She had always loved the sea. When it had started, she couldn't say with certainty. Perhaps it came from the multiple story's Ser Willem would tell her of how the day she had been pulled from her dying mother on a night that stormed harder than it had in years? Perhaps it was the many years she had spent in coastal cities running from assassins? Or maybe it was even that deep down, the thought that being near the sea meant she was a little closer to home.

The ship rocked over waves beneath her feet, some people stumbling but she barely moved. Missandei sitting off to the side with Grey Worm who was trying desperately not to vomit. Due to him being raised in the way he was, he didn't portray any emotion and was brainwashed into believing any sign of weakness meant he did not deserve to live. But her handmaiden was working wonders on him. Daenerys turned on her feet and walked below deck to be met with some Dothraki. When Lord Varys had left Meereen on business, she had not expected to receive a raven months later that he had managed to secure her an alliance with both the Reach and Dorne. Then with Yara and Theon Greyjoy fleeing to Meereen after escaping their uncle Euron gave her a good advantage. Drogon flew by at this, dragging his legs in the water which he had seemingly grown fond of. She wasn't sure where Rhaegal and Viserion were, probably remaining a bit behind as neither were as bold as their black and red brother.

The raven had been a surprise, especially on it where it said they would meet her in the Stepstones to head to Dragonstone together which according to those around her was left practically abandoned when Lord Stannis laid a claim to the throne. That was an encounter she was not looking forward to. She despised the Baratheon's for what they had done. Them, the Stark's, the Arryn's, the Tully's. All revolting against her family and chasing both herself and her brother into exile like they were nothing more than rabbits to hunt for sport.

"What has you so worked up, your Grace?"

The Queen snapped her head around to be met with an elderly man she almost considered to be a father figure to her now. Remembering their first meeting where he had thrown a dagger at a poisonous manticore set after her by the Warlock's of Qarth. Ser Barristan's hair was as white as her own and his face had dozens of lines to show his age. There was one massive difference though, that being the cane he now had to lean heavily on to get around after both himself and Grey Worm were attacked in one of the back alleys. It was a miracle he had survived, but he would never wield a sword in battle again.

"Just thinking about everything that will happen when we finally dock. I'll need allies but the last thing I want to do is bow to those who followed by distant cousins like puppies-"

"Permission to speak in private?"

She quirked an eyebrow at this but granted him the request, wondering what he was getting at. Along the way to her personal cabin they passed Tyrion who was passed out with a flagon of wine in one of his hands. Nose scrunching up barely a millimetre and allowing her Hand inside. The injury he sustained had left the Knight unable to be a member of her Kingsguard, and she wanted to keep him close. If Jorah were still here, she might've appointed him to the position, but she didn't dare hope he would survive. She'd seen grey scale numerous times and what it did to people.

"Speak, Ser Barristan."

He winced a little as he angled the cane so he could sit down on the makeshift bed beside her.

"You call them all puppies, why?"

She snorted at the question, wondering why he had asked that of all things.

"Because they followed Robert Baratheon blindly. When I take my throne, I will not have people who betrayed my own House in power."

The look that came onto his face stopped her in continuing, an expression she had never seen come onto his face before.

"Pardon me, your Grace. But what do you know of the Rebellion?"

"That Lord Robert wanted the throne and enlisted his friends to assist. It's what I've always been told since I was nought but a babe myself."

That wasn't true. Remembering the times where Ser Willem had tried to talk but her brother always stopping him. Was there more to it? If there was, why had she never been made aware of it?

"I apologise for my rudeness, but that is not what happened. There was a lot more to it than simply that."

"Still, the reasoning can't have been bad enough to-"

"Please, your Grace. Let me explain."

He raised his hand a little which was probably from force of habit from being Lord Commander of her Kingsguard and previously her cousin. As much as she hated to come to terms with it, they were kin to her. Lord Orys even being the bastard brother of Aegon the Conqueror himself. Barristan was never someone to ask her to stop, always waiting on her to speak everything on her mind. Faintly remembering the few times, he had spoken of her family fondly from her mother's bright smile to how noble and kind her brother Rhaegar had been. Her eldest brother had died before she was born, and her mother had died birthing her, which left her with only one family member and he himself went mad in the end.

"Would you like the long version or the shortened version?"

She reached over to take one of the flagons herself and taking a small sip. The Yunkai'i having gifted her some that had come in from Dorne a few months prior for leaving their cities finally.

"We have a few weeks left of sailing so there is plenty of time for the long version."

"There was a reason your father was named the Mad King-"

"I'm aware, although I must say I don't know the extent of it."

Then it struck her. If anyone would've known what happened, it was the man sitting beside her. Anger welling up initially as he had stopped her in her rant about deposing those who betrayed her family. He stood by her father as a loyal member of the Kingsguard and would have known everything that was going on.

"Well other than the fact he had little to no interest in ruling, he left that to his advisors. Mostly Lord Tywin, but this was severed when your father attempted to seduce Lady Joanna. It also wasn't a secret there was not even fondness between your parents, your mother loathed him actually."

This surprised her. Her brother always told her that their mother and father loved one another dearly. So much so both would've done everything to remain together despite the fact they were brother and sister. It wasn't a strange thing to her, many of her ancestors had practised such pairings for thousands of years to keep the magic in their blood pure, otherwise they would lose control of their dragons which could not happen.

"Your brother also despised your father. I wasn't involved in the plans myself, but most people figured out Rhaegar was plotting to overthrow your father by deposing him. He wouldn't have had him killed because it would've made him a kinslayer and that was something he did not want to be known as. And then he got Lord Whent in on it and arranged the Tourney of Harrenhal. It was no coincidence that almost every House was there from Stark to Baratheon to even minor House's such as Beesbury's. Your father had not been seen in public for years, but he made an appearance and threw your brothers plans out the water and he had to start all over again."

He took a deep breath after this as if wondering how to explain it all. This already shattered her vision of what her family was like. Everyone said Rhaegar was noble, but forcefully removing one's father from power was far from that. She wanted to speak to badly and call it lies, but it was something she needed to hear. Therefore, she made sure to bite her tongue and try to keep her brewing temper at bay.

"Betrothals were well known. Brandon Stark and Catelyn Tully, Lysa Tully and Jon Arryn, talks of numerous others. A lot of matches were made and finalised during this tourney. But there was one that started it all. Lyanna Stark and Robert Baratheon. Eddard fostered with Robert at the Eyrie since they were boys and were raised as brothers. Lord Rickard thought it would be a fantastic match and it was finalised during that tourney. A year passed, and Brandon travelled to Riverrun to discuss a date with Lord Hoster to join their House's. From what I've heard, a date was agreed but this never came. Lyanna went missing, and witnesses confirmed Rhaegar took her."

Daenerys' eyes widened momentarily but she stopped herself just beforehand, instead clasping her fingers tightly together on her lap.

"At least, that is the story that spread. Tell me your Grace, do you know what a Tyroshi noose is?"

The little colour that was in her face drained at hearing that. Where was he going? She'd seen said torture method used once. The strangulation device getting tighter the more the person wearing it struggled. That was too specific an item to be mentioned to not have some form of truth to it.

"Brandon rode down to the Red Keep immediately upon hearing the rumour. He was a brash man, and with panic over his missing sister, he demanded Rhaegar show himself. But your brother had seemingly vanished alongside Ser Oswell, Ser Arthur, and Ser Gerold. Your father took his demand as high treason and had him thrown in the black cells but not before making him send a raven to Lord Rickard to come south to answer for his son. When he arrived, he was also arrested on arrival, but he demanded trial by combat as was his right. Your father agreed and we all thought some form of sanity was coming back, but then he stated his champion would be fire.

"The pyromancer built a pyre right then in the middle of the throne room with hundreds of spectators. Their guards were killed so there could be no interference this way. And whilst this was going on, your father placed a sword in front of Brandon before pulling his father up above the fire still in full armour. He said if he reached the sword and if he succeeded in freeing his father, they would both leave the Keep as free men. I still remember the scent of burning flesh as he slowly cooked alive in his armour, but I remember Brandon more. I don't know when the noose was placed on him, it's all a bit of a blur. And your father ordered the sword just be out of reach."

Daenerys felt sick. She'd heard her father had lost his way, but this was so much worse. He was evil, mayhaps even as bad as Maegor the Cruel.

"In other words, the more he reached for the sword-"

"The tighter the noose got, yes. It took only around five minutes, but seeing the Stark heir drop to the ground dead and hearing Lord Rickard scream from the flames made it feel like it lasted a lifetime. After this, understandably the Stark's were furious as were the Tully's. As custom dictates, with Brandon being dead, Eddard was set to wed Catelyn. He travelled from the Eyrie to Riverrun where they wed in a dual ceremony with Lysa and Jon. But Aerys wasn't done yet. After this, he ordered for Jon Arryn to hand over the heads of his wards. That was the straw that broke it into all-out war. Jon Arryn cared for Robert and Eddard, Robert was incensed over your brother taking his betrothed, and Eddard incensed over the execution of his father and brother. Thus, what was previously seeds of treason was now an all-out rebellion."

To say she was stunned was an understatement. Feeling disgust begin to seep through her veins until it felt like she had thousands of bugs crawling all over her. Beginning to scratch on the back of her hand as if that would cause it to stop. A part of her immediately wanted to declare it all lies, but she had learned how to tell when someone was lying a long time ago, and she could tell Ser Barristan was being truthful. Daenerys closed her eyes for a moment as she tried to come to terms with all of it.

"My brother always said there were House's toasting our return-"

"Some will, I won't disagree with that. But nowhere near the amount he would've thought. I remember Viserys well, he was an inquisitive child and your mother sheltered him from your father as much as she could. You can count on House Velaryon with a certainty in the Crownland's as they are kin, possibly even House Celtigar if Lord Ardrian is still alive. But the others? It would be difficult at best to win them over."

Her eyes trailed to the window she had and specifically focusing on Drogon's wing which was skimming the surface of the ocean. Her ancestors had taken over Westeros with a few thousand men and three dragons, surely it would be simple for her to do something similar? But then she remembered when the farmer appeared in the court at the pyramid with his daughters scorched bones encased in rags. Fire and blood were her House's words, but it was known even to her despite being sheltered behind honeyed words that it was more fire and destruction. She wanted to be better than most, be like Queen Rhaenys who was known to be kind or even like Queen Alysanne who was always referred to as the Good Queen.

"If you are looking for political advice, I'd speak to Tyrion. Whilst it is something, I know a little of, it is not something I revel in. But remember for when we do dock on the shores. The Stark's were not to blame, nor were the Arryn's, nor were the Tully's. The only person to blame was your father and as much as I hate to say it your eldest brother. Whilst I don't believe he took Lady Lyanna, there was no proof that this was not the case. Your father wasn't always mad, but after he was taken prisoner at Duskendale he was never the same. It was me who freed him, you know?"

That she did know. Smiling a little at the story. Of how he had decided to go into the town itself dressed as a common foot soldier and managed to free him before there was any need for a battle.

"Please send Lord Tyrion this way, Ser. That is unless he is still passed out from the wine."

The Knight laughed a little before leaving the room so she could think it all through. How could she be Queen when she didn't even know basic history? Barristan had seemed surprised that she didn't know the truth of the rebellion meaning that was obviously common knowledge. Clearly there was going to be no warm welcome when she stepped off the ship to head up to her own ancestral Seat. Daenerys didn't know what to feel regarding that. For how long had she had the dream of going home? That is when she was old enough to realise the house with the red door and the lemon tree in the courtyard was not that. She didn't remember it much though. Due to the size of the ship, Tyrion walked in not long after with a sway in his step due to the amount of alcohol he had consumed.

"How do you handle so much for being such a small man?"

"A small man has an appetite. It also doesn't help that my family causes more than a few headaches, so I need to keep somewhat of a clear mind."

She quirked an eyebrow up at that but didn't say anything else on the matter. Just before she received the raven from Varys, Tyrion had arrived. It had been a surprise to say the least, especially because their first meeting he had promptly bent over and emptied the contents of his stomach on the floor.

"To what may I offer you my wonderful company with?"

"Allies. My Hand has stated you are the best person to ask about in that regard. Lord Varys has secured one already with the Reach, Dorne, and the Iron Islands. But I need allies in the others. Advise."

Tyrion's eyes widened for a second before returning to their normal stony nature. Wary of everyone and everything surrounding him. Reaching down to take the flagon from his hip but she took it from him.

"Sober advice."

The dwarf glared hard at her for the comment, but he went quiet for a few seconds as he carefully thought.

"Where would you like me to begin? The North wanted to be an independent Kingdom again and been fighting for such for years since my vile nephew took their leaders head? That with my killing my father the Westerland's are in uproar? The Vale is governed by a sickly boy who still suckled at his mother's tits until her death? Or that Walder Frey currently holds the Riverland's after breaking guest rights?"

It was quiet for a few minutes as he let her soak all this in.

"If you're looking to bulk out your army, the Vale is the best for that. They remained neutral during the wars therefore their entire army is intact. If you're looking for best strategic terrain, the Riverland's as not many people know how to swim and said Kingdom is surrounded. But you'd then ally with old Walder which will have the loyal Riverland Lord's and Northern Lord's despising you. If you don't know Robb Stark was set to wed one of his girls but he instead wed a Maegyr, Edmure Tully agreed to carry out the betrothal but the Frey's butchered them all. Robb's pregnant wife included."

She was aghast as she heard that, hands travelling to her belly as she remembered Viserys holding a sword towards her. She knew the Maegyr's, they were a very wealthy and highly respected family in Volantis. Despite growing up in Essos in exile, even she was aware that the violation of guest right was a massive sin.

"The Westerland's will follow my other nephew alongside my mad sister so you're out of luck there, which leaves the North as your best bet. The problem with that is the only remaining Stark is my estranged wife Sansa, the other being Ned Stark's bastard son Jon. You could try to offer him the Stark name and absolve him of his vows but if he's anything like his father he will be honourable and will not back down easily. Where you stand right now is likely what you'll get I'm afraid."

Anger bubbled up inside at this but as much as she wanted to say he was wrong she could hear the truth in his words. Simply telling her the facts and not mincing any words. Over the next few weeks, they had been sailing, discussions had been ongoing. Even asking Theon about his opinion on the North as it greatly differed from his sisters, him all but confirming Jon Snow would refuse an offer as such without even consideration. But without Varys, she wasn't going to make any drastic decisions. The numerous islands on the horizon confirming they were coming to the Stepstones and the day after this were met with hundreds of ships with golden roses, suns and spears, and some minor House's she somewhat recognised but could not name.

First things first, she had to find out the state of Westeros currently. And then, they had to plan.