Back to Dragonstone to face the music, a battle and well, dracarys. More twisted show dialogue.

Tyrion

The bedding had been unsuccessful in Tyrion's eyes. Jon and Sansa had gone to prepare, which when Tyrion sounded like Jon was pleasuring his wife with a great deal of success, judging by the amount of noise she was making. When the bedding happened it was clear in the eyes of the three who were watching, that this wasn't their first time together. They knew each other and what they liked, too well. For most that would have been a successful bedding but for Tyrion it was the opposite. He'd come to broker a marriage deal with Daenerys on the basis of their marriage being a sham which clearly it wasn't. There was nothing he could do and he'd been dismissed before he could try any other tactic to persuade them to join Daenerys' cause. His Queen was not going to be happy with him. However it turned out that his dismissal might have been a blessing. He'd left Winterfell early the following morning and rode towards Castle Cerwyn. He'd taken a boat to White Harbor, but as his boat sailed down the White Knife, from a distance he saw a group of Lannister soldiers heading towards Winterfell. Tyrion was a little sad not to be seeing Jaime, but at the same time, Jaime did want him dead for the death of their father, so it was probably a lucky escape.

When he reached White Harbor, he was escorted out of the city by two Dothraki before being collected by Daenerys and Drogon to return to Dragonstone. When they climbed down from Drogon, Tyrion noticed Viserion approach, looking particularly interested in Tyrion, as if he was waiting to for him to speak. Suddenly Tyrion was on edge, what did the Mother of Dragons have planned for him?

They made their way to the map room in silence, making Tyrion feel more and more on edge every step they took. Once inside he was met with just Varys and Missandei.

"Lord Varys, Missandei." Tyrion bowed his head, which they both did in return, however no smiles were exchanged.

"Lord Varys, would you care to update Lord Tyrion with the news since he was away?"

Varys stepped forward, his hands hidden in his sleeves like he often had them. "Our Iron Born and Dornish allies were attacked on route to Dorne. Two or three ships escaped. The rest sunk our captured. Ellaria and the sand snakes are either dead or captured. The Greyjoys are dead or captured."

"Any word of Casterly Rock and the Unsullied?" Tyrion asked, he knew he was buying for time as he was fully aware that the Lannister's were no longer at Casterly Rock. The news he'd heard in White Harbor was the Lannister army had moved north and was protecting The Twins and Moat Cailin. If there were no soldiers there, the entire Lannister family must be elsewhere, although he doubted they were camped out at Moat Cailin. He suspected Emmon Frey had been installed as the head of the family at the Twins now that Walder Frey and the rest of the men had been wiped out by a single person.

"There's still no word from the Unsullied." Missandei shook her head sadly.

"Soon. They will come back to me." Daenerys tried to reassure the girl.

"He better." Missandei warned, clearly referring to Grey Worm, with who she was very close to.

Daenerys turned to Tyrion. "So Lord Tyrion, have you secured a marriage alliance with myself and the King in the North?"

Tyrion shook his head. "I'm afraid I underestimated the marriage. You see, Jon Snow and Sansa Stark grew up as siblings, one would assume that any marriage would be political..."

"Bastard or not, he is still a Targaryen, why would you assume that it would be political?" Daenerys asked.

"Because he was raised as a Stark and sibling marriage is not something practised in their culture." Tyrion explained. "However, I was unaware of their childhood relationship, or more like lack of childhood relationship. They weren't close, barely aware of the existence of the other, although how he could possibly miss her is beyond me." Daenerys looked at Tyrion with a warning glare. "She was a very beautiful child. When they reunited and met as adults with the knowledge they were cousins, it changed the dynamics of their relationship. They were also reunited at the worst points in their lives. He had just been murdered and she had just spent months being raped and tortured. Their bond is very strong."

"I take it the marriage was consummated?" Daenerys raised an eyebrow.

Tyrion nodded. "I would say they've been practising the consummation for quite a long time prior to the wedding."

"Do you think he might consider taking another wife?" Daenerys asked, to Tyrion's surprise. "She cannot be more beautiful or powerful than I. In fact with my inability to have children, it might be a perfect arrangement." she smiled.

Tyrion frowned. "I don't think Queen... I mean Lady Sansa would like that very much."

"Surely Aegon would be open to the offer. How could a man refuse the Mother of Dragons?" she asked.

Tyrion and Varys exchanged awkward looks. Fortunately Varys was the one to speak. "Your grace, I agree that you are the most beautiful woman in all of Westeros, probably in the world. However, from my recollection, Lady Sansa is the second most beautiful woman in the realm." Tyrion nodded profusely in agreement, although he could even argue Sansa might just eclipse Daenerys, but he'd never dare say that to her face.

"Is that true?" Daenerys asked Tyrion.

"I'm afraid it is." Tyrion nodded. "I also think they have a deep love for one another, something that I would suggest is unbreakable, and one that neither would invite any other to join. In fact Jon... I mean Aegon, made it very clear that the only woman who he would ever share his bed with would be Lady Sansa."

"And if I kill her?" Daenerys asked.

"I don't think he will ever love another." Tyrion sighed. "His mind is fixed and he has the nature of a northerner, stubborn as a mule."

"Hmm, a pity." Daenerys sighed. "His armies would have been a great use to me. Could you not talk him into helping his aunt? Or is he looking to take the Iron Throne for himself?"

"I get the impression he wants nothing to do with the south. However, I believe he knows he will eventually get drawn into the fray. My advice is to wait and see. Once he is forced into joining the war, I firmly believe he will side with his own family, especially considering my sister wants his wife dead. Ensuring Lady Sansa's welfare might be your most favoured course of action.

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. One of Daenerys' Dothraki guards entered and whispered something in her ear. She turned to the guard and nodded her head and then turned to the rest of the room. "It appears we have visitors." she said as she left the map room and made her way to the throne room to await their guests.

Inside the throne room were around twenty men, dressed in grey who looked bedraggled. The one who stepped forward looked old and haggard, his hair grey and thinning despite his youth. Theon Greyjoy bowed his head.

"Your grace." he said nervously.

"Why are you hear?" Daenerys asked.

"My uncle attacked our fleet." Greyjoy started.

"I'm well aware of that fact. I destroyed the rest, although I fail to see how he managed, his fleet wasn't such a great size." she raised an eyebrow.

"We thought you were dead." Varys observed.

"I should be." Theon agreed. "But you didn't destroy his fleet..." he started.

"You tried to single-handedly destroy his fleet?" Tyrion looked at Daenerys aghast.

"I wasn't alone, Drogon and Viserion were with me." Daenerys gave him a steely glare and turned to Theon. "Your sister?"

"Euron has her. I came to ask the if you could help get her back." Theon pleaded.

"I destroyed his ships." Daenerys told him.

"Euron has almost a thousand ships your grace, the ships he used to attack us was only a small part of his fleet." Theon told her. "The rest are still moored in Blackwater Bay."

Daenerys walked over to the window which faced out to the sea. "A thousand ships you say?"

"Yes your grace." Theon nodded.

"We don't have a large enough fleet to beat Euron, but we do have enough men to win a land battle and I have more than enough dragons to destroy from the air." she turned around to face them. "Lord Hand, how do you suppose your sister has secured the alliance of Euron Greyjoy?" she asked.

"I suspect he is...warming her bed." Tyrion replied awkwardly.

"And where does your brother fit into all of this? Isn't he also warming your sister's bed?" she asked.

"I think that situation has changed." Tyrion was dreading this moment. "I saw Lannister soldiers marching towards Winterfell..."

"Are you sure they were marching towards, not marching on Winterfell?" she narrowed her eyes.

"My brother has secured the Twins and Moat Cailin, effectively protecting the north from any southern adversaries. I believe my brother and sister have had a row." Tyrion explained.

"That's one hell of a row." Theon frowned.

"Why would he turn against your sister?" Daenerys asked.

"As you already know, Cersei blew up the Sept of Baelor with all of her enemies inside. King Tommen killed himself because Queen Margaery was inside, except she wasn't and I suspect Cersei knew, but never told him." Tyrion said.

"How do you know she wasn't in the Sept?" Varys looked surprised.

"Because she was in Winterfell. I believe Lady Sansa rescued her. Which is why you could not secure the services of Lady Olenna and why most of the Lannister troops are now supporting the north."

"And the Tyrell forces?" Daenerys asked.

"Probably hiding the food and grain." Tyrion told her.

Daenerys turned to Theon. "There is nothing I can do to help your sister right now. I do not have the naval fleet to counter Euron Greyjoy. I will not risk my dragons in a foolish rescue attempt until we know for certain where she is being kept."

"Your grace, I think Yara..." Theon started.

Daenerys held her hand up to stop him. "For now, we will concentrate on our land endeavour." she turned to Tyrion. "Go rest, we shall see what tomorrow brings." she said turning to Theon. "Lord Greyjoy, I would advise you and your men do the same. Our meeting it over."

Tyrion and Varys left the map room followed by Theon. "Lord Tyrion." Theon called out from behind, Tyrion stopped and turned. "Is it true you've just returned from Winterfell?" he asked.

"I have." Tyrion nodded.

"Is Lady Sansa..." Theon started.

"Lady Sansa is well." Tyrion smiled. "And I also believe she is also happily married this time." for some reason, he knew this piece of information was going to piss the Greyjoy boy off, but he couldn't help himself.

"Who is she married to?" Theon looked confused.

"Jon Snow." Tyrion replied.

"She can't, he's her brother." Theon looked shocked.

"Cousin." Tyrion corrected him. "And believe me she can and has."

"How can they carry on the Stark name? They see each other as brother and sister." Theon looked confused.

"I was a witness to the consummation, I believe they've been...practising." Tyrion smirked.

"They'd never do that. Robb would hate it. Lord and Lady Stark..." he started.

"She has married King Aegon Targaryen." Tyrion said quietly. "The only man alive who would treat her better than you is him. Trust me when I tell you that they appear to be very much in love."

"They didn't like each other as children." Theon frowned.

"Which is probably why they can see each other the way they do as adults. Be happy for her." he patted Theon on the arm, before he and Varys made their way to Tyrion's chambers. Once inside, Varys closed the doors and began to check every spy area while Tyrion poured them both some wine. "So, what have I missed?" he asked.

"Let me see. Our Queen wanted to defeat the entire Greyjoy army, we told her it was a bad idea, she took herself, Drogon and Viserion." Varys started.

"What was wrong with Rhaegal, why didn't he go?" Tyrion asked, Jon's words about stealing a dragon suddenly coming back to him.

"He was off hunting when she decided to go. What of it?" Varys asked.

"Jon Snow suggested...although admittedly it was in the heat of passion...that he'd resort to stealing her dragons." Tyrion told his bald friend.

"And how would he do that all the way from Winterfell? A loud whistle? And if he did intend to you, why would he tell you?" Varys rolled his eyes.

"I suppose." Tyrion nodded, still unconvinced.

"If he told you this during the heat of passion, he clearly wasn't focussing on the passion very much." Varys smirked.

"Oh he had the passion alright. That bedding would have had Littlefinger blushing."

"Speaking of our old friend, how is Lord Baelish faring these days?" Varys asked.

"Guess." Tyrion ran a finger across his neck.

"Oh dear. It seems our mockingbird rescued a chick, thinking it to be a dove; then the chick grew into an eagle, and the mockingbird got its feathers plucked." Varys sighed. "Most unfortunate, he will be missed." Varys feigned a look of sadness.

"What else have I missed?" Tyrion asked.

Varys looked nervous. "One of my little birds gave me news of Casterly Rock, just before our meeting. Of course it isn't official yet and I do need confirmation..."

"And time for me to come up with another plan?" Tyrion suggested, Varys nodded. "Tell me the worst." he put his head in his hands.

"The Unsullied easily took Casterly Rock. but there were only but a handful of soldiers manning the garrisons. Everything and everyone else had been evacuated. The stores, the gold, the people; not even a sheet of linen left on the bed." Varys shook his head. "Not only that, but the ships which carried the Unsullied were all destroyed."

"Where did he get the information from?" Tyrion frowned.

"Sansa Stark?" Varys shrugged, Tyrion looked at him in surprise. "She seems to know everything. I presume she is utilising our late friend's spies, and setting up her own. Look at who she has by her side. The North, the Vale, the Riverlands and the Reach. With your brother, that would give her and Jon Snow the Westerlands. Currently the Iron Islands are split in two, and if our Queen continues to be less than helpful in her attitude towards the Greyjoy boy, I fear she will lose him and our fleet to Sansa Stark and Jon Snow."

"It is interesting you say that, for we know the location of the Northern, Vale, Riverlands and Westerlands armies, yet nobody knows where the Tyrell army is. Wouldn't one notice a hundred thousand men marching around Westeros?" Tyrion was plotting.

"So my dear friend, how do you propose we find such an invisible, large army?" Varys asked.

"Look down." Tyrion smirked.

Daenerys and Missandei were taking a stroll on the beach when Tyrion and Varys found them. It had been Tyrion's idea to choose a more soothing location than inside the castle, hoping it would help temper their Queen's mood.

"Your grace." Tyrion called out from behind as Daenerys and Missandei stopped and turned around.

"What is it?" Daenerys asked.

"We took Casterly Rock." Tyrion winced.

Daenerys smiled "That's very good to hear." Tyrion and Varys looked at each other and then back at the Queen, not eager to deliver the bad news. "Isn't it?" she asked.

"Not exactly." Tyrion frowned. "They knew we were coming, evacuated and emptied the castle. It is just an empty building. The surrounding Lords have also disappeared, and my brother has gone north to Winterfell. It is also believed the grain in the Reach has also been relocated, as has the gold. Although it is uncertain under whose orders this was taken. Either Lady Olenna or my sister. And...someone destroyed the ships which carried the Unsullied."

"It seems all of my Westerosi allies and ships have been taken from me while I've been sitting here on this island." Daenerys snapped.

"We still have the largest army." Tyrion insisted, although that was far from certain, if the entire Reach, Westerlands, Vale, North and Riverlands were fighting together; their combined armies would be nearing a hundred and fifty thousand, maybe more.

"Who won't be able to eat because all the food from the Reach is missing." Daenerys started walking again, this time faster.

"Call Grey Worm and the Unsullied back. We still have enough ships here at Dragonstone to carry the rest of the Dothraki to the mainland. Commit to the blockade of King's Landing. We have a plan. It's still the right plan." Tyrion tried to press his case.

Daenerys stopped walking, and turned towards Tyrion. "The right plan? Your strategy has lost us Dorne, the Iron Islands and most of my ships." her eyes flashed with anger.

"If I've underestimated our enemies..." Tyrion started.

"Our enemies? Your family and ex wife, you mean. Perhaps you don't want to hurt them after all." Daenerys said icily as looked out to the ocean where three dragons are flying in the sky over the water.

"We could search for the Tyrell..." Tyrion started.

"Enough with the clever plans." Daenerys turned and glared at Tyrion. "I have three large dragons. I'm going to fly them to the Red Keep. We don't have the time or the grain to feed my soldiers. Take the capital, and force the Lords to swear fealty to me."

"We've discussed this." Tyrion protested.

"My enemies are in the Red Keep. What kind of a queen am I if I'm not willing to risk my life to fight them?" Daenerys asked haughtily.

"A smart one." Tyrion replied.

Daenerys looks over to Varys. "What do you think I should do?" she asked.

"Find the food and gold your grace." Varys suggested. "Fly to Highgarden and speak to Lady Olenna, make her see sense."

"And if she has fled?" Daenerys asked. "It seems everyone in Westeros knows of our plans. I wonder why?" she glared at both Varys and Tyrion.

"I doubt she'll have gone far your grace. She's old and physically frail, even if her wits are sharper than any Valyrian steel dagger. Might I suggest you try one of the surrounding houses." Varys offered.

Tyrion suddenly had an idea. "If I might offer a suggestion your grace. They might not be the most powerful House in the Reach, but House Tarly may be the key." he smiled. "Both Lady Margaery and Dickon Tarly are at Winterfell. Dickon Tarly escorted a shipment of grain from the Reach to Winterfell, which suggests Randyll Tarly may know something about where it is being kept. Start there and you might find what you are looking for. Once you have the food, you can lay siege to the capital your grace." Tyrion hoped this would be a better argument.

Daenerys frowned. "Finally a useful piece of information. I will go myself." she turned to Tyrion. "You will come with me. Everyone else can stay here. The Unsullied can meet me at Highgarden. If Lady Olenna is not there we will go to..." she looked at Tyrion.

"Horn Hill your grace."

"Horn Hill. Let us hope Lord Tarly will be of service and see sense. I wouldn't want Dickon Tarly to become a Lord at a young age." her voice was menacing, Tyrion swallowed. As much as he adored Daenerys, he often wondered if he'd made the right decision in following her. He knew Varys was reconsidering his options, although he hadn't particularly voiced such an opinion. Not that he would. If Varys were to change, Tyrion knew where he would go, because despite the threat he'd had in Winterfell, if he could, he'd do exactly the same.