A bare island, a threat and some unavoidable show script, but twisted about a little.
Tyrion
Tyrion had to admit, he was nervous about returning to Westeros. Of course he was safer on Dragonstone, surrounded by three dragons, an army of Unsullied and a hoard of Dothraki screamers, than he was on the mainland. However he knew his sister, and she always seemed to know a way to get to people she hated. Which was why Varys had been sent to Westeros, ahead of their journey, to talk with Ellaria Sand, who was vengeful against his sister and Olenna Tyrell, who he also had good reason to believe would want to team up with Daenerys to take down Cersei. Varys had managed to sway Ellaria and Dorne to their side, but much to his surprise, Olenna Tyrell had decided to keep the Reach neutral. News had reached Tyrion and Varys that Cersei had blown up the Sept of Baelor with all of the members of House Tyrell in it; save for Olenna herself. After losing her entire family, Tyrion had expected Olenna to be the easiest to recruit; she was also the most important. Olenna had the largest army in Westeros and was the breadbasket, having the most fertile lands of the Seven Kingdoms. However, Olenna had declared winter was coming and it was her responsibility to look after those who needed her help, as Margaery would have wished. From memory, all Tyrion had known was Lady Margaery wanted nothing more than to be Queen, although admittedly, he'd been drunk most of the time he'd spent in her company. Fortunately Yara Greyjoy had joined their cause, but there's was only a fraction of the Iron Islands fleet; most had flocked to the side if her Uncle, Euron Greyjoy, who was a madman with a penchant for cruelty. A perfect match for his sister, if Jaime would allow it. Tyrion considered the other possible allies within Westeros; the Stormlands and the Crownlands were under the rule of Cersei, the Riverlands were locked in a war with the Lannister's and their armies were depleted, the last Tyrion had heard, the Vale was under the rule of Littlefinger, who couldn't be trusted as far as he could be thrown. Not only that, but they always tried to keep out of the wars if possible, they had stayed neutral in the war of the five kings. The north hated both Lannister's and Targaryen's with equal measure, not only that but they were vying for independence and would be too busy preparing for winter to care about any war in the south. Without the threat of fire and blood, they wouldn't ally themselves with Daenerys. That left the Westerlands, which again was a Lannister stronghold, however with the Lannister army spread around the Seven Kingdoms, trying to rectify the fuck ups of all the recent Lannister rulers, it was ripe for the taking.
As Tyrion stepped foot on the sands of Dragonstone beach for the first time, he put all of his worries to one side. He knew his Queen was finally home, returning to her birthplace to claim her birthright. Daenerys was the first to step off the small boat, which had transported them from the ship they'd sailed on from Meereen; followed by Tyrion, Missandei, Grey Worm and then Varys. They gave Daenerys a moment alone, where she bent down and placed her hand on the sand, taking in the feel of her home for the first time since she was a baby. After a few minutes, the group made their way to the large dark stone castle, which seemed to grow out of the rocks at sharp angles. Large Dragon heads either side of the iron gates to greeted them, as if to frighten any intruder away. The gates were pushed open by the Unsullied, where they were met by a huge pathway which wound its way up to the great castle itself. Eventually they made their way through the much smaller doors of the castle. Inside Tyrion's heart dropped.
Although there were dragons carved into the stone walls and the wooden doors, gone were any references to its Targaryen history. Banners of the flaming heart with a black stag, in the middle, were in abundance. Stannis Baratheon had been the previous occupier, along with his red witch, and that showed. Daenerys pulled the banner down as they made their way through the ever dark rooms, removing signs of the Baratheon occupation. As they did, Tyrion noticed all of the braziers were bare, not a candle in sight. He didn't think much of it at first. They came to the throne room, which was dark, dank and bare, albeit from the black angular throne perched underneath a triangular window. Again, all of the braziers were empty, despite beeswax which had once dripped down the dirty metal of the brazier, suggesting all of the candles had been plucked from their holders, to ensure any future inhabitants would have to supply their own. Of course, they had brought plenty of candles, however he thought it was petty of Stannis to leave the castle in such a state. Behind the throne room was what had come to be known as the map room. Inside, a dragons head was carved into the wall, and it held one of house Targaryen's most treasured artefacts, the giant wooden table, carved into a map of Westeros. Tyrion had told her of it a number of times, and was very much looking forward to using it to help them with their endeavours, however after seeing the rest of the castle, he was beginning to wonder what Stannis had done to the table. Surely he wouldn't have destroyed it.
Tyrion and the others followed Daenerys into the room where it was supposed to be, but unsurprisingly, the room was completely empty. Not table or chair in sight. Daenerys stared out of the window for a moment and then spun around to face Tyrion.
"You said it would be here, in this room." she said.
"I was always led to believe it was here your grace." Tyrion nodded.
"If I may, your grace." Varys started. "My little birds told me it was still here when Stannis left."
"And clearly it is not here now." Daenerys raised an eyebrow.
"Mayhaps it has been moved to another room." Tyrion suggest.
Daenerys nodded. "Grey Worm, have the castle searched. We need the table to plan our attack." Grey Worm nodded and left them while he ordered his men to search for the missing table.
"Your grace..." Tyrion frowned. "We don't need the table to make plans. We already have suitable maps which will be of some help. Although I do think we should find somewhere a little more...comfortable. Somewhere to sit and light a fire. Find someone to restore the bedchambers to some semblance of comfort."
"Very well." Daenerys nodded. "We shall find something to sit on and fetch either the map table, or one that we can place a map on, to this room. I like the view. First thing in the morning, we shall return to this room and begin to make plans to take my throne back."
Ever since he'd become hand of the King to Daenerys, Tyrion had reduced his alcohol intake. Of course he still drank wine, but not as much, and very little in front of her, especially when they were working. However, tonight the evening was his own. And once they'd eventually been able to muster up some bed linen, which had come from their ship, some firewood and some candles, Tyrion sat down in his new chambers, in front of the fire with a goblet of red wine. A knock at the door signalled he wasn't going to be spending the entire evening alone.
"Go away." Tyrion called out.
"I come bearing gifts of fine wine." came Varys voice from the other side of the door.
"I have plenty." Tyrion called back.
"I also have news I wish to impart." Varys called out.
Tyrion sighed, he knew his friend wouldn't go away. "Come in." he said.
The bald eunuch entered with a large carafe of the promised fine wine. He placed it on the table before making his way around the room, checking for hiding spots and secret passageways. "One can never be too careful." Varys said, lifting a tapestry and checking the wall behind it.
"A spider looking for spiders." Tyrion shook his head, filling up a goblet for Varys who finally sat beside the fire and joined him.
"So, what do you think?" Varys asked.
"Of what?" Tyrion frowned. "I think a lot of things. I'd rather hope you narrow it down for me to pick a topic."
Varys sighed. "Of the condition of this castle. Do you not think it odd that nary a candle nor a bedsheet was left by its previous occupants? Was Stannis so poor that he had to clear out the entire castle for his journey north? And what happened to all of these goods?"
Tyrion rolled his eyes. "I hear he went begging to the Iron Bank, so maybe it is not as strange as it may sound."
"My little birds tell me he didn't take them." Varys smiled. "The Onion knight did."
"The smuggler who Stannis made his hand?" Tyrion shrugged.
"The very same. Except The Onion knight took these items after Lord Stannis was killed. That wasn't the only thing he came to Dragonstone for." Tyrion was intrigued. "Did you know Dragonstone sits on a volcano."
"I did." Tyrion rolled his eyes.
"And that volcanoes produces a material called obsidian?" Varys asked and Tyrion nodded. "He and some men, who were dressed in black, were mining it, right up to four days ago, shipping it north."
Tyrion thought for a moment. "The Night's Watch?"
Varys nodded. "He had a authorisation from Lord Commander Snow."
Tyrion frowned. "Snow? You mean Jon Snow? Ned Stark's bastard?"
"The very same one, although one could call him the former Lord Commander Jon Snow. He was murdered by his men, probably just after sending them to ransack Dragonstone." Varys shook his head sadly.
"A shame. I liked the boy. I escorted him to the wall. Didn't say much, but took good advice to heart. A man like that usually does well for himself. Probably too honourable for his own good, like his father." Tyrion raised his goblet in the air. "To honour and its fucking uselessness. It kills the best of us." however Varys didn't raise his goblet.
"He didn't stay dead." Varys told him, Tyrion spat out his wine, getting it all over him. He thanked the gods he was wearing black, otherwise it would have been a waste of good silk.
"How?" Tyrion asked.
"The red priestess. The one Stannis used. It appears she raised him from the dead." Varys sighed. "Oh the smallfolk tell a wonderful tale of this Jon Snow. He died a bastard and was reborn a Prince."
"Don't tell Daenerys." Tyrion japed, but the eunuch's face was grim.
"This is no laughing matter friend." Varys shook his head. "For..." he turned his head, looked around to see if anyone was around, before bending towards Tyrion, who mimicked the action. "...for Jon Snow has a better claim to the Iron Throne than our dragon Queen." he whispered. Tyrion was confused, how could a bastard born northerner have a better claim to the Iron Throne? Fortunately, Varys answered Tyrion's question before he had the chance to ask it. "It turns out the Lord Eddard Stark deservedly died a traitors death, for he hid the trueborn son of his sister and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. He even claims to be called Aegon Targaryen."
Tyrion nodded for a moment. "Does he have three full grown dragons?"
"No." Varys smiled and shook his head.
"An army of Unsullied?"
"Not that I know of." Varys shrugged.
"A hoard of Dothraki screamers?"
"I don't believe he has ever left the north, except for him being born in Dorne." Varys admitted. "Although he does appear to have the support of the northern Lords, as well as those in the Vale and the wildlings from beyond the wall." Varys told him.
"Nothing unsurmountable." Tyrion shrugged.
"I fear Aegon Targaryen might be the reason Lady Olenna has decided against backing our cause. After all, she did remind us, winter is coming."
Tyrion rubbed his head with his thumb and forefinger. "Why would Lady Olenna side with someone she has never met?"
"Your former wife." Varys told him. Tyrion looked up.
"Sansa?"
"The very one." Varys refilled his goblet. "The future Queen Sansa Targaryen."
"Lady Sansa would never marry Jon Snow. She barely knew him." Tyrion downed the goblet of wine in one, this tale was getting stranger by the minute.
"Queen Sansa." Varys corrected him. "Jon and Sansa have been crowned joint King and Queen in the North. It appears every woman in Westeros is swooning over the heroics of the King in the North. All desperate to bed the handsome warrior who defeated death, saved the fair maiden from the clutches of the evil monster Ramsay Bolton. Won back their home. It is even claimed he has killed a whitewalker with his bare hands, defeated the King of the Freefolk..."
"He hasn't birthed three dragons." Tyrion interrupted.
"No he hasn't." Varys agreed. "But he has the support of the smallfolk, and that is growing daily. He is all they talk about in the Riverlands. Let me ask you old friend, when your brother returns to the capital, who will the smallfolk of the Riverlands support?"
"Does it matter? They will support whoever their Lord tells them to support." Tyrion frowned.
"Right now your brother is laying siege to Riverrun. It seems old Walder Frey is incapable of holding it for himself. Soon your sister will call him back to the capital and the Tully's will retain control of the Riverlands, and as Sansa is a Tully, I think we can easily determine their loyalties. If so, that means he has the support of the North, the Vale, the Riverlands and the Reach. Despite him never having set foot south of Winterfell. All of this without an army." Varys shook his head and took a gulp of his wine.
"How can we be certain of his birth?" Tyrion asked. "He looks like a Stark, but bears no resemblance to our Queen."
"There were witnesses. And of the marriage, there is evidence in the Citadel. I even heard rumours myself surrounding...events. Although I didn't believe them to be true. I couldn't imagine Lord Stark would do such a thing." Varys sighed.
"Why are you telling me all of this?" Tyrion asked. "You could have told me tomorrow. I'm sure you are going to tell our Queen."
"Of course my old friend. But if you are to be making plans to take Westeros, you need to have to know what you are up against. If our Queen chooses to...give in to her most basic of impulses, I fear for the smallfolk." Varys filled his goblet once more. "After all, it is the smallfolk who suffer the most. Ellaria Sand and Yara Greyjoy are not known for their...restraint. They will encourage her to..."
"To use fire and blood." Tyrion nodded.
"He is already winning the war of stories. Especially the hearts of the women. They believe him to be a handsome hero. I suspect they would be sorely disappointed." he giggled.
"I very much doubt that." Tyrion shook his head, Varys looked surprised. "I wouldn't be surprised if our Queen would swoon upon sight. It is a pity he is competition, otherwise it would make a good match." Tyrion smiled. "Mayhaps it would be a way to gain the support of his armies. I mean, I do not believe Jon and Sansa are marrying for any reason other than a political one. It will never be consummated. I'm sure their marriage could be annulled. How certain are you of the witnesses?"
"One can never be entirely certain. Of course, he could still be a bastard. Unless it is discovered which Septon annulled the marriage to Elia and wed Rhaegar to Lyanna, then Jon Snow will remain a bastard. I doubt anyone would search Septon Maynard's diaries." Lord Varys smiled.
"Could you get hold of them?" Tyrion asked.
"I will have my little birds at the Citadel search for them and send them to me." Varys nodded. "A trueborn Targaryen is a threat, a bastard Targaryen could be an ally."
"And in the meantime?" Tyrion asked.
"Continue with your plans for Casterly Rock. We need people on the ground to spread the word of our Queen. Of how she came back from the dead and birthed dragons. She needs a good story. She needs men to fall at her feet, vowing to die for her because they love her." Varys smiled.
"And her dragons and armies?" Tyrion frowned.
"I am not a military minded man. I'll leave that to you old friend." Varys put his goblet down. "I fear I may have had one too many. I will return to my chambers and sleep. We shall talk again on the morrow." he opened the door. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight Lord Varys." Tyrion nodded as his old friend closed the door behind him, leaving Tyrion with a multitude of issues to consider before the council meeting the next day.
The following morning, Tyrion was a few minutes late arriving at the map room; where he was met by Daenerys, Varys, Missandei. A table large had been found; which, judging from the marks on it, was probably found in the kitchens. He suspected the same for the chairs too. Of course this would only be temporary as they could retrieve the more elaborate furniture from the ship, but it would suffice for now. A large paper map had been unfurled, and lay across the table, ready for them examine. Fortunately torches had been used to light up the room, a storm was raging outside, the sky was almost as dark as night.
"Lord Tyrion." Daenerys looked unimpressed by his tardiness.
"My apologies for my tardiness your grace. I had new information regarding the situation in Westeros last night and I had to go over a multitude of options before I could determine our best course of action." he bowed.
"Does your sister still sit on the Iron Throne?" she asked.
"She does your grace." Tyrion nodded.
"Then nothing changes." Daenerys voice was like steel. Tyrion glanced over to Varys, who shook his head, as lightning flashed, and thunder crackles overhead.
Tyrion walked over to the window and looked out to sea. "On a night like this, you came into the world."
"I remember that storm. All the dogs in King's Landing howled through the night." Varys said.
"I wish I could remember it." Daenerys turned away from the window, walked over to the table and stared at the map. "I always thought this would be a homecoming. It doesn't feel like home."
"We won't stay on Dragonstone for long." Tyrion promised.
"Good." Daenerys stated as she looked at the figurines placed on the table. "Not so many lions."
"Cersei controls fewer than half the Seven Kingdoms. The lord of Westeros despise her. Even before your arrival, they plotted against her. Now..." Varys started, but Daenerys didn't let him finish.
"They cry out for their true queen? They drink secret toasts to my health?" she walked towards Varys. "People used to tell my brother that sort of thing, and he was stupid enough to believe them."
she picked up a dragon figurine from the table. "If Viserys had three dragons and an army at his back, he'd have invaded King's Landing already."
"Conquering Westeros would be easy for you. But you're not here to be queen of the ashes." Tyrion stared at the map.
"No." Daenerys shook her head and put down the dragon figurine.
"We can take the Seven Kingdoms without turning it into a slaughterhouse. If the great houses support your claim against Cersei, the game is won. We currently have the Dornish on our side, we just need more powerful allies." Tyrion said. "I knew we were unable to secure..." he started before Daenerys interrupted him.
"I never properly thanked you for that." Daenerys looked at Varys.
"Dorne joined our side, my queen, because they believe in you." Varys bowed.
"You served my father, didn't you, Lord Varys?" she asked.
Varys straightened his back. "I did."
"And then you served the man who overthrew him?" she said coldly.
"I had a choice, Your Grace...serve Robert Baratheon or face the headman's axe." he explained.
"But you didn't serve him long. You turned against him." it was almost a question.
"Robert was an improvement on your father, to be sure." Varys sighed. "There have been few rulers in history as cruel as the Mad King. Robert was neither mad nor cruel. He simply had no interest in being king."
Daenerys raised an eyebrow. "So you took it upon yourself to find a better one."
Tyrion tried to stop the conversation from escalating, he was already worried about how she'd react when she found out about Jon Snow. Her threats to Varys was going to make her paranoid. "Your Grace, when I was ready to drink myself into a small coffin, Lord Varys told me about a queen in the east who..."
Daenerys seemingly ignored Tyrion as she continued to stare at Varys. "Before I came to power, you favoured my brother. All your spies, your little birds, did they tell you Viserys was cruel, stupid, and weak? Would those qualities have made for a good king in your learned opinion?" she asked.
"Until your marriage to Khal Drogo, Your Grace, I knew nothing about you, save your existence and that you were said to be beautiful." Varys sidestepped the question.
"So you and your friends traded me like a prized horse to the Dothraki." Daenerys voice was hard.
"Which you turned to your advantage." Varys tried flattering her.
"Who gave the order to kill me?" she asked.
"King Robert." Varys replied.
"Who hired the assassins?" Daenerys stepped closer to Varys. "Who sent word to Essos to murder Daenerys Targaryen?"
"Your Grace, I did what had to be done to..." panic was creeping into his voice.
"To keep yourself alive." Daenerys acknowledged.
"Lord Varys has proven himself a loyal servant." Tyrion insisted.
"Proven himself loyal?" Daenerys voice rose a little. "Quite the opposite. If he dislikes one monarch, he conspires to crown the next one. What king of a servant is that?"
"The kind the realm needs." Varys told her. "Incompetence should not be rewarded with blind loyalty. As long as I have my eyes, I'll use them. I wasn't born into a great house. I came from nothing. I was sold as a slave and carved up as an offering. When I was a child, I lived in alleys, gutters, abandoned houses. You wish to know where my true loyalties lie? Not with any king or queen, but with the people. The people who suffer under despots and prosper under just rule. The people whose hearts you aim to win. If you demand blind allegiance, I respect your wishes. Grey Worm can behead me or your dragons can devour me. But if you let me live, I will serve you well. I will dedicate myself to seeing you on the Iron Throne because I choose you."
"Swear this to me, Varys. If you ever think I'm failing the people, you won't conspire behind my back. You'll look me in the eye as you have done today, and you'll tell me how I'm failing them." Daenerys threatened.
"I swear it, my queen." Varys told her. "Which is why I spent much of last evening with Lord Tyrion."
Daenerys looked at Tyrion, who nodded. "Go on." she said.
"To win back Westeros, you need to win the hearts and minds of the people. But I don't need to tell you that, you've already been successful in that endeavour throughout Essos. However, the people of Westeros are not the same as those of Essos." Varys told her, looking to Tyrion.
"There is word...of another." Tyrion looked down. "One who potentially has a claim to the Iron Throne."
"I'm sure there are many who state they have a claim to the Iron Throne. But as the last Targaryen, I assure you, mine is the greatest." Daenerys glared at Tyrion.
"Your grace..." Varys started. "If, and I stress it what the tales are being told are true, then I'm afraid this other person has a greater claim than yours."
"How?" Daenerys snapped, looking between Tyrion and Varys. "I am the last Targaryen."
"It appears not." Tyrion told her. "If what is said is true, you have a nephew, a trueborn nephew of your brother Rhaegar." Daenerys looked like she was about to explode with anger. "But these are only tales." Tyrion quickly said. "He may be your nephew, and the story surrounding his birth does make sense..."
"Do either of you know him?" she snapped.
Tyrion nodded. "I met him. Of course I didn't know who he was back then. It was believed he was Lord Eddard Stark's bastard."
"And, what is he like?" she asked.
"He's the same age as yourself. When I met him, he was naïve and wanted to prove himself. Hated being referred to as a bastard. Although he was a clever lad, took advice, listened and acted on it. Seemed quite kind. Far too honourable. From what I gather he has turned into a leader of men, a great warrior, or so the stories say." Tyrion admitted.
"Stories?" Daenerys asked.
"This is where he has the upper hand your grace." Varys told her. "The people already sing songs about him. He is a living hero. Born a bastard, died and was reborn a prince."
"Died?" Daenerys raised an eyebrow.
"And was brought back to life by a red priestess from Asshai." Tyrion said. "Allegedly."
"You need to garner support amongst the smallfolk as well as the great Lords..." Varys started.
"Is this..." she started.
"I knew him as Jon Snow. The people know him as Aegon Targaryen, your grace. The King in the North." Tyrion added.
"How much of a threat is he to my throne?" Daenerys asked.
"At the moment, none." Varys replied. "He seems content to stay in the north, although he has formed an alliance with Lady O..."
"I have been thinking about that." Tyrion interrupted before Daenerys got angry. "When she refused us, she told us winter is coming. I believe it may relate to a form of trade agreement." Daenerys frowned. "The northern winters are most harsh your grace. They can last many years without grain or wheat. The northern Lords have to build up supplies whilst they can. I would not be surprised to find grain heading north from the Reach."
Daenerys turned to Varys. "What do you think?" she asked.
"It is entirely plausible your grace. The maesters say this winter will be the longest for a generation. Any forward thinking Lord would be preparing for such issues." Varys agreed.
"Right now, we should concentrate on what we can take before winter sets in. argue with the northern Lords in spring." Tyrion suggested. "Their men will be depleted and they will welcome you without bloodshed. It is said dragons do not like the north." he added.
Daenerys nodded. "I will consider it." then she frowned and turned to Tyrion. "What does he look like?" she asked.
"I'm afraid Lord Stark was able to hid Jon Snow right in front of Robert Baratheon for a reason. He looks nothing like his father." he told her.
"Is he...handsome?" she asked.
Tyrion frowned. "I believe the ladies of the north were most disappointed when he opted to join the Night's Watch." Daenerys frowned in confusion. "They swear a vow of celibacy. I am not one to look at a man in such a manner, however he would be deemed very handsome by some."
"Well, that's easily settled. If he is a bastard I'll marry him. If he is trueborn, I'll burn him alive. If he is a true dragon, fire won't kill him." she smiled and turned to Varys.
"I will leave it up to you to ensure the tales of my good deeds are spread around and songs are sung in my honour. Have your little birds spread gossip." "And I swear this...if you ever betray me for this Jon Snow, I'll burn you alive."
Varys smiled. "I would expect nothing less from the Mother of Dragons."
"Now, let us concentrate on the rest of Westeros for the time being. Cersei is currently my biggest threat. Tyrion, what do you propose we do?"