"When will the King of Meereen come to take my place?"

She rolled her eyes, trailing her fingers from Daario's chin to neck, then to chest.

She could finally be happy when the Sons of the Harpy attacks were over. She allowed the arenas to reopen and married Hizdahr, and the city seemed calmer from then on. Either the attacks will end now forever, or they will gather their strength and strike one last time. They should not lay down their weapons, they must be ready for such an eventuality.

But now she pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind. She was happy with what she had and didn't want to destroy the bubble of happiness she was currently in.

She wasn't tormented by any dreams, the city was quiet, there was nothing to do but take advantage of it.

"I think he's smart enough to know that he can't count on anything." she replied, rolling over and moving closer. She felt his hands on her hips as he held her close to him.

"The Sons of the Harpy stopped killing because their leader became king."

She raised an eyebrow. It was some kind of theory, but she didn't believe it for a moment. She had already concluded that they were probably paid by someone from another city. And even if they didn't, they've stopped killing, so they can take a break for a while and lower their shields a bit, but not completely.

"Are you jealous?" A smile crept onto her face. The wide smile she had been wearing more often lately was a welcome change. In her mind that was the only reason for him to talk like that. "Of someone like Hizdahr?"

"Do you think I would accuse an innocent person just because he is some kind of competition?" in her eyes, he was no competition for the man she was currently lying naked in bed with and cuddling closely with. She remained silent, a smile was answer enough. "Okay, you're right, my intentions are completely impure."

He kissed her and rolled her onto her back, hovering over her. After a few kisses, his lips moved down to her neck and began to caress the delicate skin there.

"That doesn't mean I'm wrong about him."

She didn't stop him from kissing her neck and then her cleavage, but instead of being interested in him, she started thinking about those words.

"You really think so?" she asked, tugging lightly on his hair. "You told me that I had made a lot of enemies, that I couldn't fight them all, that I should show my strength... But I managed to stop them without bloodshed. I had no choice but to marry him."

"Everyone has a choice." he pulled away slightly to look into her eyes. "Even a slave, live in slavery or die."

"So what could I do?" she asked, placing her hands on the back of his neck and kissing him.

"Marry me."

She fell silent. She wasn't prepared for this answer.

"I would like to." she answered truthfully. "But I can't, ever." she added, feeling her own heart protest. She would like to be able to always follow her heart, but the world is not that good. She sometimes has to sacrifice herself for her goal. She dreamed of a personal happiness, but increasingly she doubted that it was meant for her. Although she thought back to the boy she dreamed about and wondered if there was still any hope for her then.

"Why not? You are the Queen, you can do whatever you want."

"Every choice has consequences." she sighed and looked away, he got off her and lay down next to her. "Marriage to Hizdahr is political, brings political benefits. It is common to arrange such marriages."

"So we're not all free after all." she couldn't argue with that.

She sat up and combed with hand her loose hair. Her mood was dropping again, she didn't feel as happy as she had just a few minutes ago.
Will this ever end? Will she stop worrying and being afraid and be able to enjoy life? Or will she have enemies to fight with for the rest of her life?

"I know I'm here to serve my Queen, not to advise, but may I make a suggestion?" she turned to him, feeling his gentle, warm hand on her back. She nodded and lay back down, resting her head on his chest. "On the day of the great games, gather as many Great and Wise Lords as you can and kill them all."

Her eyes widened at the suggestion. Did he suggest that she... murder them by trickery and become no better than them? To once again denied the values she wants to spread among people?
Instead of a liberator, she would be called a coward who eliminates her enemies by trickery. She would violate all the rules and people would never trust her again. Because how can you trust a person who doesn't respect anyone and anything?

"I'm not like them." she said with certainty. "I am the Queen, not a butcher of my people."

"All rulers are butchers or meat." he placed his hand on her cheek. "Not everyone is as good and merciful as you, and they will stop at nothing to destroy you. You have to be faster than them." seeing her gloomy face, he kissed her forehead, trying to console her a little. But he had to tell her, someone had to.

The worst thing was that - again - she couldn't disagree with him.

She didn't want to watch fights in arenas, but she was forced to. It was one time, but she couldn't bear it. She wanted to leave at the beginning when she saw how brutally the men were fighting each other, but Hizdahr stopped her because it was tradition after all.

Fuck their traditions, I will find them another one to end these barbaric entertainments as soon as possible.

Back at the Great Pyramid, she wanted nothing more than to take a bath. Hot water that will wash away all the disgust, everything. It will help her relax and not think about anything.
A pipe dream, because as soon as she came back she learned, that someone urgently needed to talk to her.

"Who? The looking is two days away." she replied Missandei when she told her that someone was waiting outside the audience hall.

"They didn't introduce themselves, but they said it's very important, Your Grace. It's just two people."

She sighed, but climbed the stairs to her seat and nodded for the soldiers to let in those waiting outside the door.
It's a good thing she was already sitting, because she would have had to sit down when she saw who knocked on her door. One of the last people in the world she would suspect of this.

"You stand in the presence of Visenya of House Targaryen, First of Her Name, rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms-"

"They know who I am." she interrupted Missandei and slowly stood up from her seat. She descended a few steps, looking between Varys and Tyrion. "What are you doing here?"

From the tone of her voice, it was easy to guess that she was not happy with who she saw in her city. The son of the man who in many aspects destroyed her life and a eunuch who betrays the ruler whenever it suits him and, in addition, tried to kill her in Astapor. And it's because of him that Daenerys is dead.

"Your Grace-" Tyrion began.

"Why shouldn't I have you killed here and now, when I finally have the power to do so?" she interrupted him. This time there was no sound of surprise, just pure anger that she tried to keep in check.

"Many would do that." Varys spoke this time, but she quickly silenced him too.

"As for you, I have just the right reason to kill you." she put her hands behind her back so they wouldn't see her clenching them into fists, trying to relieve some of her anger. "You are guilty of the death of my aunt, Daenerys Targaryen, and also of trying to kill me. Do you have anything to say in your defense?" he started to say something, but she didn't let him finish, as if she didn't care about his motive, only what he did. "Ser Arthur!"

"He did it to survive! You should know the best what we are ready to do to stay alive." Tyrion intervened, although the sound of the sword being drawn could already be heard. This time she didn't speak, remembering her childhood. She had done a lot of things as a kid, but she was nowhere near Varys' level. However, she allowed him to continue talking. "If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be here. I was wrongly sentenced to death for Joffrey's murder, he freed me. Even though I killed my own father, he helped me escape and talked me into meeting you because he believes you are a chance for this world."

She didn't want to believe it. She knew about Tyrion's conflict with Tywin, but it was hard to give credence that Tyrion had killed his father, she would have expected it to be the other way around. But she could still believe him, he was always kind to her, even if it was only compassion.

"So I have in front of me someone who killed his father and someone who killed my aunt. Not a very trustworthy couple." she said waspishly, as if not paying attention to the essence of what he said.

"And who do you have behind you?" she raised an eyebrow at Tyrion's remark. "Former mercenary and best knight of the Seven Kingdoms. You didn't know them either, you trusted them to be true to their oaths to you."

"A poor comparison as for you, Tyrion." despite her answer, in her mind she admitted that he was somewhat right.

"You used and threw my brother into the sea, just as you used him years earlier to get rid of the annoying septa. From that perspective, I'd say you're not trustworthy either."

A small smile wanted to creep on her lips at such an accurate answer, but she held it back. She had to behave appropriately and not let them manipulate her in any way. She is no longer the scared little girl they knew, she is now Queen, with lands, wealth, titles, an army and dragons. She no longer has to bow to anyone or be afraid of.

"What do you expect from me?" she asked, surprisingly in a much calmer tone. Her hands had already relaxed too and she held them loosely clasped in front of her.

"Justice." Varys was talking this time. "We want to help you achieve what you want: Change the world for the better. You ask if you can trust me... My loyalty is with the common people who cannot fight against the strong. I understand if you demand complete loyalty, but if you allow me to serve you, I will do everything in my power to see you on the Iron Throne, because we have the same goal in which we believe. But if you don't want me here, I'll leave Meereen as soon as I leave this pyramid."

"I'd rather have a sword meet my neck, if you don't want me, I don't want to spend weeks in a carriage again."

In fact, she might let them stay. If she actually has the Master of Whisperers on her side, who has spies everywhere, he could be very useful. But she will never forget what he did and if he ever does anything against her, she will use this accusation to kill him if she didn't have evidence for his betrayal.

As for Tyrion, she never held anything against him, sometimes she even had the impression that Lord Tywin preferred her over his dwarf son. She remembered that he had been Hand of the King until the Battle of the Blackwater, when Tywin Lannister had come to the capital and taken over the position. He had some experience and could advise her on certain matters. But that doesn't mean she won't keep an eye on him. She will be watching them both closely.

"You can stay in my city." she replied, after this brief moment of reflection and focused her eyes on a Lannister. "I can accept Tyrion more easily, he has never done anything wrong to me. But you, Varys..." she looked at the eunuch. "You're going to have to work hard to earn even a little bit of my sympathy. And if any of you betray me - in any way - I will burn you alive." she was about to quickly go down the stairs and head for the exit, but she stopped mid-step.

"I wouldn't expect anything less from the Dragon Queen." she couldn't hold back the smile under her breath, which had a bit of sympathy, and a bit of malice and anger.

I trusted Daario and he didn't let me down, I hope it will be the same with them.

"Missandei, please give them a room on the lower floor." she said before quickly walking towards the exit and immediately up the stairs to her chambers. "How much nerve do you have to have come to me after something like that...!" she said to Ser Arthur as she climbed the stairs.

"Or be very brave." he replied, walking right next to her.

"I knew Varys was mostly an unpredictable man, but I never expected to see him here, in Meereen, on my doorstep."

" Will you trust them?"

"Never as much as I trust you." she smiled at him only after a moment, realizing that she had said it in a slightly too tender tone and turned her head to hide her softly blushing cheeks. "Call Tyrion to me, I'd like to talk to him privately." she said quickly to change the subject. "And then take some rest, I think I can defend myself against the dwarf if he tries to do anything, which I sincerely doubt anyway."

"Your Grace." he nodded and returned through the path they had just walked together.

What's wrong with me? I really can't control the tone in which I speak to him?

She sat down at the table she had set up on the balcony and poured herself a full glass of wine. She'll need much more than that if she wants to erase the brutal arena fights and her unusually tender tone of voice that could suggest something more on her part.
While waiting for Tyrion, she slowly managed to empty the goblet halfway.

"You've got a nice place here." he sat down on a chair on the other side of a small, round table and immediately reached for the wine. "For a moment I thought you were really going to have us killed."

She didn't comment, just leaned forward and took the goblet from him just before he was about to drink, setting it on the counter.

"You must think clearly if you are to advise me." she emphasized the word 'soberly' and tilted her head slightly. She considered bringing up the topic of Varys with him, but quickly decided against it. Only time will verify whether they are truly loyal to her.

"Advise? Now?" he fell silent for a moment, clasping his hands on his stomach. "On what?"

"How to get the Iron Throne."

"Do you really want that uncomfortable chair?" he frowned and reached for his glass again, but only drank a little, seeing Visenya roll her eyes. "You're doing very well here, you could still do a lot of good."

"I will also get Lys and Volantis. Then I leave for Westeros."

"How many people's lives have you already changed for the better here? The world is bigger than the Free Cities and Slaver's Bay. Haven't you thought that maybe you fit in better here? That this is where you can do the most?"

"When I conquer Lys and Volantis, the world will begin to forget what slavery was. No one else will ever know what it's like to be sold, bought and exploited. I won't abandon these cities, I won't stop improving them whenever an idea comes to my mind, but I won't stay here any longer. This is not my home. There are people in my home who don't deserve to be there and are tormenting others. I have to deal with them."

She didn't want to stay here forever. She didn't feel as loved as before, but that wasn't even the point. Once she's done everything she can, there will be nothing left for her to do here.
Besides... She misses Westeros, no matter what she experienced there. She felt like she belonged there, even though she couldn't call any place home right now.

She dreamed that King's Landing, the Red Keep, was her home. She was born there, she should live there, rule from there. Her children should be raised there, if she ever has any. She can't let anyone else live there.

"Home." he repeated, as if relishing the word. "They say that home is made by people, not places."

"It is made up of both." she commented, standing up from her seat and looking out over the balcony, resting her hands on the stone railing.

"When you come to Westeros... Who will support you?"

"Common people. And the Martells, even if Dorian is not convinced, Oberyn will surely be able to talk some sense into him." she removed one hand from the railing and let it loosely along her body, turning to look at Tyrion.

He decided it would be better - given the current situation - not to tell her that her uncle Oberyn had died fighting the Mountain for him during the trial by combat, just in case... He would tell her that someday, but not today. And not tomorrow. Certainly not this week.

"Okay, let's optimistically assume that people actually side with you. The Martells? Well, of course, your mother was Elia Martell, they should support their close relative. But that's not enough." she frowned. What did he mean that it wasn't enough and that people might not want her rule at all? Fortunately, he was quick to explain. "Here you had the support of the people, but the rich despised you. What was it like to rule before you married one of them?"

"If I had treated them worse, they would definitely have behaved differently."

"They would rather put up even more resistance, the rich don't like being cut off from easy money, no matter how much gold they already have." out of politeness, she restrained from using this sentence to insult him, saying: 'do you know this from your example?' "House Targaryen is gone. There is not a single person who shares your blood who can support you. The surviving Lannisters will not support you for obvious reasons. Stannis Baratheon? He is fighting for the throne himself and his claim is based on illegitimacy of yours. Starks? The youngest are dead, the daughters are probably dead, and the oldest son is most probably dead too. And even if, they probably wouldn't support you, their North was supposed to be independent." she didn't interrupt him, she just sighed quietly and reached for some wine to make the conversation even a bit more pleasant. "The Boltons now officially rule the North, and they are in alliance with the Lannisters. Although the other houses of the North probably despise them, that doesn't mean they would support you. The Tully were similarly destroyed, and now the Freys are the Lords of the Riverlands, a similar situation to the North. The Tyrells..." he thought for a moment, tapping the armrests of his chair. "It's not impossible, but they will remain in alliance with the Iron Throne as long as Margaery is the Queen. The Arryns have not engaged in any war in recent years, and they will not engage in this one. One more..." he put his hand on his beard for a moment and gently pulled it, because he forgot about one family. "Oh yes, Greyjoys, but we might as well say nothing about them, because they always fight only for themselves."

"If I made Loras my king consort, would they support me?" she expressed her thoughts aloud.

She knew Loras preferred men, but given her current situation in these matters, she wouldn't have any problem with it. He might doesn't even care who she sleeps with, if she allowed him the same freedom.
Not such a bad vision of the future.

"You do realize that Loras..."

"Yes." she replied quickly, knowing exactly what he wanted to ask. "Even if... nothing had ever happened between us, history remembers names, not blood. It's only important for children to look like us."

Again, when it came to the issue of children, she felt very uncomfortable, she wanted to abandon this topic as soon as possible in favor of another one, but she couldn't think of anything.

"Let's assume the Tyrells agree. You'll have their support and the largest food supply in Westeros, but just two Great Houses backing you... Especially considering that Dorne has never been considered an important part of the Seven Kingdoms... That won't be enough to keep you in power."

"Varys said you wanted to help me change the world for the better... So we will change it." she raised her glass for a toast. "All Great Houses are part of a wheel that rides and destroys all those beneath it."

"It's a utopian dream that many have shared with you: stop the wheel and stay on top." at these words she smiled in a way that suggested that this was the answer she had expected and had prepared for.

"I'm not going to stop it." her hand with the goblet didn't move as she looked into his eyes, still with the same smile. "I'm going to break it."

And at that moment Tyrion toasted with her.