The Grand Maester's door was heavy and Daenerys had to knock many times before it was opened. The Grand Maester himself looked bewildered at her presence. "Daenerys Targaryen? Why are you here?" He was wearing a loose red ermine robe that stuck to his old boney frame. It was mid-morning and he looked as though he was prepared to turn in already.
"I am sorry, Grand Maester," she dipped in a bow, angling herself forwards, she had heard that this grand maester, whatever his oaths, was fond of pleasures of the flesh. "But I had need of your help."
"My help… let me see what I can do…" He stepped aside and Daenerys entered. His room was a cluttered hexagon filed with plump cushions and chairs. The one behind the grand maester's desk was so lush it wouldn't surprised Daenerys if he slept there rather than a bed. Perhaps it was for that reason that he didn't sit down, but instead stood behind the desk gently. Behind him, a bookcase stood from floor to ceiling complete with heavy tomes while to either side were more shelves stacked with papers and vials filled with unknown fluids.
When he asked what she needed, Daenerys did her best to look demure and repentant. "On the night of King Joffrey's wedding, I fear I imbibed too much wine and committed a… dalliance." With the look on Pycelle's face, she could see that he had heard the rumours. Good. "I am told that there is a tea that can be taken to prevent an unwanted pregnancy…"
Pycelle nodded. "There is such a tea, my lady, I have some here. You are aware of the dangers of such a tea?"
"No," Daenerys said and he told her of the potential risks to her health and future fertility. Neither of them concerned Daenerys, no child she would ever have would be safe, and if she died here… well, she had her revenge for her and Sansa. "I understand, but I cannot risk this."
Pycelle nodded and gave her the vial, telling her to take it within the day. "My thanks, lord Pycelle," she bowed low. "I hope I can ask for your confidence."
"Of course," Pycelle said. Like as not he would tell the Lannisters at the next meeting, but this would add further protection to her story of being with Cley the whole night of Joffrey's wedding. She rested a hand on her stomach, hopeful that he had left no life behind when they had coupled.
On her way back to her chambers Daenerys kept her head down and walked quickly, but the corridors of the Red Keep were largely empty. Some nobles walked the corridors, closely watched by bodyguards, some household retainers, some borrowed or loaned by other lords, and others looked like hired bruisers picked up since the wedding, who were themselves glancing around furtively, their hands twitching at weaponless hips. Lady Merryweather, the sultry dark beauty of Myr, had a silent watcher now, great slabs of muscle stacked one on top of the other in a tight woolen jerkin. He looked like he could tear plate mail in half with his bare hands. Only the occasional man, and it was always a man, walked alone.
Inside her chamber she was surprised to see Sansa waiting on the bed, her direwolf was not there. "Sansa, what are you doing here?"
Sansa's face was melancholy and when she spoke her voice was tight, as though she despaired uttering every word. "We've received word from my brother, it came by raven this morning. We are to return to the North."
Daenerys swallowed. "When?"
"Tristan says we leave tomorrow."
"I see," Dany replied. She'd known it was coming, but so soon… She tried to think of words, but there were none. What could she say to the statement that she was going to lose her only friend?
"Cley says goodbye, he would have come himself but-"
"-can't. I know." Daenerys replied. She hadn't seen him since that night, only passing messages through the Starks. It was for the best, she knew, but it was still an empty feeling, far dwarfed by the pain of Sansa's impending departure and the hole it would leave in her heart. "So, this is goodbye then."
"No. Tomorrow is goodbye, today, you and I are spending every hour together."
And they did. They began in the kitchens where, with Lady watching on, the cooks gave them all the cakes and sweet treats they could wish for. The two of them took the treats and went to the godswood. Alone in the place of northern worship, they gossiped as they ate the cakes and drank a cask of wine that Sansa had demanded. Daenerys found herself laughing and smiling and even joining in when Sansa started dancing. They fell down together breathing heavily as they looked up at the thick canopy. "Daenerys… thank you."
"For what?"
"You know what."
Dany squeezed Sansa's hand and Sansa squeezed back. "It had to be done."
"They might kill you."
"If they find out."
"They'll do to you what they did to my father."
"They will." Dany closed her eyes and imagined her head on a spike, looking out over the city of her ancestors. But she didn't care, she had killed Joffrey and Sansa was leaving, so they could do to her what they liked, she had already won. And they wouldn't get the satisfaction of torture, she would murder herself before she let them do that to her.
"Is that how you think it ends. Suicide?"
Daenerys shrugged as best she was able lying down. It was said that Targaryens of old went to the flames when they died, their ashes scattered from dragonflight, so Viserys had added. She had asked him once what the Targaryens did after the Dragons died. Only once. It might be true, but she cared not. "How do you think it ends?" She asked instead.
Sansa squeezed her hand. "I think it ends in many years. When you and I are old, with our families around us." She turned to look at her. "Safe and away from all of this, and then we will be buried side by side."
Dany smiled but didn't reply because she didn't want to think of it, it was a wonderful dream, but out of reach. She pulled Sansa up and into a tight hug. "Come on, there's still light in the day."
They finished their lemon cakes and returned to the castle. They went to see Princess Myrcella. Both of them were patted down by Ser Mandon Moore and entered Myrcella's rooms to spend some time with her. The princess' face lit up at the sight of them. They spent a happy hour together and left with Myrcella telling Sansa that she hoped they would meet again someday. Sansa whispered a joke that maybe the next time Myrcella would be the hostage. Ser Mandon's hand strayed to his sword but Myrcella laughed and said maybe that would be true. She then invited Daenerys to break her fast with her the next day and Dany agreed.
On their way back to their rooms… no, Dany's rooms, they kept their heads down. Guards were patrolling the corridors in groups of four. They saw the Hound leading a small force down the corridor and into one of the bedrooms. Sounds of protest came from within, but the Hound announced that he was searching the room by the authority of the king. "They searched Lady Tanda's rooms earlier," Sansa whispered to Dany as they moved on, trying not to draw attention.
"They suspect lady Tanda?" The elderly lady of Stokeworth spent much time shepherding her younger daughter Lollys, a simple maid of thirty five, around the castle.
"They are searching rooms, from one dawn to dawn, and without warning," Sansa said, in a clear caution to Daenerys.
Back in their rooms that evening, Dany sat on the edge of her bed with a heavy heart. "Thank you. Today meant everything to me."
"Meant?" Sansa asked. "The day is not yet done. I told you we were spending every hour together."
"Are you staying tonight? But what about your brother."
"Tristan will not stop me."
"But-"
"He will not stop me," she promised, pressing a finger to Daenerys' lips. "Now, before we go to bed, I have something for you." She headed over to a box on Daenerys' vanity, explaining that she had ordered it delivered earlier that day, and opened it. Two bracelets were inside, gleaming silver, embossed with a pearl direwolf and a ruby dragon howling in opposite directions, with their tails wound around each other.
"They're beautiful," Dany whispered picking one up and examining it with care. "Where did you get it?"
"Tristan gave me a stipend to spend in the city when he arrived. I ordered these. By the grace of the gods, they were finished yesterday."
"But you were meant to be gone by yesterday."
"And yet something made me stay," she gave Daenerys a sly smile. "Come here." She slid one of the bracelets onto Daenerys' arm, then held out her own arm for Daenerys put the other on Sansa's arm.
She stared at the bracelet. "Are they matching?"
"Exact matches." She touched them together. "Always bound by them."
Dany nodded, feeling tears come to her eyes. "I will never take it off."
"Nor I."
In bed, when the fires had burned down to embers, she and Sansa were wrapped around each other tightly. Sansa's mouth was resting on Dany's forehead, soothing her sobs with kisses. Why was she so pathetic? She was a murderer, a regicide, she had killed a boy in the tunnels, but the thought of Sansa leaving was enough to break her. "It's okay," Sansa whispered as she apologised for what felt like the hundredth time.
"Will I ever see you again?"
"Yes." Sansa insisted. She tilted Dany's head up so she could look into Sansa's eyes, also gleaming with tears. "We will. I don't know where or when. But I believe we will see each other again. And I will leave you with this promise… if it is ever in my power, I will save you from this place. Like I said in the gardens."
"So we can grow old together?" Dany's laugh was choked. "With our families."
"Perhaps we can even find a pair of brothers to wed the two of us, then we can be sisters, living together and free of King's Landing, I will never allow this place to take you back."
"We are already sisters," Dany whispered, leaning up to kiss Sansa. "Sisters and dearest friends. No one will ever take your place in my heart."
"Nor mine," Sansa replied. They hugged each other tightly and were still that way when they were woken the next morning.
She held Sansa's hand all the way down to the courtyard of the Red Keep, where Sansa gave her a final hug before getting into her wagon, the same one that had brought Jaime Lannister back to the capital, she noted. Daenerys waved, ignoring the looks of the court at the lack of decorum, and was still waving when Prince Tristan gave the order to depart. Cley Cerwyn was at his side and bowed his head to her subtly before turning his horse and following his prince. When they were down in the city, the court turned and headed into the city. Cersei and the Kingsguard keeping close to the boy king, a ring of Lannister guardsmen surrounding them further. The rest of the courtiers disappeared as well. Many with their guards returning to the Red Keep, but most were heading into the city. Was the keep full, or were they judging that the city was safer for them than the tower of red. From me, it is.
"Lady Daenerys." Myrcella was still there with her guards. "Would you like to break your fast with me?" Daenerys smiled and took Myrcella's hand. "We'll see Princess Sansa again." Myrcella promised and pulled Daenerys into the castle.
As they went they stopped by the throne room, where the Hand of the King was sat on the Iron Throne, looking weary and wary as petitioners approached. Lord Rosby was the first petitioner, requesting leave to return to his estates. Many queuing to speak their piece were watching closely, presumably waiting to ask the same question. It seemed she was right, for when Lord Rosby was denied, several of the waiting petitioners departed the throne room with dark and fearful expressions on their faces.
And all of it was her work. She had murdered Joffrey because he deserved to die, he deserved to suffer for all the evils he had inflicted upon her and Sansa. But now Sansa is gone, she is safe, she touched the bracelet on her wrist. She hadn't been thinking of the consequences, she just knew that he had to die and that Sansa had to know. But now she saw the court. She saw the fear the mistrust. She saw the chaos that she had wrought with a single murder, and she wondered…
House Awesome: The ironborn are still in civil war ATM. The Lannister forces outside the Westerlands right now, not including the Tyrells, number around 15-20,000, with about half of them near and in King's Landing and the rest in the Stormlands.
