In the throne room the flags of the Targaryen house were waving. Dany had had the dragon skulls stored in the catacombs in the Great Hall replaced, so Balerion's own head, the Black Terror, witnessed the appointment of a new queen. Beneath the west-facing windows was a row of golden cloaks, and below the eastern ones, immaculate. He didn't see any commoners, but he did see a group of lords, some important and others not so much. There were Olenna Tyrell and her grandson Willas. Also Arianne Martell, sent by Doran. Beside her, Ser Barristan and Ashara Dayne, who was still at court. He also recognized Lord Varys, the spider, in the background.

"Everyone has plans for me," he said to himself, "I'll show them that I'm not a puppet they can handle... But not today, today none of that matters."

He then looked at the Iron Throne. It was a monstrosity, carved with spikes, jagged edges, and twisted metal. Each step she took towards him grew larger. His heart was beating fast, threatening to run wild and make her falter. She saw Tyrion, who was waiting for her at the foot of the throne, his face serious, aware that she was witnessing a moment that would be told in tales and ballads. He took the steps one at a time, carefully, not wanting to trip. At last he reached the foot of the throne. He reached out to touch it… It was cold. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and without thinking twice he sat up.

As he had been warned, it was the most uncomfortable seat he could conceive of. The iron was hard and the jagged steel of his back prevented him from supporting his back. "A king must never sit comfortably," Aegon had said when he had the throne built.

He then looked up, but did not have time to notice anything, for as soon as he had sat down, the High Septon approached her and, with the crown in her hands, began to recite:

– May the Warrior give you courage and protect you in these dangerous times. May the Blacksmith give you the strength to bear this heavy load and may the Old Woman, she who knows the fate of all men, show you the path you must travel and guide you through the dark places that lie ahead. In the light of the Seven, I proclaim Daenerys of House Targaryen, First of her Name, Queen of the Andals, Rhoynar and First Men, Mistress of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm. LONG MAY SHE REIGN! -
– LONG MAY SHE REIGN! - All those present exclaimed.

The entire room erupted in applause. She tried to remain serious, regal, but she couldn't hide a slight smile.

After her coronation, it was time for everyone present to kneel and swear allegiance to the Targaryen house. So did Lord Mace Tyrell, Warden of the South. Arianne Martell did the same for her on behalf of her father, Doran, who did not come with the excuse of her illness. Also knelt was Black Walder, now heir to House Frey, who had agreed to such a condition after his brother Edwyn had drowned. This was followed by more gentlemen, older and younger, with notable absences. Neither House Arryn nor House Baratheon, apparently extinct, came, and they had no news of the Iron Islands, from which Victarion had not yet returned. And no great lord from the west had come.

And House Stark didn't come, but they would. At least that's what the last raven that had arrived from Winterfell said.

With so many guests, she couldn't stop to eat. Instead, she sent Missandei to the kitchens for a plate of bread, olives, figs, and cheese. She nibbled at them as she listened, and sipped at a glass of watered wine. The figs were good, the olives even better, but the wine left a metallic taste in his mouth.

In the afternoon, once the great lords had left, she began to receive the citizens who wanted to meet her for some reason. A fisherman had caught a fish of unprecedented size in Blackwater Bay and wanted to deliver it to the queen. She admired the fish extravagantly, rewarded the fisherman with a large bag of silver, and sent the fish to the kitchens. A young blacksmith had made him a black suit with polished rings to wear in war. She accepted it with exaggerated thanks; it was wonderful to have, and all that polished metal would surely look lovely, but if she ever threatened a battle she preferred to be dressed in steel. Even a little girl who knew nothing of the war knew that.

The shoes she wore had already become uncomfortable. Dany took it off and sat with one bare foot folded under her and the other swinging back and forth. She wasn't a very regal pose, she knew, but she had been regal all day. Her crown had given him a headache and her buttocks were beginning to fall asleep.

– Ser Barristan – she-she called him, I already know what quality a king needs above all else –
- Courage? – said the old man.
- No – she joked -, buttocks of iron. All I do is sit. I have too many petitioners and too few pillows –
Dany turned to Tyrion.
- How many more? – She asked.
-Twenty-three, each with his requests –
"Twenty-three," Dany repeated incredulously, and she changed position again.
- One can expel them if it is his wish, highness – intervened Gray Worm.
- Expel them? – Daenerys stirred on the throne. Her iron felt hard under her - No, everyone who wants to see me must be able to-

The last petitioner asked for protection for his land, which was being looted by bandits.

- I will meditate on what you have told me - Dany assured him - And I will take action -
When the man had gone at last he was able to get to his feet. His body was numb after so many hours without moving.
- Ser Barristan, escort me to my rooms –
The old man nodded and started to do so, but Tyrion's voice stopped them.
- Highness - said the dwarf - There is still one more petitioner left -
- Another one? – she complained - Could it wait until tomorrow? –
- I don't think so – assured the queen's hand.
Dany sat back on the throne with a disgusted expression.
- Very well, come in -

The doors opened and through them entered a ghost from his past.

The ghost wore a simple cream and scarlet asymmetrical leather jacket. Tall, thin and insultingly handsome. Golden hair fell on either side of his sharp face. Looking at him, anyone could be trapped in his emerald green eyes, which shone full of cunning. The gesture, on the other hand, was sad.

- The man you see is Jaime Lannister -

He leaned in in what Dany found irreverent.

- Jaime Lannister – she announced – I've heard a lot about you. The golden lion, the greatest swordsman alive... The Kingslayer -
- Your Highness, I think you already know… - Tyrion wanted to intervene.
- Silence - Daenerys interrupted him, who looked at Jaime again - Tell me, why should I accept that someone like you serves me? –
- Help you? Who has spoken of serving you? – The Lannister had something mysterious in her look-We just met, I don't know if I want to serve you –
- If you prefer to return to your cell, all you have to do is ask me -
-I don't think so, I've had some disagreement with the jailer and I don't think he'll be happy to see me –
- I've heard something about that – Dany settled on the throne – from what I know of you, you are a treacherous, narcissistic, violent and very dangerous man -
- They have informed you well -
''If he's nervous he hides it very well,'' thought Dany.
- I'm tired, I won't insist. You can leave whenever you want, I won't stop you -
Daenerys was already getting up.
- Your Highness – she stopped and waited – After being locked up for so long, with so much humidity, things rust – Jaime continued – even courtesy. Let's start over and I'll give you your answers –

There was something about him that reminded her of Daario. It was strange because at first glance it was difficult to imagine two more different men.

- I want you to tell me the whole truth, for your honor as a knight -
- Ah, do you want to hear the truth? Take care, my lady. My brother, your honorable hand, says that we all claim to be hungry for the truth, but when we try it, few of us find the pleasant taste of it –
- I am strong, my lord, I can hear anything you say to me –
- As you wish, then. What is that you want to ask me? -

Daenerys didn't quite know why she had gotten into that game, but she was really intrigued by that man she had hated since she had memories of her.

- Why were you locked up? –
- I killed my sister -

That was when, for the first time, the Lannister's shell of pride seemed to show something of what he was hiding underneath. – Kill his sister… Why would anyone kill his own sister? –

"Your Highness, if you want this man out of your sight, all you have to do is ask." Ser Barristan took a step forward.

- No - Dany said - I want to hear it -
-I killed my sister for the same reason I killed your father – Jaime looked into her eyes – They were going to burn King's Landing –

"You lie, Kingslayer," Ser Barristan said brusquely. "You dishonored the Kingsguard."

- Ah, yes, the Kingslayer, the man without honor… -
- Why do you want to serve me? –

The Lannister stopped smiling and allowed himself some time to think about his answer.

- Because it's something to keep living for -

Dany was shocked to see such an empty look in those green eyes. She felt that she should give this man a chance.

- They say that the gods do nothing without a purpose. They have put you before me, so they must want something from you and I am not one to contradict the gods. Kneel and take an oath –

"Your Highness..." Ser Barristan interrupted him.

-I thank you for your concern, my lord – he said so that everyone could hear it – Do not argue with me in public again – he said in his ear – Ser Jaime, continue –

The Lannister drew his sword and recieved swore the oath at the foot of the iron throne. Dany barely paid attention to what she was saying, she kept trying to clarify that maelstrom of feelings that had awakened in her. She hated that man, how could she not hate him after a lifetime dreaming of his death. But she at the same time wanted to know more about him.

That night, when it was time for bed, Dany dreamed again for the first time since he had left Meereen. Troubled dreams, which up to three times woke her up with nightmares that she barely thought she remembered. She saw the darkness riding the cold winter winds. She saw her dragons dance on the snow. She saw her brother, Rhaegar, talking to a woman.

- Will you compose a song for him? she asked.
-He already has a song – answered her brother – He is the prince who was promised. His is the Song of Ice and Fire -