A/N: I originally aimed for witty Tyrion but he did not cooperate and I wound up with bitter Tyrion instead. Oh well, at least you will see what he is thinking even if it is not the Tyrion I prefer. I mentioned I messed up the Essos timeline. I wanted to write this as it happened rather than have characters thinking back on the events but don't panic and think they are only in Volantis now. I messed up and these events happened months before those in chapter 66. Dany's chapter (chapter 50) should have been included much earlier too. Think of them as very close to Westeros now. It has been difficult trying to keep all the storylines organised and I dropped the ball a little on this one.

Chapter 67: Tyrion

The fleet closed in on Volantis, approaching the city via the river. Tyrion could appreciate the view better this time around given that his limbs were not bound with tightly knotted rope. He still lacked freedom in a sense but he found on this occasion he did not mind.

Nobody here likes me and they do not trust me but at least I will not be fodder for the dragons.

The Volantenes were hiding behind their high walls as though they thought that might save them. The triarchs knew they were coming and they knew what it meant. They had sent a fleet to kill Daenerys and her supporters. When that failed, an assassin made an attempt on her life when they docked in Tolos. The welcome there had been as unfriendly as expected and parts of the city had burned before they left.

Victarion Greyjoy took a morbid amount of pleasure in the sacking of cities. Tyrion saw it in Meereen and it was the same in Tolos. The man looked to be salivating at the thought of looting Volantis. It could be heard in his voice as he gave the commands to the captains of the other ships.

The silver queen was somewhat less exuberant at the thought of assaulting the city. As the ships dropped anchor and the time drew near her beautiful face wore a hard expression. She was unflinching even as Jorah Mormont spoke in her ear in a low voice. For a moment Tyrion almost felt sorry for the Volantenes. The wrath of the dragon queen would not be allayed.

"We will take this city" she declared.

Tyrion thought her even more beautiful in her anger. She was still a naïve girl in many ways but that seemed to add to her charm to most of the men around her. She did not like him and he did not like her but they used each other and it suited him. I don't have to like her to want to fuck her. He was not alone in that thought.

"Are you ready to see war, my friend?"

Tyrion started at the booming voice of Moqorro. The red priest was not his friend any more than anybody else on these ships.

"Ready to see it from far, far away" he replied in his most agreeable voice.

Moqorro laughed at that. Dany blew her horn and the terrible sound of it filled the air. Tyrion covered his ears but it did him little good. He watched as Drogon responded, looking as docile as a monstrous dragon could be as the mother of dragons climbed onto his back. Tyrion still found him fascinating even though he dared not get close without Dany being there. Drogon set one red eye in Tyrion's direction and his wings flapped as he took off, making a sound like thunder.

It had been decided that no messengers were to be sent from their fleet. Instead, Dany was going to use Drogon as her announcement. Tyrion watched her fly the dragon high above the city, wheeling around in an arc through the air. Even from a distance Tyrion saw failed attempts to bring Drogon down. The dragon was too far away for arrows or crossbow bolts to reach him. Drogon called to his brothers and Tyrion held his breath. The other dragons had just been fed and thankfully did little to respond. They did not want a repeat of Meereen.

The show was fairly brief and Dany looked tense as she dismounted.

"Now we wait."

Tyrion still thought messengers should be sent but Dany did not want any of her people sacrificed. Tyrion had no doubt they would be killed but he also knew that it looked like a mummer's farce to fly a dragon over a city at a safe distance from attack. If the triarchs were to learn of the dragon queen's reluctance to use them they would exploit it.

Hours passed before anything was heard. A plume of smoke rose into the air, becoming larger with time until the whole horizon was filled with it. Those gathered on the ships and docks murmured amongst themselves, wondering what it meant. Tyrion shot a look at Moqorro and suspected he already knew. The gates to the city began to creak.

"It has begun" the red priest announced.

Tyrion recalled his time walking through the plaza past the red temple in Volantis. Benerro was preaching about Daenerys and the prophecy. The Fiery Hand, the Lord of Light's sacred soldiers were a thousand strong and their followers looked close to riot even then. He remembered once more the riot in King's Landing on the day Myrcella sailed for Dorne. That would pale in comparison with a riot in Volantis.

"They know she is here" Moqorro pronounced as the gates gave way. "They know that she has come to free them. R'hllor's worshippers have been waiting for her."

Tyrion had his doubts about the prophecy. He did not doubt that the silver queen wanted to save everybody but whether she could actually do it was quite another matter. He had tried to counsel her but when it was hard truth she often did not want to listen. Meereen was a case in point. The people did not want her. Those who called her mother saw her as their saviour but to the rest she was an oppressor. She liked to call Robert, Joffrey and Tommen usurpers but in Essos the sad truth of it was that she was the usurper. They saw her rule as trampling on their long held traditions, that she exceeded her authority and did not listen to them. Her beliefs and ideals were not their own.

Tyrion had told her so once and her anger had been terrible.

"How dare you call me usurper?"

It had taken her days to cool off and she was still chilly in her courtesy to him for some time afterwards. He knew that he might have saved himself most of her wrath if he had guarded his tongue more wisely but Tyrion never seemed to learn.

One of these days my head really will end up on a spike.

She did eventually see reason but only to a certain point. The Harpy helped drive it home once it became clear that there was no one "Harpy" but a pervasive group growing in numbers by the day who wanted her gone. Meereen did not appreciate her but Dany was determined it would be different elsewhere. Moqorro filled her head with stories of the Volantenes waiting for her and Tyrion tried to temper that. The dragon queen assured him she was no fool but still he saw how she softened at the thought of the slaves calling out for her.

They will eat her alive in Westeros. As long as my sweet sister dies a painful death first I'm not sure I care.

He still tried to counsel her though. She was not unkind to him for all her distrust. Tyrion had experienced much worse in Westeros. He supposed he really should be thankful she did not snick his head off. It was too much to expect to be loved. A little appreciation might have been nice though.

The unsullied were given the command to go forth into the city. The ironborn were also unleashed with strict orders not to harm the slaves or to rape and pillage. Tyrion fought the urge to snort.

Fat lot of good that will do.

The same order had been given in Tolos and Tyrion had cringed at the number who were gelded as punishment afterwards. Victarion stood watching with cold, angry eyes. The ironborn saw women as the spoils of war and did not take kindly to being told that would not do. If not for the dragons Tyrion expected there would have been a revolt then and there. He still watched Victarion closely. The man had an agenda and it involved more than simply unseating his brother from the Seastone Chair, Tyrion was sure of that.

Still, the reavers would have learned some lesson from Tolos even if they did seethe with resentment. Tyrion watched as the men marched forth into the city, Ser Barristan and his knights riding with them. The battle raged for a time before Daenerys finally flew Drogon over the city once more. Dragonflame rained down and Tyrion waited for her return. Viserion and Rhaegal were stirring and there was unrest at the docks.

The black dragon wheeled around back towards the fleet. Tyrion would know by her face whether the result was what she hoped for or whether it was another catastrophe. As she dismounted her face was flushed with triumph.

"They are yielding."

Tyrion raised an eyebrow. "How many did Drogon roast to achieve that?"

She flushed and he was not sure whether it was anger or shame from the past. "He didn't. He set fire to the tigers and their weaponry."

Tyrion made a tsking noise. "I hope you are right."

She bristled and shot a glance at those listening. "You do not question me. It was necessary. They must know I am the blood of the dragon and ..."

"Yes, yes your grace" Tyrion interjected. "Fire and blood."

The queen frowned at him. "You were the one who said I must not be seen to be afraid of using the dragons."

"I did" he agreed.

She lifted her chin proudly. "Using Drogon shortened this battle considerably."

"I'm sure you are right" he replied.

Her gaze cut through him and he tilted his head to look at her. He knew he was pushing her but he could not help feeling bruised that she did not seek his counsel on the plan of attack. Tyrion's strength was his mind and he did not like feeling worthless. The dragons kept him by her side not that I have a choice but he wanted more than that. He craved that feeling he had as Hand in Kings Landing.

She listens to Mormont too much.

The knight still disliked Tyrion and his distrust did not help matters. Daenerys did seek Tyrion's counsel but she did it more as last resort. He heard her whispering of treasons and betrayal. If her other advisors did not agree with Tyrion he could be sure there was a good chance she would ignore him. He had his lord father to thank for that he supposed. That and the fact I killed him.

She was right this time though. The remaining foes were brought out in the chains that their slaves once wore. Tyrion waddled into the city rather cautiously amid adulation for the dragon queen and cries of "Daenerys" all around him. The red temple had been damaged in the fighting and some of the worshippers were weeping over it.

Tyrion left Dany to her new admirers. It was knowledge he was most interested in. He noted with interest that Ser Jorah had managed to tear himself away from the object of his unwanted affections and was of a similar mind. It was a long walk and after all the time spent on a ship with little exercise Tyrion's legs began to ache. He persisted though, crossing the Long Bridge and passing freed slaves, unsullied and ironborn standing over the corpses of the fallen until he reached the Merchant's House.

Tyrion knew it was possible that he might have found out what he wanted in the plaza but he was not interested in possible. The sailors frequenting the Merchant's House made it certain Tyrion could learn of Westeros. The unsullied stood to attention having clearly secured the building, They did not react as Tyrion and Mormont passed.

Tyrion managed to procure ale and sat at a table in the common room, eyeing the rather wary looking traders and sailors seated at the other tables. Mormont sat across from him looking rather impatient. It did not take long for the talk between the men to resume. Little time passed before some of them even became bold enough to approach.

They want to know what the dragon queen plans to do with them.

Mormont quickly established with them that Daenerys had no interest in executing sailors and merchants, particularly those with no part in the slave trade. The subject was steered onto news of Westeros. One of the sailors was Westerosi and very forthcoming.

"Queen Myrcella is facing all sorts of troubles."

Tyrion cocked his head to the side. "Myrcella?" he asked. "What of Tommen?"

"He died. They say he was trampled by his horse."

Tyrion could not help feeling a slight pang. Tommen was a sweet child. He hardened himself against it immediately. Dead children are no more than my sweet sister deserves. The man informed them that Cersei was still Regent but Jaime was missing. That was most interesting.

"What other troubles?" he pressed.

"Prince Aegon commands the allegiance of the Stormlands and most of the Reach. Just before we set sail he brokered an alliance with the North."

Tyrion began to feel a growing sense of glee. Griff clearly knows what he is doing. The news of the North was curious. He wondered what Cersei had done to get the Boltons offside.

"What role are the Northerners playing?"

The sailor laughed a booming laugh. "The wolf girl took back Winterfell and declared the Lannisters to be butchers and murderers. There are reports that the Boltons and their men have been executed."

Tyrion's glee was beginning to curdle.

"What wolf girl?" Mormont asked and Tyrion waited for the answer.

"Lord Stark's daughter. Her father was executed for treason but she is calling it murder."

Tyrion continued to prod the man for information on the alliance but he did not enjoy the answers. Winterfell's daughter spent time at Storm's End as a guest under protection of Prince Aegon before taking back Winterfell. The sailor returned to his companions after hearing from Mormont that Daenerys would not harm them and that they could be on their way as soon as the city was completely secured.

When they were alone Mormont studied him. "You look like you ate something which does not agree with you."

Tyrion's mouth twisted. He had let Daenerys and her people think he had killed Joffrey. Everybody thought he did it so he did not try to deny it anymore. It was easier to just embrace it and Tyrion had embraced his hate. This news however had dredged up demons for him.

"It seems my lady wife has allied herself with Prince Aegon."

Mormont laughed darkly. "Starks are all about their honour. Does it surprise you after what your nephew did to her father?"

Mormont would not understand and Tyrion had no intention of enlightening him. Sansa's disappearance following Joffrey's death still rankled him. Tyrion did not blame her for killing Joffrey. He did blame her for leaving him to take the blame. He had not been fool enough to think she bore any love for him but he had not treated her ill.

I could not even make her smile but I tried. Now she labels all Lannisters as murderers.

Sansa must have changed to be accusing Cersei outright of murder. Tyrion still remembered the girl hiding behind her courtesies. He supposed escaping King's Landing had removed the need for pretence. Her accusations will bring more than the North to Aegon's side if they are clever. The Prince surely would not hold them against her. Tyrion thought of Aegon and wondered what might have been if Mormont had not captured him in the brothel in Selhorys.

Dorne must be with him too.

His musings were cut short by the screech of Viserion in the distance. Tyion had spent enough time around them to recognise their different sounds. They truly were remarkable creatures. No matter what had passed, the chance to see dragons in the flesh was worth it. It was something Tyrion dreamed of as a child. Still, he could not help his thoughts wandering to Cersei. The kingdoms were turning on her and he was not there to see it.

We need to get to Westeros.

Tyrion wanted his sister dead but he wanted to be there for it. If Sansa and Aegon were able to bring about her downfall that was all well and good but Tyrion wanted Cersei to know he was with the dragons. He wanted his vengeance. He wanted to repay her for her hate and he wanted to see her end for what she had done to him, her and Jaime both.

A Lannister pays his debts.

A/N2: One clarification in case it is not clear: Tyrion thinks Arya is dead.

I have changed my mind on chapter order. I said on both tumblr and here that I planned a Dornish chapter next. I have changed my mind. I'm going to write them in a different order so Sansa will be next. The Dornish one can wait a bit and it makes sense to check in with Sansa now after Tyrion has raised the subject here :-)

I may post a teaser on tumblr in the next day or two. I'm quite looking forward to this Sansa chapter for certain reasons and the intro should be rather illuminating for... reasons.