Chapter 29. DAENARYS TARGARYEN
Part 1. FEALTY
Daenarys Targaryen is the last surviving member of her house. Her family slaughtered during Robert's rebellion. During her birth a storm raged around Dragonstone and so she was nicknamed Stormborn. Often referred to as Dany Daenarys traveled with her brother Viserys to Pentos and lived in exile for the next few years under the protection of Magister Illyro. When she came of age Viserys through Illyro made a marriage deal with the Dothraki Warlord Khal Drogo.
Over time Dany and Drogo come to love each other. And the Dothraki people came to love Daenarys. Viserys became jealous and impatient as Drogo promised to help Viserys take the Iron Throne. In the city of Vaes Dothraki Viserys threatens his sister and her unborn child. So Drogo melts a belt of gold and gives him the crown he was promised. Later after an assassination attempt Drogo gathers his armies to sail across the sea and take the Iron Throne.
Tragedy befalls Dany when Drogo falls ill and is cursed by a mage's trick she trusted. The Dothraki abandon her except for a few loyal followers a hundred and nine. Daenarys places Drogo on a funeral pyre along with the mage and the petrified Dragon eggs. As the pyre burns she walks into the fire and emerges unharmed with three baby Dragons clinging to her body.
Dany and her Khalaasar are forced to wonder the red waste to avoid other Dothraki. Eventually they come to the city of Qarth where Dany's troubles multiply. Her Dragons are taken by the local mages and she herself is trapped in the tower of the undying. But she and her Dragons kill the head master and leave. The take over the city after a failed cue by Xaro Xhoan Daxos. They sail to Astapor to broker a deal with Kraznys mo Nakloz for the Unsullied army. While in Astapor a witch child tries to kill Dany but she is saved by Barristan Selmy who pledges his loyalty to her. She trades her Dragon Drogon for the army and then turns on the Slave Masters of Astapor.
From Astapor Daenarys marches her army to Yunkai where she gains an ally in Daario Naharis and his army. With each new conquest her army grows and she frees the slaves of each city. In Meereen Dany is called Mysha by the slaves she frees. It is in Meereen that Daenarys decides to remain and learn how to rule and be a Queen. Daenarys' rule is disrupted by the Sons of the Harpy who have been killing her Unsullied. After a decision to punish a man for murder the slaves turn on her and Dany is attacked.
That night as Daenarys sleeps she dreams of a tall strong woman holding her hand as they stand before the Dragons Rhaegal and Viserion. The Dragons bathe both women in fire. The next day Daario Naharis returns to Meereen. He had been sent to Yunkai to put down a rebellion. He is distressed to learn what happened to Dany and vows to seek out the Sons of the Harpy.
As Dany is holding court a man whispers into Grey Worm's ear, "My Queen and army approaches the city baring your sigil…"
Daenarys, Missandei, Daario, Barristan Selmy, and Grey Worm go the wall and look upon an army 50,000 strong bearing two sigils one is the Targaryen sigil and the other is snake wrapped around a sword. "The first sigil is mine, but I do not recognize the second…"
"I do!" Selmy says speaking up, "I saw it at Robert Baratheon's tourney in honor of his new Hand…It is the sigil of Tara Clegane…"
Everyone gathered listens to Selmy as he tells of Tara's exploits, "I have heard of her…Life time Champion of the fighting pits…The Amazon they call her…I saw her fight in pits once…" Daario says.
"Find out what she wants…" Dany commands.
Selmy and Daario take ten unsullied and exit through the main gates. As they approach Tara urges her horse forward with Eagen, Sandor, and Ackbar at her side. "Lord Selmy a pleasure to see you again…" Tara says.
"And you…though more of a surprise…This Daario Naharis one of the Queen's commanders…What brings you and this army to Meereen?"
"I wish to serve the mother of Dragons…If she accepts my service I will give her all the cities I have conquered…Braavos, Pentos, Myr, Volantis…All the remaining Free Cities…"
"And what do you want in return?" Daario asks causing Selmy to look at him..
"Wardenship of the Stormlands when she invades Westeros…"
"And if she refuses?" Selmy asks returning his attention to Tara
"I will return to Braavos and rule what I have conquered…"
"You were sworn to House Stark what happened?"
"I will share that only with the Queen…"
"We shall signal you from the ramparts…A raised thumb means you and ten of your men may approach…Thumbs down…Leave!"
As Selmy rides off Tara looks at Sandor, "Here we go." Sandor says.
Tara watches and waits. After twenty minutes she spots Selmy and Daario speaking with Daenarys. She takes a deep breath as Selmy looks her way and raises his thumb. When Tara stands before Daenarys she bows. "I am told you wish to swear fealty to me…Why should I accept this when you swore an oath to the Starks?" Dany fidgets inside recognizing Tara from her vision like dream.
"I am no longer sworn to King Robb Stark of the North…" She pushes her emotions down as her regrets come boiling to surface again, "I kept a secret from him that cost him deeply…" Tara explains what happened.
"How do I know you won't do the same to me?" That is when Selmy whispers into her ear.
"Your majesty…" Tara pauses to reflect on to say, "…I did what I felt was necessary to protect my former King…I regret my actions. The lesson has been learned and I am not one to repeat the same mistake twice…"
"If I were to accept you and invade Westeros would you turn sword on Robb Stark and his family?"
She sighs, "If you commanded me so then yes…but I hope you would heed my advice and make a marriage alliance with the Starks. His Queen is carrying their first child…The people of Westeros have suffered enough war…"
"Unless Stannis surrenders the crown there will be war…"
Daenarys accepts Tara'a oath of fealty and vows to make her Warden of the Stormlands. Sh eis angry to find Jorah Mormont with Tara, but Tara convinces her not to waste his skills and allow Jorah to fight under her command. She agrees so long as Jorah stays out of her presence. Tyrion is promised Wardenship of the West in exchange for his loyalty. And finally Varys is made a councilor to Dany. Tara immediately gets to work with Sandor, Eagen, Akbar, Daario, GreyWorm, Selmy, and Brienne hunting down the Sons of the Harpy and restoring order to Meereen.
Part 2. SISTERS OF FIRE
"You should consider learning to use the bow, quarterstaff, and short sword…" Tara says two months after cleansing the city of the Sons of the Harpy. She had just finished giving her report on the status of Dany's army.
"I don't know."
"Your ancestors were warriors…Aegon the Conqueror's sister wives were warriors…"
Dany agrees and the next day at sunrise Tara teaches Dany the bow. To inspire her she has her practice alongside Arya who takes great pleasure in showing up the Queen. She even splits one of Dany's arrows. As the hours pass Dany's skills improve by leaps and bounds. By the end of the day the Mother of Dragons can shoot two arrows at once and go mark for mark with Arya.
"That is enough for today…"
Dany shoots one more arrow, "But it has only been an hour!" She says in protest.
"I know…You have quick reflexes and skills so let's move on to the quarterstaff…" This time Daenarys spars with Gendry. He is good with the staff but not as good as Tara or Arya. By noon Dany is able to land a few good licks on Gendry. By sunset the next day she is able to hold her own against Tara.
"Tell me about Gendry…" Dany asks wiping the sweat from her body..
"He is actually Robert Baratheon's bastard and I was wondering if you would legitimize him…"
That evening Dany invited Gendry to dine with her. She informs him of her plan to legitimize him. "I don't know what to say…"
"Say yes…"
"Yes thank you…"
"Do you have any love interests…"
Gendry thinks about Tara, but her affections have been directed more towards Akbar. "No not really…"
She smiles interesting. After dinner she takes Gendry to her bed, "But you are the Queen and I am…"
"The son of a King!"
"A bastard!"
She starts fondling his cock, "Did you know that the Baratheons have Targaryen blood flowing in their veins."
He is breathing heavy getting aroused, "I didn't know that…" He replies grabbing her breasts.
Daenarys marries Gendry Baratheon two months later. Though as Queen she keeps her name Targaryen and is Daenarys Targaryen of Baratheon. During those months she kept up her training and had more and more visions about blood and fire.
"A Dothraki army is marching on the city led by Khal Jhaqo…" Selmy reports to Daenarys who sits on her throne with Gendry standing beside her.
"Let me handle this Khal Jhaqo…But I will need full autonomy my Queen…"
"What will you do?"
"Challenge him to single combat for control his army or your hand…"
"I am already married!" Dany replies with a tone.
Tara smiles, "I will not lose…"
"Force him to submit I want him alive…"
As over 20,000 riders of Khal Jhaqo's Khalasar form ranks before the gates of Meereen Daenarys and her entourage appear on the wall. The gates open and out rides Tara on a black stallion. The Dothraki laughs as she approaches, "M'athchomaroon!" Tara says in Dothraki both silencing their laughter and shocking them. "Volas ni Tara Vinsu Mysta Daenarys Targaryen…Sun Khalvos'…Fight me Khal Jhaqo in single combat…If I defeat you your Khalasar will be mine to command…If you kill me the Queen will become your wife…"
"Niez Dacaur…"
The Khalasar chant Jhaqo's name as they make a wall of riders on each side. Jhaqo and Tara charge each other from the opposite sides. Their swords clash as their horses trot around each other. Tara manages to slash him on the ribs, drawing first blood. Jhaqo stabs her horse sending Tara to her back. She rolls away as not to be pinned under the horse. The Khalasar chant louder as they sense victory.
Tara rolls forward and grabs the horse by the reigns then she punches Jhaqo's horse knocking it out. She backs away allowing Jhaqo to get to his feet. "WITCH!" He screams charging her. They swords clash in a back and forth struggle. She spins around him grabbing his braid and cuts it off. Then she holds it high for all the Khalasar to see. He charges her angry as the only time a Dothraki cuts his braid is when they lose a fight. They lock swords and Tara shoves Jhaqo who is just as tall as she is onto his unconscious horse's back first. Tara raises her sword and rolls sideways. Blood splatters everywhere as Jhaqo swings sideways. Tara places her hands on the horse and cartwheels onto the horse's side. Then she kicks him in the face.
As Jhaqo stumbles backwards Tara performs a flying kick and hits him in the chest. When he hits his back Tara knocks his sword from his hand and kicks him in the balls. Then she breaks his knee, "YEILD!" She screams in Dothraki. She stabs him in the shoulder, "SAY IT! YEILD!"
"I…YEILD!"
Tara looks at the Dothraki riders. They dismount their horses and chant, "KHALEESI!"
"You did well…" Daenarys says to Tara a few days later.
"Thank you my Queen…"
"Come with me…I have a gift for you…" Dany leads Tara to the catacombs where her Dragons Rhaegal and Viserion. Gendry is with them and Jhaqo as well who is chained up. Two unsullied force Jhaqo to his knees after the door to the catacombs is opened. "No matter what happens the two of you hold on to my hands.
"Why are we down here?" Gendry asks in fear.
"Put fear from your mind and think on me…" There is a growl and then the two Dragons appear from the darkness. They roar at Daenarys. Gendry tries to run but Dany squeezes his hand. "Think about me and do not run!" She stares at the Dragons, "Blood and Fire!" She says in old Valyrian. "By Blood and Fire…Dracarys!" The two Dragons look at each other then at Dany. They open their mouths and bathe all four in flames. Both Gendry and Tara add their cries to that of Jhaqo's.
When the fires die down Daenarys stands in between two piles of ash. Jhaqo's body is a burnt corpse. Daenarys is naked as the Dragons sniff the ashes. Then Tara emerges from the pile of a ashes with a streak of white in her black hair. Gendry emerges next and his hair is the same color as Dany's. Both Tara and Gendry are naked. Tara hugs Dany then she looks at the Dragon Rhaegal.
When they emerge from the Catacombs Viserion follows behind Gendry. Drogon is waiting for Dany and allows her to mount him. Then Tara exits the catacombs with Rhaegal and together all three fly up and around the city.