A Song of Light and Shadow
Hey, guys! Thank you so much for your kind reviews. Sorry I haven't updated as quickly as I'd like to. Family first for the break. Hehe. As for holylight's and heros bane's questions of Jon Snow smiting people, don't worry. Jon will be doing plenty of smiting. :] Also, as an answer to patymaiden0's review for chapter 4, I will say it's distinctly possible. Now, onto the next chapter! I have been thinking about how to write this battle for some time. Playing Medieval 2: Total War with my family has certainly helped with the creative processing. Hehe. I hope you enjoy it!
Chapter 7
Tyrion
One week earlier…..
It had been at least an hour since Daenerys left the city of Meereen with her dragons to face the warships of Qarth, but this was to be expected. Rocks and fire flew over and into the city walls as Ser Barristan Semly ordered a return fire.
'If only we had some wildfire,' Tyrion mused as he heard the screams of many people behind him.
Ladders, siege towers, and battering rams were spotted by Tyrion as his mind raced frantically, trying to figure out what to do. The towers could be taken down by the city's own siege equipment on the walls, and the battering rams could be destroyed by pouring boiling oil from the walls and then lighting the dowsed fools on fire with Meereen's archers. The ladders, however, were a different story. One could easily take down the holders of the ladders with archers, but ladders themselves were not easily destroyed unless you could aim with the wall's own siege equipment as quickly as the ladders were moving. That generally never happened. The only way to take down a ladder was when it finally got to the wall, but the enemy would simply pick it up again.
After a couple more hours, when the bombardment finally ended, Yunkai started to move their siege weapons into place. Ser Barristan ordered the catapults to attack the coming siege towers, but Ser Barristan and Tyrion were informed that they had run out of ammunition.
'Damn it,' Tyrion thought, 'They knew this would happen and baited us into using all our ammunition. How are we going to take down those siege towers without- Wait a minute!'
"Ser Barristan," Tyrion said, "We need to use the rubble from the destroyed buildings as our new ammunition. Send some of our men to collect pieces of rubble that we can fit into our catapults quickly. We have no time to lose. They are almost upon us, and Meereen has little defense left."
Ser Barristan nodded his agreement and shouted the orders that Tyrion put into place. The little lord could only hope that time was still on his side, for time was quickly turning against Meereen.
'Where is Mormont with the Dothraki?' Tyrion thought, 'More importantly, where's Daenerys?'
"My lord," Ser Barristan said, breaking Tyrion from his thought, "I think I know a way we can hold them."
"I'm open to suggestions, Ser Barristan," Tyrion replied.
"Their siege weapons are going to get to the walls," Ser Barristan explained, "we won't be able to do anything about that, but we could slow them down. I know you wanted to save the boiling oil for the battering rams, but by the time they get here, the siege towers will have already overwhelmed us. Let us save the oil rather for the walls themselves, so we can set the front of the walls on fire when the siege towers arrive."
"They will stop in their tracks, or be burned," Tyrion said with a large smile, "I like you thinking, Semly. I will stay at the walls to ensure our plan is successful, you go down to the gates and strike down any Yunkai that might break through."
Some of Yunkai's siege towers were broken by the extra ammunition of Meereen's catapults, but ultimately Ser Barristan the troops finding ammunition to the gate. Thankfully, Ser Barristan's plan worked, the siege towers were stopped by the burning walls that now held them back. However, even Tyrion knew that the burning walls would only last so long. Tyrion had to use this time wisely and use Meereen's archers to kill as many men of Yunkai as possible before they broke the gates. Everywhere Tyrion looked, arrows were raining down upon the enemy, and the enemy dropped like flies.
However, his moment of raining destruction upon the enemy quickly ended when he heard a shout that the gates had fallen from bellow. Quickly he called for his men to fire at will at everyone who tried to break through the fallen gates. It was in the moment that as all of the armies of Yunkai charged forward into the gates of Meereen, Jorah Mormont appeared in the south with the Dothraki at full charge just before Ser Barristan's men were about to break at the overwhelming odds. Quickly the Dothraki fell upon the armies of Yunkai and the Yunkai lost heart as they were struck by Jorah from behind, Barristan in front, and Tyrion from above.
Again and again the Dothraki pushed forward into the Yunkish army and pulled back temporally before they drove back into the Yunkish army with ever greater force than before. Again and again, more of the Yunkai broke before them and fled in the confusion. However, soon the Yunkai grew wise to the attacks of Jorah and drew the majority of their spears against him and the Dothraki. The Yunkai were gaining the upper hand once again.
Tyrion watched as all of this played out before him. They were too outnumbered, even with the minor victories they were winning. If something did not change the tide of battle soon for Meereen, the Yunkai would probably have the city within an hour. Then Tyrion heard a horn blow in the west. He turned to right and saw a ship upon the shoreline. Despair fell upon Tyrion when he saw the ship, believing that Daenerys had lost, but then he heard a loud roar in response to the horn's call. Tyrion looked again, and he leapt for joy as he saw what he hoped for in his heart. Daenerys had returned. The tide of battle was turned in Meereen's favor.
The dragons swooped in rapidly and the Yunkish army fled in dismay before the wrath and might of Danny's dragon fire. Before long, the battle belonged to Daenerys and Meereen. A cheer roared from the city as the men of Yunkai fled before the dragon fire. Tyrion chuckled to himself as he thought about when Bron would tell him that ale and women would be a good thing after a battle. He definitely wanted such pleasures right now. He eyed the walls, a few more strikes, and the walls would have fallen. Danny's entry was timely, indeed.
However, the sweet plum of victory was cut short for Tyrion when Ser Barristan reminded him that they needed to take care of the dead. The grimness settled into Tyrion as he nodded his agreement. As Tyrion and Ser Barristan went outside the city walls, they were met by Daenerys, the Dothraki, and the new comers. The new comers held black banners with golden krakens upon them.
"Greyjoys," Tyrion and Ser Barristan growled, "Your Grace, what are they doing here?"
"They are here for diplomacy," Daenerys said.
"They are here for themselves," Tyrion said, "Have the Greyjoys fallen to the Iron Throne, or have they still declared themselves kings?"
"They have ships," Daenerys objected.
"They are pirates and cutthroats," Ser Barristan answered, "I do not trust them."
"And yet we are here," a man walk towards them said, "Cannot we have allegiance with the dragon queen?"
"That depends," Jorah called behind all of them, "are you here for her allegiance, or are you here for her dragons?"
"I am Victarion Greyjoy, offering Queen Daenerys Targaryen allegiance by marriage," Victarion said, "My brother is acting King of the Iron Islands, but I seek to change that. He is a damnable man, and he should not be king."
"I wouldn't trust a Greyjoy with marring Daenerys even if all the gods of the world told me otherwise," Ser Barristan exclaimed, "Besides, she is already married to Hizdahr zo Loraq."
"Not anymore," Jorah said grimly, "I found Hizdahr within the ranks of the Yunkish army. He was their mysterious general."
"I think it would be better if she decided who to wed herself, then" Victarion said smugly, "Besides, if I am not mistaken, your Grace needs ships. We of the Iron Islands have more than enough ships for you."
Daenerys looked between Victarion and Ser Barristan as they argued. Tyrion caught her eyes and gave her a concerned look. Tyrion had no love for the Greyjoys, but they did have ships, and ships were needed if Daenerys wanted to cross the sea to Westeros soon. Tyrion knew that Daenerys knew this, but at what price would it cost to trust the kraken?
"My queen," Tyrion said, breaking his silence, "might I have a word with you in private?"
The two walked away from the group a few hundred feet. It was nearing winter, but the sun still beat hot upon and the dessert winds went around them. Tyrion thought about what he was going to say. Daenerys needed allies, but the Greyjoys proved themselves treacherous time and again.
"Your Grace," Tyrion said quietly, "You must do as you choose, but I beg you, do not marry a Greyjoy. They may well kill you and take your dragons for themselves."
"I think you may be right," Daenerys said grimly, "After I destroyed all the warships of Qarth, the Greyjoys appeared and someone blew a strange horn as they approached me. My dragons seemed to be under a kind of trance, but they quickly shook it off. The man who blew the horn died after blowing it. Even I felt quieted by the horn. It was strange. However, I do need ships, and this man is offering me ships."
"And if Victarion dies, will you marry King Euron Greyjoy?" Tyrion asked, "Euron is not a man you should marry. He is not a man anyone should marry. They may one of the Great Houses of Westeros, but they are still pirates. A queen should not marry a pirate."
"I married a savage, once," Daenerys countered.
"Only because your brother forced you to," Tyrion said, "and yet you fell in love with him. I know this well. But what I say to you now I say simply because I serve you: 'Trust no one.'"
"You sound like Quaithe," Daenerys said with a smile, "She told me the same thing once. I know what I need to do, but I am not sure how to do it…."
'Who's Quaithe?' Tyrion thought, but shook his head.
"You will figure it out, your Grace," Tyrion said, "and you have help if along the way. Your servants are with you."
Daenerys smiled as they started to return to the others. Tyrion looked at the girl. She still seemed so young, yet so grown up. She had been through so much, and Tyrion only hoped that they would quickly sit her on the Iron Throne.
"Well," Victarion said with a smile, "May I have your answer, my fair queen?"
"Victarion Greyjoy," Daenerys said, "I desire to accept your terms for an alliance, but I cannot marry you. I trust my advisors. There must be another way."
Victarion's smile fell, but continued to hold Daenerys gaze.
"Then I would ask that you make me Lord of the Iron Islands, your Grace," Victarion said, "for my brother will go to war against you once he learns you have rejected his offer of marriage. He only desires kingship, it isn't something he should have, and I desire my vengeance against him for his crimes. However, I do ask that if I prove my loyalty to you, that you reconsider my request for marriage."
Daenerys simply nodded. Tyrion noted the look of sadness and confusion in her eyes. Things were going to get much worse before they got better.
"I will accept your terms, my lord," Daenerys said, "but right now I need ships to take me to Westeros."
"Yes, your Grace," Victarion said, "It will be a year, but we can have the finest ships available to you from the Iron Fleet."
"No," Daenerys said suddenly, gaining odd looks from everyone, "We cannot head to Westeros that way. We must go east."
"East?" Jorah asked, "Are you already intent on burning Qarth?"
"No, Ser Jorah," Daenerys said, "It is to Asshai that I must go."
"Why would you want to go to Asshai?" Ser Barristan, Tyrion, and Victarion asked.
"They have nothing for you there, your Grace," Ser Barristan said.
"Quaithe says there is truth in Asshai," Deanerys answered.
'Truth?' Tyrion thought, 'What kind of truth?'
"My lords and good sers," Tyrion said, "It may be a good idea to find out what this truth is. Truth is knowledge, and knowledge is power. Power that will give us an advantage against our enemies."
"But shouldn't we expect a trap?" Ser Barristan asked.
"We should always expect a trap," Tyrion answered, "It is the way of things. There is more than likely something in Asshai that will prove useful to us."
"Indeed, there is always something useful in Asshai," said the other man in the Greyjoy landing party, "If one from Asshai says that aid could be lent to Daenerys, I say go. The Lord of Light will protect us."
"And who are you to make such a claim?" Ser Barristan angrily asked.
"I too come from Asshai," the man said, "My name is Moqorro. My lord, Tyrion, I already know. If the Lord of Light wills us to go to Asshai, we shall go."
"But what of Westeros?" Ser Jorah and Victarion asked.
"The Lord of Light will lead you there," Moqorro said, "You have my word in this."
Tyrion watched as Daenerys' forehead creased with thought. His own thought turned towards home. As much as he would like to return as much as she did, Tyrion would follow her to the end if need be.
"Your Grace," Tyrion said, "If we go to Asshai, we cannot forsake your people. I believe diplomacy with Yunkai would be prudent. Demand that we will leave only if they supply us with enough ships to take us all away from Slaver's Bay."
Daenerys smiled and nodded towards Tyrion. Tyrion saw a new brightness in her eyes, a hope of being able to go home after this one task was finally complete.
"Send riders to Yunkai," Daenerys said, "Tell them that we will leave Slaver's Bay on the condition that enough ships and supplies are provided to me take my army and people with me. If the Yunkish do not comply, I will burn the Slaver's Bay to a point that no one will ever trade slaves here again. Not a single stone will be left standing, and every slaver will be burned alive."
Present Day…..
Tyrion watched his queen make her preparations to leave Meereen. After witnessing the Daenerys' dragons were once again fully under her control, the Yunkai quickly gave into her demands. Twenty five ships were given to Daenerys, ten large and fifteen small. More than enough to hold her armies and people. The Dothraki that she brought to Meereen with Drogon refused to follow her to Asshai, which was rather unfortunate, but she let them go. Asshai was a month or two away, but Tyrion knew that she wouldn't give up on her people. She would travel to Asshai as quickly as she could.
Tyrion planned out the trip with her, they would have to stop at Qarth first to resupply. Daenerys told him that Qarth would not welcome them on friendly terms, but Tyrion reminded her that she had both her dragons and a large army. If Qarth could not be taken by land, it could be taken be sea, and the size of her dragons now revitalized her belief that she could have success in Qarth. They had prepared for the journey all week, and Tyrion knew that the young girl had grown a little more in that one week.
"Is everything ready, my lord?" Daenerys asked.
"Everything is in place, your Grace," Tyrion replied, "We just require your orders to set sail."
"Lord Victarion," Daenerys called, "set sail."
"Aye, your Grace," Victarion said with a bow, "On to Asshai you sluggards!"
'Every step leads us closer to home,' Tyrion thought as Daenerys' fleet began its journey to Asshai.