It took 5 days before Thomas returned to their bed. Dany had been laying there alone when she felt the weighed of another individual shift the blankets around her. Turning her head she saw Thomas snuggled up to her and wrap an arm around her waist. "I'm sorry I left." She heard him mutter into her hair. "I just needed time to think." He took a deep breath before continuing. "While I can't say I approve of your decision to lock up the dragons I can understand why you did it. I'm sorry I gave you a hard time."
Dany turned around to face him. Taking his face in her hands she gave him a tender kiss. "You have nothing to be sorry for Thomas. I'm just glad your back." She kissed him again before snuggling closer. "I heard you have gone on patrols with the Dothraki." He nodded against her head. "How have they been going?"
"Nothing to report. Although the people definitely don't like us." Dany looked up at him silently asking for more information. "The slaves love us but everyone else, seems to hate us. It gives you the feeling you're going to be stabbed in the back."
"I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to try that against you when you're surrounded by Dothraki screamers." Dany sighed.
"True." Thomas admitted. "Enough talk, let's get some sleep." Thomas yawned. Dany silently agreed as they both drifted off to sleep.
Throughout the next week, nothing of note happened. Life eventually fell into a set schedule that everyone seemed to enjoy. Dany finally started teaching Thomas Valyrian and Missandei seemed to be teaching Grey Worm the common tongue. One day Missandei and Dany made the two have a conversation with the each other using the others language. Dany and Missandei teased them relentlessly for days afterwards. The day before Daario was dew back things started to heat up again.
That morning a group of Unsullied came in carrying a dead comrade. When questioned they explained that he was murdered in a whore house and the only witness told them a man wearing a gold mask slit his throat. Dany called a council meeting soon after she ordered the man be given an honorable burial.
"They call themselves, the sons of the Harpy." Ser Barristan explained. "As you can tell, they aren't fans of your rule."
"How did you find out about this?" Thomas asked. Ser Barristan merely rang a small bell and a thin young man wearing dirty rags walked in.
He bowed before Daenerys. "Missa."
"You know about the Sons of the Harpy?" Dany asked.
"Aye, they work for masters to put us back in chains." Thomas could practically see the hate pouring off the young man.
"You're sure the masters are funding them? Maybe they are just a pissed off group of people." Thomas shrugged.
"I am positive. They hate what you have done to their city. Removing slavery and breaking tradition. They cry for your blood."
"Even if the masters are supporting them, all it will take is a small show of force and they should back down." Thomas offered.
"I agree. Step up patrols in all sectors to ensure we find them as quickly as possible. When we do find them we can give them a trial and if found guilty, punish them." Barristan offered his advice and Dany nodded her thanks.
"Then we shall do just that." Dany turned to Grey Worm. "I want all Patrols to be doubled until the sons of the Harpy are gone." Grey Worm nodded before rushing off to do as ordered. "Thomas I want you to take a small group of Dothraki and investigate the place where our man was murdered. See what you can find and report back to me." Dany turned back to the young man in rags. "What is your name?"
"My name is Mossador, Missa." Mossador bowed again.
"Thank you, Mossador, I promise you than sons of the Harpy will be brought to justice." Dany then dismissed everyone.
As the day passed Dany became more and more anxious. Around Dinner time Thomas came back empty handed. "We were able to narrow down the area but we couldn't find any evidence." Thomas reported with disappointment.
"Well there is always tomorrow." Dany sighed. "Grey Worm also reported nothing of interest. GO wash up and get to bed I shall join you shortly." Thomas nodded before walking off. Dany sighed when he was out of sight and left to go visit her children and try and enlist their help.
When she returned that night, Thomas was already asleep. 'He must have exhausted himself looking for the murderer.' Dany thought as she carefully entered the bed.
The next day Daario returned with her selected representative. Sitting in the throne room she eagerly awaited Yunkai's decision.
"The people of Yunkai have agreed to have a council made up of former slaves and masters. All decision the make will be brought to me and in turn I will bring them to you."
"Good." Dany smiled.
"They did ask for some concession." Hizdahr added causing Dany to role her eyes.
"And what might these concession be?" She wondered.
"Politics is the art of compromise. Your grace." Hizdahr pointed out.
"I'm not a politician, I'm a queen." Dany shot back. Thomas chuckled when Hizdahr sighed.
"Forgive me, you're right of course. Still, it's easier to rule happy subjects, than angry ones."
"Why should we expect the wise masters to be happy? The thrived on slavery, and we ended it. As well as putting many of their family to the cross." Thomas pointed out from his spot beside Daenerys.
"They don't ask for the return of slavery, they ask that you reopen the fighting pits." Hizdahr finally gave the concessions.
"The fighting pits, where slaves fought slaves to the death?" Dany asked, flabbergasted that he would think she would allow that.
"In the new world that you have brought to us, free men would fight free men." Hizdahr pointed out quickly.
"You are substituting free with slave. Nothing would change, only the titles the men carry." Thomas fired back.
"Regardless the fighters you liberated beg for you to give them this opportunity." Hizdahr continued to argue.
"No fighting pits." Dany stated.
"Opening them would show the people of Meereen, that you respect their traditions."
"I do not respect the tradition of human cock fighting." Dany's smile was starting to become forced as Hizdahr refused to back down. Thomas fidgeted impatiently and Daario played with his knife. Hizdahr was again going to argue before Dany finally snapped. "How many times must I say no before you understand. Now get out." Dany waved him away. When he was gone Daario stepped forward but stopped at her fierce glare.
"Obviously we were successful, your grace." Daario smiled while she continued to frown. "Although I have to ask why there are so many patrols."
"Sons of the Harpy have started to kill our soldiers. We are trying to stop them." Thomas answered.
"Have you found any?" Daario asked.
"We were able to narrow the search down but were unable to find evidence to convict someone." Thomas looked away in shame.
"Well then, take me to the area and I will find all the evidence we will need." Daario turned to leave. Thomas glanced at Dany who was rubbed her head in irritation. She could tell Daario was trying to avoid her anger and it was annoying. She eventually nodded for Thomas to go just to get some quiet.
When they appeared in the district Thomas had narrowed it down to Daario quickly asked around.
"The key to finding a murderer is looking for obvious evidence in obscure places." Daario began as they walked down the street.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Thomas wondered.
"It means exactly what it says. You look for obvious evidence, like a bloody knife or the mask, in obscure places. Somewhere you wouldn't even think to look. Also keep in mind the body language of the people around you. If someone knows you are searching for them they will be more nervous. Prone to glancing around nervously." Daario smirked before grabbing a man and pinning him to a wall.
"What are you doing?" Thomas asked as the man cried out.
"Finding your murderer." Daario then ordered the man to show them his home. When they got there Daario walked around.
"We already searched this house Daario, nothing was found." Thomas crossed his arms.
"Then you haven't looked hard enough." Daario snapped back before pulling out a loose brick. The rest of the wall soon followed revealing cloaks, a dagger and a golden mask. "Seize him." Daario ordered his men when the Harpy tried to flee.
"Didn't think he would hide it in a wall." Thomas muttered.
"Of course you didn't, you don't know the people like I do." Daario's smug smile annoyed Thomas who barely refrained from punching him.
Returning to the pyramid an hour later they found Dany in the conference room awaiting their report. "Did you find anything new?' Dany asked as the entered.
"Daario found the murderer." Thomas answered. Dany's eyes widened in shock before turning to Daario.
"Where is he then?"
"In your dungeon awaiting your justice." Daario bowed.
"Good." Dany simply nodded.
"I do have something I want to discuss with you though." Daario walked over and poured himself some wine.
"Oh and what would that be?" Dany asked.
"I want you to reopen the fighting pits." Daario replied bluntly.
"Are you mad? I will never reopen those pits!" Dany growled.
"My mother was a whore. When I was old enough she sold me to a man who trained fighters in the pits. I didn't mind, I was hard to handle. I wasn't big, but I was quick. The master saw this and trained me to use it to my advantage. I had my first match when I was 16." Daario explained.
"You were sold into slavery, forced to fight to the death for the masters against your will and you're defending the fighting pits?" Dany was dumbfounded. Thomas was just surprised the man had survived so long to be able to get out of the pits.
"I'm only here because of those pits." Daario pointed out. "I learned to fight like a Dothraki screamer, a Westerosi knight, soon I was famous with 2000 men screaming my name when I stepped into the pit. I made so much money for my master that he set me free when he died. I joined the second sons and here we are." Daario opened his arms indicating they knew the rest.
"Still that doesn't mean everyone who enters has any training." Thomas pointed out.
"Back then yes, but now people would have to sign up to be in the pits of get sponsored. No more forced entry." Daario replied.
"You're the queen." Daario turned back to Daenerys. "Everyone but Tom and I are too afraid to speak the truth. You have made thousands of enemies all across the world. As soon as they sense weakness, they will strike. Show your strength, here and now."
"That's why we stepped up patrols." Thomas muttered.
"Any buffoon with a chest full of gold can buy unsullied. She isn't the mother of Unsullied. She is the mother of Dragons." Daario glared at Thomas. Dany seemed to deflate at the mention of her children.
"I don't want another child's bones dropped at my feet." Dany's voice was small and filled with fear and sadness. Thomas moved behind her and rubbed her shoulders. Daario's eyes narrowed in rage before he hid it. No one has seen Drogon in weeks. For all I know he has flown halfway around the world. And Rhaegal and Viserion won't listen to me anymore. I can't control them anymore."
"A dragon queen with no dragons?" Daario asked. "That's not a queen."
Dany sighed before leaning back against Thomas. "You may leave us. But don't think I forgot about what you tried to do before I sent you away. We will have a long conversation about that." Dany glared at Daario who slowly exited the room. She relaxed when the door closed leaving only her and Thomas.
"I hate him, but even I have to admit he has a point." Thomas muttered after a few moments.
"About the pits?" Dany groaned.
"No, about the dragons." Thomas continued his ministrations. "If people don't see them, they will assume they all left. They will be more daring in their attacks and won't be as fearful of you as they were before."
"I tried talking to them yesterday night, they were angry at me. Roaring and breathing fire until I ran away. They hate me." Dany whispered as a tear fell from her eye.
"Locking someone in the dark alone with no sunlight and no obvious reason will do that to a creature. Although I doubt I would have much luck even if you let me talk to them. They probably thought I abandoned them." Thomas sighed. "Whatever happens though, we will face it together." Dany could only nod as she allowed herself to drift away from all her problems.
SOOOOOOOO SORRY for the long wait everyone! I promise it won't happen any time soon again. So sorry. I won't give excuses since you don't want to hear that. Anyway I have been thinking, some authors up little omakes at the end of some chapters. Some funny others serious. I was thinking of doing that towards the end of season 6 and into season 7 with changed plot. Different characters. For example have Margery alive and forced to wed Thomas to secure the Tyrells allegiance or have Sansa marry Thomas for the north. Those kinds of things. Let me know what you think. Obviously they wouldn't be cannon to this story but spinoffs for fun.