Chapter 20. The Black Wolf and the Dragon

Daenerys Targaryen is the only surviving child of King Aerys II Targaryen, who was ousted from the Iron Throne during Robert's Rebellion. Daenerys's mother was sent to safety on Dragonstone island, just before the Sack of King's Landing, and died giving birth to her during a great storm which wrecked the remaining Targaryen fleet at anchor, earning her the sobriquet Daenerys Stormborn. She lives in exile in Essos. Daenerys was sold into marriage to the Dothraki Khal Drogo; the two gradually fell in love, but she lost her husband and unborn son to the manipulations of the vengeful maegi Mirri Maz Duur. Her marriage to Drogo and subsequent interaction with the Dothraki people gives her the confidence and strength to lead and the belief in herself as the rightful queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Following the death of her brother Viserys, Daenerys was left as the last Targaryen, and intends to claim the Iron Throne as her birthright. She formally styles herself as Queen Daenerys of House Targaryen, First of Her Name.

Daenerys suffered many hardships after the death of her husband Khal Drago. But with death came life in the form of three Dragons that were born when the eggs she was given hatched in the fire she burned herself, Drago, and a witch who betrayed her. She and her loyal Dothraki of 112 people traveled the red waste until they came upon the city of Quarth. They were welcomed in thanks to Xaro Xhan Daxos, but envy and intrigue followed Daenerys when Xaro betrayed her and her Dragons were stolen by the Acolytes of the House of the Undying.

Daenarys and her Dragons freed themselves from Pyat, then Dany with her Dragons and her Dothraki took over the city of Quarth. Dany imposed her will on the people and freed the slaves of Quarth. Then she sales to Astapor where she meets Barristan Selmy who saves Daenerys' life from a mage assassin. He swears fealty to her and becomes the first member of her Queen's Guard and an advisor. Dany makes a deal with the slave masters of Astapor, her largest Dragon for 8,000 unsullied warriors. The deal is made but when Dany is given control of the Unsullied she turns her warriors on the slave masters of Astapor and sacks the city declaring herself its Queen.

Then she marches on Yunkai where Daario Naharis swears fealty to after killing his comrades and assuming command of 2,000 warriors. The city of Yunkai is taken, the third in Daenerys' conquest of the East. Then she marches on Mereen and takes the city in just a few short days. Because of her conquests the remaining free cities send emissaries to Braavos where they collect gold to build an army to march against Daenarys.

Mereen

"I saw the army with my own eyes…" Illyrio Mopatis says in a large room that Dany uses as a council room. "My Queen it would be best if you sailed now to an Island of the Crown Lands in the west where men and women are still loyal to House Targaryen…"

Dany looks at Jorah, "Can we win this war?"

Jorah sighs, "With the right strategy milady…But if they attack the harbor and the main gate…"

She looks at Selmy, "We should leave…"

Dany looks at Grey Worm, "What do you say to all this?" she asks in Dothraki.

"The Unsullied do not fear numbers…We will fight if you command us my Queen…"

She looks at Daario, "And you! What do you advise fight or stay…"

Daario smiles, "I have been outnumbered before…" He looks at Jorah and Selmy, "I am sure we can come up with a strategy to defeat this army…"

Dany looks at Missandei, "We stay and fight…"

Braavos

The city is bustling with activity as refugees flee to Braavos from Daenarys' horde. With an influx of new people crime has gone up and the Masters of Braavos have hired more swords to patrol the streets. "You think he will help us?" Victor asks following Justin through the streets.

"We are about to find out aren't we…" They stop at the door to a large marble mansion and knock. A man in a servants tunic answers the door, "Justin Stark and Vitcor Brace to see Lord Tybor Krax…"

Krax sat on a throne made of human bones. The bones of all the men he defeated in battle. "By the red god!" He says when his Herald announces them, "Justin Stark and Victor Brace…" They bow. "Don't bow to me you rogues…" They interlock arms and hug each other.

"We need your help…"

Krax narrows his eyes, "You mean my army…I have eyes and ears even across the sea in Westeros Justin Stark…I heard how the two of you aided the North against the Iron Throne…I only have one question…Why in the seven hells wasn't I invited…"

"I don't think my cousin or his allies would appreciate you boiling your captives alive to claim their bones…"

He smiles, "Westerners always had a soft stomach…So you going to march against the armies of the free cities for the Dragon Queen?"

"Yes!" Justin replies, "Will you fight with us?"

"Of course…I revere Dragons you know that…Be damned if I pass up the chance to meet one…"

With Tybor's help Justin now had an army 105,000 men, 30,000 fought for Justin and Tybor had an army 75,000 strong.

Mereen

Daario rides his horse toward the city and the gates open to him as he approaches. "Did you see them?" Dany asks as he jumps off his horse and is given water.

Daario downs the goblet of water and asks for more, "Yes…220,000 strong…Tybor Krax does not march with them and we have that to be grateful for…"

"Why?" Jorah asks.

"Tybor takes his prisoners and boil them alive to collect their bones…They call him the King of Bones…"

"How long before they reach the city?" Selmy asks.

"Three more days…"

It was the longest three days Dany had ever experienced. It was like waiting for Khal Drago the first night they got married. All the preparations had been made and the Unsullied stood before the gates with the Second sons on the wall with long bows. A horn sounded in the distance and the rhythmic sound of a marching army approached the main gates. Dany looks at Jorah as they gaze upon the massive forces of the free cities.

"Shall we offer terms?" A captain asked to the General.

"No! I want this done with…Send in the first wave…"

The Captain looks to his right and the man holds up a flag. A thunderous cheer arises as 50,000 men on foot storm the Unsullied before the main gates. Arrows rain down on the attackers killing men by the hundreds. The Unsullied strike with the years of training they received from their masters. Enemy troops fall by the dozens to each Unsullied on the front lines.

The General sneers as the front line falters before the gates, "Archers and second wave! Full attack…" Another 50,000 men join their comrades in battle, but the Unsullied hold their own. For every one Unsullied that falls 30 had died to that man.

"I should be down there…" Selmy says.

Dany looks at him, "Your place is at my side…"

Justin's army

A scout rides up to Justin, Victor, and Tybor, "My lords! The battle has begun…The free armies have lost over 31, 000 men…The Dragon Queen has lost 400 Unsullied…"

"Sound the horn we ride all the way…" Justin commanded. His entire army was on horse back.

Mereen

The General pulled his men away to count the dead. The sun was setting and he had his men put the catapults in place to bombard the main gates. Dany looks at Daario, Grey Worm, and Jorah, "We need to take out those catapults…"

Grey Worm salutes, "This one need 100 men and we destroy catapults…Mother of Dragons!"

"Your majesty it is time we leave the parapet…" Selmy says.

An hour later the first bombardment starts. Flaming jars of pitch are launched at the wall and main gate. "What about my sea forces?"

"They should arrive at sunrise tomorrow my general…"

"I retire for the night…keep up the attack…"

Grey Worm, Jorah, and Daario sneak out of the city with a hundred Unsullied and cross the plains toward the enemy front lines. A single soldier spots them, but before he can raise the alarm Daario shoots him in the head. They close the distance and set the catapults on fire. They kill the men manning them, but as they escape Jorah and fifteen Unsullied are captured.

Sunrise and all is quiet but not in the camp of the free armies, "Why in the hell didn't you wake me?" The General demanded.

"We did catch sixteen of them…One of them is a westerner…And a top advisor to the Dragon Queen…"

"Take his head at the front of the army for the Dragon bitch to see…"

Dany stands on the parapet with Selmy, Grey Worm, Daario and her guard watching as they drag Jorah to the front. As the executioner raises his sword a horn sounds from the north and a massive force on horseback attacks the free armies.

"That is the sigil of House Stark…" Selmy says as a rider kills the executioner. The Unsullied and the second sons join the battle. As the day wares on the free armies try to retreat, but Justin has them ridden down.

With the Unsullied behind her Dany along with Barristan Selmy, Grey Worm, and Daario go to meet with Justin and his allied commanders. They all drop to one knee, "I don't see any Dragons…" Tybor whispers.

"Arise and identify yourselves…" She commands.

When Justin looks upon Daenarys his heart skips a beat and his cock swells to match the desire in his heart. "Justin Stark milady…With me are my sword brothers…Victor Brace and Tybor Krax…"

"I thank you for your aid…But I have heard…The Starks have created their own kingdom in the North across the sea…"

"Yes, but we seek an alliance against Stannis Baratheon who seeks to start a new war with my King's House…With our combined strength we can crush him in a day…No one else needs suffer…"

"There is only one true ruler…" Jorah says.

"Is there somewhere we can talk?"

Council Chambers

"My cousin the King is expecting his first child with his wife…Whenever you take a husband your children can marry when they come of age…"

Dany looks at Selmy who shakes his head yes, Jorah whispers against an alliance with the Starks. Grey Worm advices that she should follow what is in her heart as she has always done. "If the Queen allies herself with the King in the North…Will the Starks help her with the conquest of the East…" Daario asks.

Justin smiles at Daenarys, "My family does not believe in slavery…" He takes a quick glance at Jorah who was banished for dealing in slaves. "If you mean to conquer the east you will have an Empire greater than any Targaryen that came before you…"

Dany sighs, "What of Houses Martell and Tyrell?"

"They support him out of fear and necessity…When you return to Westeros they will follow a true Queen…"

"Leave us I wish to speak with Lord Stark alone…" She waited until they were gone, "I see the way you look at me…"

Justin smiles, "And how do I look at you?"

"As if I am something to eat…"

"You are a beautiful woman…If there are no other suitors perhaps we can get to know each other…"

"And what do you want to know?"

"What is your favorite flower…What makes you smile…What do you look like naked…Things like that…"

"I hate flowers! Most of my life has been sorrow and pain…I lost my first love…and my unborn child Rhaego…"

"And you have grown stronger…Breaker of Chains…" She smiles, "Ah pride in your good deeds make you smile…I will have to remind you of your accomplishments more often…"

"I look great naked…" Dany says playfully.

Two Weeks Later

Jorah stands by jealously as Dany is walked down the path in the garden by Barristan Selmy. Justin smiles as he places his cloak on her back. Then they speak the words and seal the alliance with a marriage and a night of passionate sex. A week later Dany and Justin sail for Westeros leaving Victor in Mereen to rule in her name as they plan to return to Essos and conquer it.