A/N: It has been too long since I wrote Dany, I feel as though I'm rusty with characterisation. Hopefully it is not too far off. I will also mention that I have changed my username on tumblr, it is now asongofviceandire if anybody wants to check out the blog.

Chapter 85: Daenerys

Dany watched her dragons flying overhead as the harbour of Lannisport came into view. She had thought to gentle them a little when she returned to Meereen but there was never the time and they gave her little opportunity when she tried. They are dragons, taming them was never going to be easy. Still she worried about them. Drogon was under her control now but Viserion and Rhaegal continued to grow and together they made much mischief.

Fire and Blood are the words of my House but the blood they shed must be by my choice.

Tyrion Lannister stood on the deck nearby. He was watching as the harbour drew closer and it seemed his mismatched eyes gleamed. This is his home. They had spoken of the plan for taking Casterly Rock and it seemed sound. There was no need to use dragons this time. There would be no needless death.

These are my people, Westeros is my home.

It all looked so foreign though. Dany only knew what she had been told and the accounts differed from person to person. She knew a little more than she had before and the men in Oldtown had told her some more. She now knew Arya Stark led the Northmen, not Sansa Stark as Tyrion assumed. The dwarf had laughed to the point where she wondered if he might be having some kind of fit. Dany failed to see the funny side. The girl claimed half of Westeros with her crown, there were rumours of sorcery and Aegon reportedly wanted to bed her. After Mirri Maz Duur, Dany hated sorcery. When she spoke of the rumours, Tyrion made a rude noise.

"They said the same about her brother before my father plotted with Walder Frey to have him killed at his uncle's wedding. I heard all kinds of nonsense about him being a warg and his men turning into wolves. Men will make up stories to explain why they suffer numerous defeats and when the army is led by a young woman..." he gave her a knowing look. "I know I do not need to tell you about that Your Grace. I had dealings with the Starks, they are prickly where their honour is concerned but they are men just like us."

Ser Jorah frowned at that and Tyrion grinned and looked down at himself and up at the dragons. "Yes, not quite like us but you know what I mean."

"Rumours don't explain the Northern crown," Dany pointed out. "Aegon gave it to her."

My brother crowned a Stark too she suddenly remembered. Ser Barristan told her of the tourney at Harrenhal. Lyanna Stark was crowned Queen of Love and Beauty.

Tyrion glanced at her. "I remember little of Arya Stark, Your Grace. She was a skinny child when I visited Winterfell. Mayhaps he does want to fuck her. You might want to ask him that when you meet him. I'm sure it will be a great conversation starter."

Dany flushed. "You will not speak to me that way."

The mirth still showed in Tyrion's eyes but it faded. "I apologise if I offended Your Grace."

The dwarf was insolent and rude. He offended everybody around them and Dany still received counsel every so often to have him executed. She refused it. Tyrion Lannister could not be trusted, the prophecy said so and his actions lent strength to that but he knew much her other advisors did not. He was clever in ways her other advisors were not and more learned as well. Only the archmaester knew more but unlike Tyrion he did not share that knowledge freely. He only shared what he wanted to suit his agenda.

Tyrion wants to help take my throne from his sister.

Dany felt repulsed by the way he spoke of his family. He is a kinslayer. Dany did not recognise Joffrey as a King so she did not label Tyrion Kingslayer but the boy was his nephew. The dwarf did not even show remorse for either kill. He thinks I should be relieved, as though he did me a service. Dany let him live and she took his counsel but she would not care for him and could not trust him.

He might make me laugh sometimes but he only wants to use me for his schemes.

It was likewise with Moqorro and Victarion. Benerro told her sadly that Moqorro was not the faithful servant he once was. He saw a betrayal coming but Dany did not understand it. He gave me the dragon horn. He did not have to do it, he made an enemy of Victarion in doing so but he did it anyway, She saw the Ironborn captain brooding and glowering and wished she did not need his ships. She might have taken them from him but then she would need men to man the ships and the Ironborn were loyal to their captain.

It will not be much longer.

The people of Lannisport ran long before they docked at the harbour. They knew what the kraken banners meant even if they had not seen the dragons. Dany mounted Drogon and took to the skies, allowing her men to commence their plans while she and her dragons provided a distraction. Drogon flew too high for her to see well but she saw a blanket of snow covering the ground. The burning of the Riverlands Tyrion told her of soon grew evident as she travelled farther east. She urged the dragon lower so that she could see better before turning Drogon back to fly over Casterly Rock again.

Her absence was brief. Drogon covered ground quickly but she was still gone long enough that the men had begun their attack. She waited with her Bear and Benerro. I hope Tyrion was right to be so confident. The dwarf did seem to know a lot of military tactics. Dany might have preferred to take Ser Jorah's advice or Ser Barristan's but Casterly Rock was the seat of the Lannister's. Tyrion knew it better than anybody and he had reason to want them to succeed and the knowledge to do so.

They might even be in the drains already by now.

She thought uncomfortably about her family while she waited. All the talk of Aegon made her think of them more, of her father and of Viserys and all that Viserys had told her. She had been furious after hearing of the Northern crown and she spoke angrily of the Usurper's dogs. Tyrion had been very blunt.

"You did not want to hear it from me before Your Grace but you would do well to accept it now. The Starks might have a direwolf as their sigil but they are no dogs. They answer to no master. It did not end well for them in Kings Landing. Ned Stark might have lasted a lot longer if he was what you say. You might do well to remember that when you come to deal with his children. The Starks do inspire loyalty from many."

That had only served to remind her what was said of Aegon. "I do not understand how he could ally himself with those who brought the downfall of our House. His own sister and mother were killed in the Sack."

"At the orders of my father," Tyrion reminded her.

What he said of her father was difficult. She did not want to believe the things he said of the madness and what he said of Rhaegar was worst of all.

"He was too busy fucking the Stark girl to spare a thought for the safety of his family."

Dany had banished the dwarf from her sight after those words. They did stay with her though. She asked Ser Barristan but the knight looked strained and he showed his displeasure at what Tyrion said. Rhaegar was mindful of duty, everybody said so. Yet war broke out and he did not return. Ser Barristan also looked offended over what was said of her father but next time she saw Tyion he had an answer ready for that.

"Ser Barristan swore to serve your father, keep his secrets, and obey his commands Your Grace. He swore the Kingsguard vows and he kept them, not so well as some but still better than others. Ser Barristan has reason to paint a good picture, lest he have to face the truth of what he served."

"Your brother served my father too," Dany said sharply. "He murdered him."

"Yes," the dwarf said with a twist to his mouth. "That he did."

Dany wondered now whether Tyrion thought of that same brother while he helped take the castle he was born in. He claimed to hate his brother but there was something there when he spoke of him that was not present when he spoke of his sister.

She is the one he hates the most.

Dany moved closer to Benerro's flames. It was cold and the fire he lit might keep her warm. She startled when he urged her closer.

"It is time for you to see my queen."

She hesitated at first, remembering what had happened in the House of the Undying. Quaithe's words came back to her and she might have pulled away if she had not begun to see what was in the flames. Benerro kept speaking in another tongue and Dany saw her dragons opposing one another. Before she could recover from the vision and ask what it meant it was replaced by one of two lovers, a man with silvery hair like hers and a dark haired girl who howled like a wolf. The last image she saw was ice, ice everywhere and something coming that was so terrible she could look at it no longer.

"Do you see now Daenerys," he pressed her. "Do you see what you must do?"

Dany shook her head. Her thoughts returned to Drogon screaming and breathing flame at his brother. What was worse was the vision of her giving the command. She knew the ice and what it brought was important but she was the Mother of Dragons. She had to know of that first.

"How can I stop it?" she asked.

"You must see the signs of betrayal," he responded. "Then you will know."

She was still thinking of what she saw when a messenger came to tell her they had taken Casterly Rock. Dany went with her men to the castle and Grey Worm soon joined her. She knew he had news the moment she saw him.

"Your Grace, this Aegon is in Kings Landing. They call him King."

"When did this happen," she asked.

"This one does not know," he replied. "The men in the castle say this Aegon marched on the city. They say it was expected for some time."

"Why did we not hear this in Oldtown?"

Grey Worm tensed. "This one will ask, gracious queen."

Dany thanked him and continued walking. Ser Jorah soon joined her once more but he let her think in silence as they walked. She now had even more questions to add to those from the visions. If Aegon wanted to marry her, why did he not come to meet her? They might have made the journey together, taken the throne together if he was truly who he said he was.

He might have wanted the crown more. He might have seen me as a rival.

She thought of Quentyn Martell. I could not marry him. His death was not meant to happen. She might have done things differently with Aegon if he had come. She thought of the vision of her brother in the House of the Undying.

The dragon must have three heads. There must be one more.

That was what he had said. He had said Aegon was the Prince who was Promised but Benerro said it was her. Her head hurt. She was the blood of the dragon but she might not be alone. Tyrion offered one explanation for Aegon not coming to her. She had taken far too long to come to Westeros. Ser Jorah thought the same she knew but it still nagged at her.

Aegon might have helped me in Meereen when I was under attack.

Instead he came to Westeros without her. She thought on the rumours once more. Arya Stark might not be a sorceress but if she and Aegon were not lovers yet, they soon would be. She did not think it was her brother she saw in the vision. She thought it must be Aegon. I must look for signs of betrayal. She was not certain him bedding the girl was betrayal.

If that is true then I must judge Rhaegar in the same way. Dany was not sure she could do that. She needed to know more. She had questions and she meant to make Aegon answer them. The first and foremost she wanted to ask about was the North.

If he is my blood will he truly betray me?

Tyrion was nowhere to be seen when Dany entered the castle. She asked about him and the men showed her the way. They weaved their way through the fortress, passing chambers and halls. Every room was richly furnished, a show of wealth. Finally they reached a lavish solar. The dwarf sat at a table. A goblet of wine sat before him. On his right was a pile of parchment while a stack of coins teetered on his left. He looked up as she entered.

"My Queen," he said rather cheerily. He struggled down from his chair and took a knee. When she told him to rise he quickly returned to it. He grinned at her and beckoned for her to sit at the table. She approached warily.

"Do you not wish to rest? It has been a long day."

"Taking castles is tiring work Your Grace," he said agreeably "but I have a curious mind and I could not bear to sleep before learning a few things. Would you like wine?"

Dany accepted the offer. She took a sip and looked at the items of the table. "What is it that you have?"

"Much of value," Tyrion replied. He picked up a coin and tossed it to her. "You have not seen one of these before."

Dany turned the coin to look at it. On one side it had her father's face. She only knew because the coin was imprinted with his name. On the reverse was the three headed dragon of her House.

"It is a Gold Dragon."

Tyrion nodded. "That one was minted during your father's reign, Your Grace. The new coinage will need a different face."

Dany studied his expression. He looks too smug. Ser Jorah clearly thought the same.

"What have you found out Imp?"

Tyrion selected one piece of parchment and slid it across the table to Dany. "I had heard of this letter being distributed amongst the kingdoms. The sailors told us word of it in Volantis but reading it is a different matter. You might find it interesting Your Grace."

Dany looked at the broken seal. The wax was grey and white. It is Stark colours. She frowned at Tyrion but began to read nonetheless.

I write this in my own hand from Storm's End where I am under the protection of His Grace Aegon Targaryen, Sixth of his name, rightful King of Westeros.

I am the trueborn daughter of Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell by his lady wife Catelyn of House Tully. I declare upon the honour of House Stark that House Bolton and House Lannister have knowingly and wilfully installed an imposter in my place to usurp my rightful claim to Winterfell. By right of birth and blood and in the absence of my sister the Lady Sansa I do this day lay claim to Winterfell.

I have proof of my identity if I must assuage any doubts however no one who has met me can deny that I am a Stark, that I am in fact a wolf. My father once said that the lone wolf dies but the pack survives. I am sorry to say that in this he has been wrong. I am not completely alone but it appears I am the lone wolf in this matter. He also said however that Starks endure and in this he was right. I will endure and the enemies of my House and of those who remain loyal to the Starks will soon rue the day they betrayed us.

I call on those who see the murder of my father and the abomination of the Red Wedding as the butchery that it was to stand against those responsible.

The North Remembers.

Arya Stark

Lady of Winterfell

Winter is Coming

Dany raised her head from the parchment. The claim of rightful King of Westeros leapt out at her, as did the suggestion the girl was under the protection of Aegon. Dany remembered the vision of the two lovers in the flames but she looked at the remainder of the letter once more.

"She sounds so angry."

Tyrion cocked his head to the side and looked at her with mismatched eyes. "She sounds like you, Your Grace. You think yourself the lone dragon do you not? You bear the burden of representing your House?"

Before Dany could protest he slid another piece of parchment towards her. This one bore a red and gold seal. She read quickly. "Your niece stripped Arya Stark of all claims and titles and charged her with treason. It is an order for her death."

Tyrion made a noise. "Cersei made that order. My sweet sister saw an enemy and thought to crush her. She underestimated her foe."

Dany saw his smirk. "What happened?"

"The letters became less useful but the castellan, a distant cousin of mine, has been quite helpful in filling in the blanks. It seems the Northmen became incensed upon hearing that the crown did not recognise their leader as a Lady so they pronounced her Queen instead. I wish I had been there to see Cersei's face when she heard that news."

Aegon did not crown her. Dany did not know what to think. "What else do you know?"

"Cersei tried to have them killed and failed. All she managed to do in truth was drive almost every Lord in the Seven Kingdoms to support them. The youngest Stark boy lives and he holds Winterfell. Arya Stark and her army joined with Aegon's army and the Dornish. Aegon took King's Landing this past week. He is now King and Cersei is on the run."

"I heard he was King. How did we not know any of this earlier?"

Tyrion gave her a strange look. "That is a good question. I was occupied in other activities when you landed in Oldtown. It is curious they had no news of it."

Victarion hid this from me. Dany felt anger bubble up inside of her. I will deal with him later.

"I must go to Kings Landing" she said quickly. "I must meet with Aegon and determine if he is my brother's son."

Tyrion shook his head and made a tsk tsk sound. "That is not the course I would take Your Grace."

Dany frowned. "What would you do?"

"I would let him come to me."

"Why?"

"Because that is how the game is played. If you go to him you look like an oppressor, you converge on the city with dragons and slave solders and you look like a potential kingslayer and kinslayer."

Dany protested. "They are not slaves."

Tyrion gave a nod of acknowledgement. "Yes former slave soldiers Your Grace. The people are unlikely to make that distinction. If he comes to you he must abandon his seat of power. He will look as though he is seeking your favour. He will weaken his position."

Dany looked to Ser Jorah and he nodded agreement.

"What makes you think he will come?" she asked.

Tyrion Lannister looked at her then with a glint in his eye. He turned one of the coins over and over in his thick, stubby fingers. "We have dragons my queen," he said quietly. "Everybody wants to see dragons."

A/N 2: I have crammed a lot in here. It looks ominous but all I can say is I know what I plan to do and I don't think you guys will hate me for it :D