Disclaimer: I don't own Game of Thrones or anything associated with the show or books. Just a guy getting his feels out via writing. As always please read, review and enjoy!
A Duet of Ice and Fire
As soon as Jon Snow and Ser Davos left and the doors shut with several loud clangs, Daenerys whirled on her advisors, her eyes demanding an explanation from Varys.
"Our Ironborn and Dornish allies were attacked en route to Dorne."
Well this day is getting better and better, Tyrion thought to himself as he absorbed the news.
"And?" his Queen asked.
"Two or three ships escaped," Varys continued. "The rest sunk or captured, Ellaria and the Sandsnakes dead or captured the Greyjoys dead or captured."
Oh fuck me, Tyrion thought miserably. This was…not good. His carefully meticulous plan was one step away from being complete shit. He had known Cersei wouldn't make this war easy but he hadn't expected her to blindside him like this.
"All of them?" his queen asked again.
"A few scattered crews but likely with no captain loyal to you. They'll probably go back to the Iron Islands or head east to pillage some unfortunate land."
Daenerys pursed her lips and glared.
"So all that's been gained today, is the loss of our most powerful allies and a rebellious pretender who refuses to bend the knee."
No one said anything.
She shook her head. "We'll meet in the war room in a few hours and see if we can salvage anything from this mess. You are all dismissed."
Everyone began to leave.
"Except you Lord Varys, and Tyrion, I have a matter to speak to you about."
The two advisors shared a look before approaching the Queen slightly nervous.
"Lord Varys, what do you know about Jon Snow?"
Well this will be interesting.
The Spider dipped his head apologetically. "Sadly not much that isn't already known to many. He is Eddard Stark's bastard now King in the North, born near the end of Robert's Rebllion, likely to a tavern wench or other low born woman though there are some interesting rumors that Eddard had a great noble love aside from his wife Catelyn but I doubt there's any truth to them. I take it he is the 'rebellious pretender' you mentioned earlier?"
"You missed quite the meeting," Tyrion said half jokingly "her grace finally met someone as stub…strong willed as she is."
Seven Hells I hope she didn't catch that.
Fortunately if she did notice his near slip up, she chose to ignore it.
"All your little birds and you can't tell me anything about Jon Snow?"
"Sadly your grace, I never had need of too many birds in the North in the first place. And with the North having been ravaged by the wars I fear the songs from there are a rare thing now."
Daenerys turned her gaze to him now. "And you Tyrion? You said you trusted him, that he was a good man."
"I do and from what I know, he is,"
"But you can't say for certain?"
"Can anyone ever say that for certain about somebody?"
She was quiet for a moment as she began to contemplate something. Tyrion was about to speak before she finally voiced her thoughts.
"My brother used to call Eddard Stark the Usurper's dog. I know he was a half mad fool more wrong about everything than he was ever right. But still, I have my doubts about trusting a man who's the son of Robert's best friend. A man who hounded me throughout my entire life, killed my entire family and tried to kill my unborn child. Tell me, what kind of a man is friends with someone so hateful? A man who sends killers after children and an unborn babe?"
She shook her head.
"It might be wiser to execute him now."
To Tyrion's surprise, it was Varys who spoke up in defense.
"I can't speak to his choice in friends your grace, but I am certain of one thing your grace. Ned Stark never approved of Robert's vendetta against you."
"And how do you know that?"
"Because I was at the small council meeting where he resigned as Robert's hand over his decision to kill you and your son."
Both Tyrion's and Daenery's eyes widened at that revelation.
"He resigned?"
"Indeed, I remember the meeting quite well. Everyone on the small council, Pycelle, Littlefinger, Renly Baratheon and…myself," he said chagrined. "Not one of us spoke against Robert's order to kill you and your child before he could be born and lead the Dothraaki. Only Ned Stark refused to, 'cower in the shadow of an unborn child' I believe he said. When Robert refused to reconsider, he plucked the pin from his chest, laid it in front of Robert and left the room. I honestly half expected Robert to send guards after him he was so enraged. Ned likely would have left for Winterfell that very day, never to have another thing to do with Robert had Jaime Lannister not ambushed him." Varys nodded towards Tyrion.
"As retribution for Catelyn Stark's kidnapping of you if I recall correctly my lord."
Tyrion let out a depreciating chuckle.
"It all feels like a lifetime ago."
"Indeed. And all of it leading up to the death of a good man that plunged the realm into a bloody war." Varys shook himself out of his melancholy.
"I don't know much about this Jon Snow, not yet, but I do know that if he's anything like his father than he's a good man. Likely better than most and I was truly saddened by Ned Stark's death, not just because of what it did to the realm, but because it lost such a good man."
High praise coming from our resident Spider. He looked back at Daenerys who seemed rather contemplative.
Time to hopefully save Jon's life. "The Starks have always been hard people your grace, but very honorable. It would be a grave mistake to kill off one of the last of them."
That got her attention.
"One of the last?"
"As far as we know your grace, Jon Snow and his sister Sansa are the last Starks alive. Out of 6 children, only two have survived the wars."
"I see," she nodded.
A flicker of sadness crossed her face almost too fast to see. Tyrion felt a slight twinge knowing he was likely using an old wound of hers but he had to make sure she didn't execute Jon before he could get him to bend the knee.
The sadness passed and she resumed her queenly veneer.
"Very well, he's free to move around the island. For now. In the meantime, both of you should focus on the war ahead of us. Make sure you've considered all possibilities, I do not wish to hear of another failure."
With that she left the room and left the Spider and the Dwarf to themselves.
"She seems quite intrigued by our new guest," the Spider said.
"It was quite the meeting. I suppose it's rare for her to meet someone she wasn't able to intimidate."
"Did he give reason as to why he wouldn't bend the knee?"
At this, Tyrion sat down on one of the steps to the rock throne.
"How familiar are you with stories of the Army of the Dead?"
Varys quirked an eyebrow.
"Children's stories from thousands of years ago. Supposedly, the real reason why the Wall was built."
"Jon claims that the army is real and its marching on the Wall. And that if we don't band together, they'll kill us all before winter is done."
He had expected Varys to immediate shrug off such talk but the Spider seemed particularly disturbed.
"You seem more frightened than I would expect."
"Aren't you? Lest you forget I've had intimate experience with things that should not be possible."
Tyrion frowned remembering Benjen Stark and Lord Commander Mormont.
"Plus we've seen for ourselves the return of dragons, perhaps it's also possible that an evil from thousands of years ago could return as well. I consider all possibilities my lord, and I daresay, the possibility that he may be right is far more disturbing than any other possibility."
That's not all though is it?
"You know something, don't you?"
"Not truly. But the last few songs I heard from the North made mention of wildlings fleeing from something by the thousands. Something with glowing blue eyes and the ability to raise the dead."
Varys shook his head. "But nothing is certain. Not yet."
"No," Tyrion agreed. "Not yet."
Neither of them believed truly believed that though.