and the north will follow you without question. Easier to take the Seven Kingdoms if three of them readily support your cause." Lord Varys advised.

"Three?" Daenerys questioned, looking at him unsure.

"It is fair to assume that Dorne and the Martell's will also back you your grace." He replied. "They hold no love for the Lannisters and would gladly help you take back the throne."

Daenerys sat again and thought for a moment. "Very well. If I am to travel to King's Landing with you, I'm going to need you to prove that your intentions are true so we can put the past behind us." Daenerys said as she looked around the table. Arya and Tyrion nodded in agreement. "I have the finest army in the world and the finest knight, they deserve the finest weapons."

Arya traced the ball of her thumb over the smooth black pommel of Frost. "You mean Valyrian steel don't you?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

Daenerys nodded her head slowly. "Yes. Bring me a valyrian sword for Ser Barristan, a valyrian short sword for Grey Worm and a valyrian dagger for Daario and I will believe that your intentions are true."

Tyrion closed his eyes and shook his head. "There's only one place where we're going to be able to find all of those."

Barristan Selmy turned to Daenerys with a look of concern on his face. "Your grace, that is a death sentence."

Everyone started to talk among themselves, but Arya knew that there was no other way. Mathis had told her to do whatever it took, even if it meant taking a trip to the deepest of the seven hells. Arya stood and looked Daenerys straight in her violet eyes. "I will get you your weapons." She said in a determined tone over all of the noise. She had come this far and she wasn't going to fail her mission now. "If you swear that you'll sail to Westeros and take the Iron Throne, then turn your armies north to fight the White Walkers?"

Daenerys looked back at Arya, a look of disbelief appeared on her pale face. "Leave us, I wish to speak to Arya alone." She replied as she signaled for the others to leave.

The meeting chamber fell silent as everyone looked at Arya and Daenerys. One by one they stood and filed out of the chamber until Arya and Daenerys were alone.

"Walk with me." Daenerys said to Arya before turning and leading her up some stone steps and in to her beautifully decorated private chambers. Arya followed Daenerys out on to a stone balcony that looked out over Meereen. The view was spectacular, not as spectacular as views from The Eyrie but still spectacular. Arya leaned against the stone balcony as she looked out, taking in the view. The pyramids and the blue sea and the cloudless sky. She could just about pick out Sweet Lily at the docks and saw what looked liked an arena of some kind as well as a large market and a few temples to various gods.

"Why are you doing all of this? Why are you helping me really?" Daenerys asked as she stood next to Arya and looked out over Meereen.

Arya thought for a moment before looking at Daenerys. She figured it would be best to speak honestly."I'm not doing it for you, I'm doing it for my brothers and my sister. I want to keep them safe and..." She gently bit her lower lip as she paused for a brief moment.

Daenerys tilted her head slightly as she watched Arya chewing on her lip. "And?"

"And...I want to go home." Arya missed Winterfell terribly. Even if the rumours she had heard were true and it was a pile of rubble now it was still her home. And, if Daenerys wouldn't help her to take it back from the Bolton's she was going to try on her own. She would sneak in and open all of their throats if she had to. 'Winterfell belongs to the Stark's, not the Boltons' She thought to herself, angry at the thought of those traitors in her home.

Daenerys nodded and gently placed her pale hand on Arya's slender shoulder. "I want to go home too."

Arya smiled at Daenerys and nodded. They wanted the same thing.

"I believe you Arya. But, can we really trust the dwarf?" Daenerys asked, she was just as unsure about Tyrion as Arya was.

"I'm not sure. He seems genuine but he's still a Lannister and I don't trust the Lannister's." Arya replied. She had already killed Tywin and Jaime too thanks to Nymeria and was hoping that Tyrion would be the third. Arya was determined to kill Cersei too, but she knew that wouldn't be easy.

"And what of Ser Jorah?"

Arya knew that Daenerys was going to ask about him. "He's not given me any trouble so far. I think he wants to help? His father was the commander of the Night's Watch, maybe he'll help to fight the White Walkers?" Arya shrugged as she guessed at his intentions, she wasn't sure what Ser Jorah wanted or would do truth be told.

"Take Ser Jorah and the dwarf with you to Valyria. If they try anything, kill them."

"Yes." Arya nodded in agreement. She would take great pleasure in killing Tyrion if it came to it.

"You should take your wolf with you too, you may need her." Daenerys turned to walk back into her private chambers, Arya followed her. "A small party should be able to sneak in without drawing to much attention. Do you agree?" She stopped and turned to face Arya.

Arya nodded. "I agree. I don't know what we'll run into out there so it's better to avoid being seen if we can." Arya felt confident of being 'as quiet as a shadow' after her training back in the House of Black and White and she had no fears over Nymeria being able to fend for herself. Tyrion might even get himself killed if she was lucky and save her the trouble of killing him. As for Ser Jorah she could not say.

"Very well. By the time you have returned to me I should have set things in place." Daenerys said as she led Arya back to the throne room where everyone was waiting for them. Tyrion was talking with Lord Varys and Maester Aemon was talking with Ser Barristan. "Tyrion Lannister, you will travel with Ser Jorah, Arya, and her direwolf to Valyria and bring me the weapons I seek. Do this and you will have earned my trust."

Tyrion looked over at Arya and Arya glared back at him. "Do I have a choice?" He asked her.

"No." Arya replied raising her eyebrows. She could see the fear in his eyes and almost enjoyed seeing him squirm. The truth was she was just as scared as he was, not that she showed it. She didn't want to look craven in front of them, especially the imp! 'Fear cuts deeper than swords' She had to remind herself.

Arya had heard all of the rumors about Valyria, she hoped that they were just tales like Old Nan used to tell her as a little girl in Winterfell. But, like it or not this had to be done and maybe a chance would present itself to kill Tyrion, another name off her list.

"Maester Aemon will stay here as my guest, we still have much to discuss." Daenerys said as she sat back on her cushioned marble throne. "You will tell me everything that has happened north of The Wall."

Maester Aemon nodded his head slowly but remained silent.

Knowing that there was nothing more to be said Arya turned and walked over to Nymeria to stroke the fur on top of her head before climbing up onto her back and riding out into Meereen, Tyrion reluctantly followed behind.

"Valyria is nothing but fire and ash. The only thing we'll find there is death." Tyrion said as he struggled to keep up with them with his short legs.

Arya looked down at him as a small laugh escaped her lips. "Craven." She said, trying to taunt him. She was determined to make his life as uncomfortable as possible.

"I am not craven. They say that any man who lays eyes upon that coast is doomed."

Arya giggled as a cheeky thought came to her. "Then you have nothing to worry about, you're only a half-man!"

Bonus Content - Jon

Jon was sat by the crackling log fire in his chambers at Castle Black. Even with a fire going day and night his chamber never really got warm, not warm like his chamber back in Winterfell. He had almost forgotten what warmth felt like since his arrival on The Wall all those moons ago. He was just a young man back then, a naive young man who's head was filled with dreams of honor.

He could still hear his Uncle Benjen's words atop The Wall that night. 'This is not Winterfell. On The Wall a man gets only what he earns. You're no ranger Jon, only a green boy with the smell of summer still on you'

Jon had grown up believing that he would be like Dareon some day, whisking men to glory despite being bastard born. Nobody had told him that it would be like this. Only Tyrion the imp had told him the harsh reality, but by then it was too late. 'Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not.' Tyrion had told him. 'Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.'

Since then he had been a steward to the former Lord Commander, the Old Bear Jeor Mormont. He had traveled north of The Wall and pretended to join the Wildlings. He had loved a woman and lost her and helped to defend Castle Black even against impossible odds. And now he had been voted Lord Commander by his sworn brothers, thanks to his loyal friend Sam. He didn't ask for it nor did he really want it. But it was his task now, his duty and he would not fail his sworn brothers or the realm.

Jon knew that the White Walkers were out there and that they were coming, nothing could stop that. The Wall would not be enough, they didn't have the men to hold it. Even with the Wildings manning some of the castles that had long been abandoned, it still wouldn't be enough to stop them. All he could do was prepare them the best he could for what lay ahead.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts as a young boy in black patched leather entered and walked over to him. He was new at Castle Black, three-and-ten Jon thought, not much younger than his little sister Arya would be by now and almost as skinny. He missed her dearly, her cheeky smile, her messy hair, her cute giggle. She was the only one of his siblings who had really accepted him for what he was, the only one that didn't remind him that he was a bastard.

The thought of her married to Roose Bolton's bastard ate him up inside. She had never wanted to be married and to be a lady to some lord in his castle, especially to an animal like Ramsey Snow. Or, Ramsey Bolton as he now claimed to be, having signed as that on his last letter.

"Lord Commander, a raven came in the night." The boy held out a small rolled up piece of parchment in his grubby hand. "It's from The Citadel. It must be Sam."

"Corn, corn, corn." Mormont's raven said as it flew over to sit on Jon's wooden desk., looking up at him with it's black beady eyes.

Jon sat up in his chair, waving away Mormont's raven and took the small piece of parchment from the boy, who then turned and left to leave Jon alone once again. He slowly unrolled the parchment and straightened it out before reading it to himself. For the first time in a long time a small smile appeared on his long weathered face. "Arya..." He mumbled softly as he rolled up the parchment again and held it tightly in his scarred hand.