Negotiations
Edmure POV
I could tell that the Queen didn't like my actions as I was dragged by the guards from the dungeons. My hands and legs were bound, and I couldn't move. They were pretty rough with me. They didn't slow down when they dragged me through the stairs, so I got a few bruises. Then, I was thrown into the courtroom beneath the throne. The guards then untied me and left the courtroom.
"Lord Edmure," Daenerys voice echoed through the empty courtroom.
It was hard to tell the time in the dungeons, but now I could see the setting sun through the window in the courtroom. Aside from Daenerys and me, there were only Ser Barristan, Daario, and Missandei. They all looked down on me from the throne. I wished I could ignore them and make them desperate for whatever they wanted, but I didn't have much leverage to begin with, and it wouldn't help me if I antagonized them further.
"Queen Daenerys Targaryen," I knelt to show my respect and willingness to cooperate.
"There are many things I want to say," Daenerys said. "But I begin by accusing you of deceiving me. How to plead?"
"Guilty?" I asked. "Is that what you want to hear? We both know what I did. I lied to you about my origins and identity, but that is where my lies ended. Everything I did and said was the truth."
I could tell that Daenerys had difficulty trusting my words and probably still thought I was using her. There was nothing I could say to stop her from feeling like that. Trust must be earned, after all. But it didn't matter much to me. I am tired of this place and want to go home. I will be satisfied if I can convince her to open communications with Jaehaerys.
"You did a lot for me," Daenerys seemed to agree. "But it could be said that you did it for yourself. Helping me was your way to get close to me so you could use me in defeating Euron Greyjoy. And now you killed him."
"When you put me before him, did you not expect me to kill him?" I asked. "He is a murderer, a monster in human skin. There were countless unspeakable crimes he had committed. He deserved to die."
"Even so, he was my prisoner, and I needed him," Daenerys replied. "Don't think just because you are lord from Westeros. I won't punish you for your actions."
"I watched Euron kill my friend, who I considered to be like my brother," I said before I grasped my scarred face. "He made me like this. Your punishment wouldn't amount to anything that he has already done to me, Queen Daenerys."
My words seemed to have some effect on her as she looked appalled. Even Daario didn't look as confident as he usually is. Ser Barristan, too, was thinking of a response. They realized I knew there wasn't much they could do to me that wouldn't have consequences later on. Yet, I could still see confidence in Daenerys eyes, as she wasn't terrified for herself but worried for people around her.
"Yunkai started amassing slaves once again," Daenerys said. "I heard Volantis is preparing a fleet too. There is no doubt they will strike Astapor once again. You asked for my support in exchange for your support to me."
"I had asked for your support, indeed. And have given all the support I could," I replied. "I defended your dragons. I fought your enemies. Even if I wasn't honest, I still did as you asked and given all I have to you, your Grace."
"But it isn't the end," Daenerys replied. "The Sons of the Harpy are still prominent. Even though they went into hiding, they were still plotting something against me in this very city. And the Golden Company is still somewhere in Essos. Even if I managed to kill at least half of them, the rest scattered and escaped. Who knows what they are planning?"
"I am just one man," I said. "There isn't much I can do alone to help you with these matters."
"I am aware of your capabilities, Lord Paramount of the Trident, Lord of Riverrun, the famous knight Redfish. Lord Edmure Tully, your fame proceeds you. So, I will ask you again: will you continue supporting me as promised?"
It was surprising how more mature Daenerys looked. She used my tittles to trap me into the promise I made, even if I used a false name then. It would be problematic if she used my actions to make future negotiations more complex than they needed to be. I knew that Jaehaerys was trying to get Daenerys to talk with him. My influence might be lessened if Daenerys used my lies as a pretext for distrusting King Jaehaerys.
"You have grown, your Grace," I stood up and looked at her eyes. "I, Lord Edmure Tully, an envoy from the Seven Kingdoms, will represent King Jaehaerys Targaryen third of his name to my full capabilities. To foster good relations between the two last Targaryens, I will support you to the best of my capabilities, Queen of Meereen, Daenerys Targaryen."
That should cover all of it. Now, my actions will be that of King Jaehaerys, so if she wants my help, she will be expected to provide her help when the Seven Kingdoms ask for it. Or she will risk her diplomatic relations with every power in the world. No one will want to deal with her if her words can't be trusted. Even with her dragons, she will be isolated and unable to establish power in Essos.
Still, it seems that I won't be able to return home just yet. Negotiations would probably last for days, if not months. I didn't have much to offer but to support Meereen. Yet her dragons were invaluable in the coming winter. The only way to win her politically is to use Meereen as a hostage. I must convince her that the city won't survive long without her and us working together.
I know she loves the people of Meereen, or she doesn't want to betray her ideals. Either way, it was something I could use against her. Daenerys didn't know anything about the Others, so if I could make her agree to a vague promise to help us when we are in need, I would be able to trap her. But first, I should contact Arianne, inform her of everything, and simultaneously find out what is going on back home.
…
"You are alive?" The dwarf from Casterly Rock asked me.
"So are you," I replied, sitting next to him.
After meeting Daenerys yesterday, I was given time for a healer to check my wounds and change bandages. I have opened my wounds as I killed Euron. But it wasn't anything too bad. I was quickly bandaged and given some medicine to alleviate the pain. Then I just fell asleep. I haven't realized that the past few days have taken much of me.
Yet, Euron and Aegon are dead. I could finally rest easily. I didn't remember having such a good sleep without nightmares and worries plaguing my mind for a long time. I woke up early and came to the Daenerys council meeting room, as I didn't have anything else to do and had agreed to meet her here. I didn't expect to see Tyrion so early, and he didn't look hungover.
"I don't see your sellsword nor any wine before you," I commented. "It seems the Queen found other ways to punish you."
"As long as I am in the vicinity of the Queen, I shall remain weaponless and harmless," Tyrion replied.
"And sober?" I asked.
"The Queen has taken my talk about wine being a powerful weapon to the heart."
I chuckled at Tyrion's demise. But it seemed that Daenerys didn't see Tyrion as a danger to her. After all, Tyrion didn't have anything to threaten Daenerys with. His family's power and wealth were gone, and his name was hated in Westeros. But still, he could offer a good council and was a capable politician. As well as being a good thinker, he could support Daenerys in many ways with minimal downsides.
"I will write a letter home to explain what has happened to me, as the truth has already been revealed," I said. "I will ask my wife to look for Tysha, so the better you describe her, the better chance we will have to find her."
"I prepare a list of all the notable features of her I can remember," Tyrion replied somberly. "Your plan didn't go as you thought, didn't it?"
"Euron is dead. That's all it matters to me."
"Even I was surprised to see my uncle's head so flattened," A voice came from the door to the meeting room. "Have you relieved some of your anger by killing him, Lord Edmure?"
"Some," I answered, turning to Asha as she sat beside me. "I heard you captured him; thank you for that, Lady Asha."
"You welcome," Asha replied. "Still, he was part of my family, even if I didn't know him well. So, I hope you can repay me."
"If it is something I can do," I replied.
"I want for the Greyjoy name to be forgiven for its head's actions," Asha said. "The charges of treason and whatever you and your King have made up, I want them all gone."
"It will be done," I agreed to her request. "But the Iron Islands will not return to Greyjoys."
"I expected that much," Asha said. "But at least we would be able to return home."
How interesting, it wouldn't be a problem to reward Asha's actions by forgiving her father's treason. After all, if it weren't for her, I would probably have spent the rest of my life hunting down Euron. Now, I can finally rest easily. Repaying her actions is fine by me as long as it won't cost me much. And it was better to have her as my friend than an enemy.
Soon after our talk, the doors opened to the meeting room. Daenerys, Ser Barristan, Daario, Grey Worm, the Tattered Prince, and Missandei entered. All of them took their seats except for Ser Barristan and Grey Worm. They decided to stay standing. I could tell there was tension between Tyrion, Asha, me, and the rest of the council.
"We shall begin today's affairs," Daenerys announced, ignoring Daario's glare at us and Grey Worm's distrusting glances. "Tyrion, you told me you got information about the Sons of the Harpy. Is that true?"
"Yes, your grace," Tyrion replied. "While everyone was busy fighting each other, I managed to locate where the Sons of the Harpy operate. It wasn't easy, but they didn't suspect I would still try to locate them in the chaos, and they didn't seem composed enough to hide their tracts."
"Enough of the nonsense. Tell where they are so we can kill them once and for all," Daario said.
"That won't be that simple," Tyrion replied.
"Why so?" The Tattered Prince asked. "If we know where they are hiding, no Great Master can stop us."
"Great Master can't," Tyrion agreed. "But making an enemy of the Ghiscari Temple of the Graces wouldn't be advisable."
"The Graces?" Daenerys was shocked, but she hid it quickly.
"Yes," Tyrion replied. "The Great Masters are using the temples to operate from the shadows. If we make an enemy of the temple, we make an enemy of the whole Meereen."
"Those rats!" Even Daario knew that it would be difficult to do anything about it.
"I will not do nothing," Daenerys said. "I won't repeat the same mistake. If the temple harbors ill intent towards me, I will use all I have to subdue them. They will face my dragons as did the Golden Company."
"Even if you burn the temple, it won't bring you victory, your grace," I said as I stopped her from such actions. As soon as she starts using her dragons, it will be harder to control her. I had to convince her that her dragons were the last thing she should use. "But you are right. We can't let them be and get more powerful at your expense."
"You are the last person we should listen to," Daario said. "You lied to us, and even if the Queen showed you kindness, it doesn't mean we can trust you again. All your planning amounted to nothing, and we almost lost to Euron."
"But we didn't," I replied. "My plans weren't meaningless; without them, Euron would have gotten what he wanted. But I can't force you if you don't listen to me. All I can do is advise the Queen and let her decide the right course to take."
"I will listen to everyone," Daenerys said. "But it seems some of us have a temper to keep. We will take a moment to rest. In the meantime, think over the information and try to think of something we could use. The Sons of the Harpy are our priority."
Well, at least Daenerys didn't dismiss me. Still, I could tell she was careful around me and might believe I was trying to use her. But with time, I will be able to convince her that everything I do is for her good, too. I will take the break to write a letter and find someone to deliver it to Arianne. The sooner I can count on her support, the better I will feel negotiating with Daenerys.
A.N. As always, If you want more, up to seven advanced chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852. And if you have any requests for stories, I will only take them on my pa treon.