"What are we going to do with the prisoner?" Thomas asked to everyone. Around him were Daenerys Jorah, Daario, Ser Barristan and the rest of Dany's counsel.
"Kill him." Mossador spoke up quickly. "The sons of the Harpy wish to put collars back around my neck, around all our necks. Please your grace, you must kill him." He pleaded as Dany paced around the room.
"It would send a message." Dany reasoned.
"It might also scare others from joining their cause." Thomas agreed.
"I think you should exercise restraint your grace." Ser Barristan shot out, moving his hands in a placating manner."
"Why?" Dany asked quickly.
"For one thing, he may have valuable information." Barristan pointed out, sounding proud of himself.
"He doesn't have any information." Daario's voice was slightly mocking as he chuckled.
"How do you know?" Thomas asked as he picked up a nearby apple to snack on. Dany looked at him bemused. He shrugged his shoulders as Daario responded.
"I questioned him."
"And the information we do have is that he is young and he is born-" Hizdahr was interrupted by Mossador who glared at him.
"Born free." Venom dripped from his words.
"Why should he want to bring back slavery, what did it ever do for him?" Hizdahr shot back.
"Perhaps the only thing that gave him pride was knowing someone else was below him." Dany offered as she took Mossador's side.
"Thomas shook his head and grunted. "I doubt that would be reason enough for him to risk death. He was probably paid to do join."
"Yes, they pay him. Great families afraid to lash out pay poor men to do it for them." Dany's eyes flickered to Hizdahr who looked annoyed at the unsaid accusation.
"How do you know this?" He asked.
"Everyone knows this." Mossador replied without hesitating.
"I don't know it, and I'm the head of a great family." Hizdahr shook his head.
"How do we know you're not lying?" Thomas muttered just loud enough for everyone to hear.
"We do not know what this man did or did not do." Ser Barristan spoke up trying to placate everyone. "Give him a trial at least. A fair trial, show all the citizens of Meereen that you are better than those who would depose you. Teach them a better way."
"I do not know that place from where old Ser comes, things there may be different I hope, but here in Meereen, before daenerys Stormborn they own us. So we learn much about them or we do not live long." Mossador maintained eye contact with Dany hoping to persuade her to his side. "They teach me what they are. Mercy, fair trial, these mean nothing to them. All they understand is blood."
Everything was quiet for a few moments as everyone took in what he said. Thomas noticed Dany looked slightly troubled. He could understand given how both arguments had their merits.
"Thank you all for your counsel." Dany turned who back to them, clearly dismissing them. Thomas remained seated as everyone filed out. He glance to his right and noticed Ser Barristan standing, waiting for the room to empty.
When it was empty save for them three he turned to Daenerys. "Your grace, a word please?"
"About what?" Dany asked as she turned toward him.
"About your father." Dany tensed up and walked around the table towards Thomas whose attention was now solely focused on Barristan. "About the mad king."
"The mad king, you're here to remind me of my enemy's lies." Dany rolled her eyes as she turned away. "Consider me reminded."
"Your Grace, I served in his king's guard. I was at his side from the first, your enemies do not lie." Ser Barristan tried to convince her to hear him out and was rewarded when she stopped behind Thomas, gripping the boy's shoulder and looking at him.
"Go on."
Barristan took a breath before he began to tell his tale. "When the people rose in revolt against him, your father set their towns and castles aflame. He burned men alive with wildfire." Dany's hand slowly began to tighten over Tom's shoulder and he raised his hand to grip hers. Both enthralled with what Barristan was telling them. "He murdered sons in front of their fathers and laughed as they screamed. In his efforts to stamp out decent, people rose in rebellion that saw the end of every Targaryen, except two."
"Dany swallowed quickly shaking her head. "I'm not my father."
"No, your grace, thank the gods. But the mad king gave his enemies the justice he thought they deserved and each time it made him feel more powerful and right. Until the very end."
Dany was quiet for a moment as she contemplated this. Eventually she looked back up. "I will not have the son of the Harpy executed without a fair trial."
Barristan smiled softly before taking his leave.
When he was gone Thomas turned in his seat and Dany sat on his lap. They held each other for some time before Thomas started subbing her back and humming a soft tune. After some more time Dany mumbled something.
"What was that?" Thomas asked softly.
"Don't let me become my father." Dany's voice was soft with a hint of fear as her grip tightened slightly. "I don't want to go mad."
"You are not your father Daenerys." Thomas moved some hair out of her face. Brushing away a stray tear. "You are not mad. You have never been mad."
"Just promise me you won't let me get mad if it does happen." Dany pleaded. "Don't allow me to become a monster. Promise me you will kill me before that happens."
"Dany I can't-" She cut him off.
"Promise me Thomas Ward. Please." She begged as they held each other. Each sharing their own strength with the other. Thomas looked into her eyes. He saw fear for what she could become, fear that she would hurt innocents.
He sighed before adjusting her on his lap. Looking back into her eyes he promised. "I will do everything in my power to stop you from going mad. I promise." Dany Smiled and gave him a tender kiss.
"Thank you." She smiled as she snuggled into him.
After a few minutes she felt him start to shift every few seconds. Frowning she lifted her head a looked at him expectantly.
"I can't really feel my legs anymore." He confessed. She stared at him blankly for a few seconds before bursting into a fit of laughter. Thomas rolled his eyes but retained his smile as his Queen let her stress wash away.
The rest of the day went by smoothly and soon enough a new day was dawning. With it came news that the captured Harpy was found missing from his cell. A search found the man nailed to a wall, his mask nailed to his face. The bloody words, 'kill the masters' written on a nearby wall. When Dany demanded they find whoever did this it came as a surprise when Mossador came forward and claimed responsibility. Now with everyone standing in the throne room Mossador pleaded his case.
"Why?" Dany started the proceedings.
"For you Missa." Mossador spoke in Valyrian. Thomas silently thanked Daenerys for teaching him to at the moment understand the words spoken. "You wanted the Harpy dead, but your hands were tied. I set you free, as you did all of us."
"He was our prisoner awaiting trial." Dany too spoke in Valyrian. "You had no right." She looked down at him lost on why he would take the law into his own hands.
"He would rather rip your city apart than see slaves lifted from the dirt."
"There are no more slaves." Dany explained as Mossador huffed. "There are no more masters"
"Then who lives in the pyramids? Who wears gold masks and murders your children?" Dany was silent as Mossador talked. The man was getting angrier by the second as Dany refused to join his way of thinking. "When grey worm came to us I was the first to take up the knife for you. I remember the look on my father's face when I struck down his master, who had traded his infant son for a dog. My father died in the fighting. If we allow the Sons of the Harpy to return us to chains, he never lived."
"The Harpy's life was not yours to take." Dany began. Thomas could tell Dany didn't want to punish the man but even he knew this could not be pushed under the rug. "Once the masters were the law_"
"And now you are the law." Mossador interrupted and Dany snapped at him, angered by his interruption.
"The law is the law." She looked behind Mossador where two Dothraki stood waiting for orders. "Take him." They did as told and dragged him out of the room. Mossador stared in shock at Dany who in turn returned his stare.
20 minutes later Dany marched out to the center podium. Around her and her party were slaves calling to her. The masters on the other side stared angrily at her as she walked on the podium. They eventually cried out in anger when Mossador was walked through their ranks.
"She should have cut off the traitors head in the pyramid and been done with it." Thomas heard Hizdahr mutter.
"That's what I wish she would do to you." Daario muttered back.
"For once I can't help but agree with Daario." Thomas said towards them. Everyone quieted when Dany stepped forward to speak.
"You opened your gates to me because I promised you freedom and justice. One cannot exist without the other." Dany moved her gave over the crowd as she spoke. By them Mossador was on the platform and forced to his knees. Thomas stepped forward to stand directly behind him. Mossador called to Daenerys pleading for her not to go through with this. Dany ignored him. "A citizen of Meereen was awaiting trial and this man murdered him. The punishment is death." The crowd of slaves screamed for mercy and Dany let them cry out for a few moments before nodding to Thomas.
Thomas nodded back and pulled out his sword. Laying the blade against Mossador's neck. Thomas waited a few moments to see if Dany would change her mind. When she gave him a slight nod, he brought the sword down in a swift stroke. Mossador's head rolled forward and off the platform as the lifeless body toppled to the floor.
Silence followed the beheading but it was soon filled with hissing as the slaves glared at Thomas and Daenerys. Soon roars of anger rang out as slaves threw rocks at the masters. The masters in turn threw them back and pushed against the unsullied to get to the old slaves.
Sensing that this was no longer a safe place to be Thomas grabbed Dany's arm and dragged her back to the pyramid. Their unsullied blocked and objects thrown with their shields.
"Dany are you ok?" Thomas asked when they made it back to the throne room.
"I'm fine." Dany looked shocked about what happened. "I didn't think they would turn on me like that?" She mumbled to herself.
"I don't think any of us expected that." Thomas wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Let's get you to bed, it's been a long day." He then led her to their chambers while the others went their separate ways.
*one week later*
"Everyone looks so happy from up here." Dany mused from her balcony overlooking Meereen. Barristan who stood behind her chuckled as a particular memory came to him. "What?" Dany asked as she turned to him, a smile adorning her pretty face.
Barristan smiled as he began his story. "I was thinking about all the times your brother, made me go down with him from the red keep into the streets of kings landing."
Dany now gave him her undivided attention. "Why?"
"He liked to walk among the people, he likes to song to them." Barristan informed Dany who seemed to be relishing this new information.
"He sang to them?" Dany asked amused, as if not believing what she was hearing. Moving away from the balcony they made their way inside.
"Yes, Rhaegar would pick a spot on the Hook or the street of seeds and he'd sing. Just like all the other mistrals." Barristan silently rejoiced the opportunity to tell Dany about her family as she was ecstatic to hear about them.
"And what did you do?"
"I made sure no one killed him." Dany seemed to deflate slightly at this answer but Barristan continued swiftly. "I also collected the money." Dany's eyes sparkled once more as she looked up from her seat. "What, I liked to see how much he could make."
"He was good?"
"He was very good." Barristan nodded. "Viserys never told you?"
Dany's eyes darkened at the mention of her other brother. "He told me Rhaegar was good at killing people."
"Rhaegar never liked killing, he loved singing."
Dany looked relieved before asking a question. "What did you do with the money?"
"Well one time, he gave it to the next mistral down the street, another time he gave it to an orphanage in fleebottom and one time, we got horribly drunk." Barristan and Daenerys chuckled.
"He sounded like a wonderful person." Dany sighed.
"He was your grace. Thomas reminds me of him sometimes." When Dany looked at him inquisitively he elaborated. "His mannerisms remind me of when Rhaegar was a young lad first learning how to rule. They also both have a love of books."
"I wonder if Thomas can sing." Dany pondered.
"I don't know your grace. You should ask him. Even if he can't sing he might be able to make a good song for a bard." Barristan shrugged his shoulders. In all honesty he doubted Thomas could sing but Dany seemed to want him to be able to. "Where is the lad anyway?"
"Out patrolling the streets with his Dothraki." Dany stated. "They seem to love looking for hideaways and such."
"Your grace." Daario walked in before Barristan could respond. "Hizdahr is here to see you in the audience chamber."
Dany sighed. "How many others are there?"
Daario blew out a breath. "50, 100."
"Will you be joining us Ser Barristan?" Dany asked the old knight who smiled down at her.
"I believe I can protect you from Hizdahr Zo Lorac." Daario spoke up.
"I think I can protect myself from Hizdahr ZO Lorac." Dany scoffed. "GO Ser Barristan, Sing a song for me." Dany said softly, as a smile adorned her face.
Ser Barristan bowed before taking his leave.
*outside in a market*
"First round is on me today boys." Thomas offered as he and five Dothraki entered a nearby market to get a drink. They had been on patrol for 2 hours now. They had been coming to this place frequently whenever they went on patrol. The riders enjoyed the ale and girls while he enjoyed the joyful atmosphere. They would stay for about an hour before moving on to a few other places in the city.
He loved the sites in this city. He hated the majority of the people but some of the monuments were breathtaking. Today seemed to be going like every other and Thomas leaned back against a wall and closed his eyes. The laughs from his men and the voices from the various people soothed his mind as he let all the stress wash away. He knew Daenerys would be in meeting all morning and into the afternoon and while he enjoyed her presence, those meetings were beginning to be unbearable. Asking for a day to just explore the city with the Dothraki he took command of, she agreed on this request on the condition he spent the entire afternoon with her.
He chuckled lightly to himself. She had been very clingy since Mossador's execution. He wasn't complaining though. He loved her attention, and honestly couldn't get enough of it.
*bong*Bong*Bong*
He was broken out of his thoughts when he heard a bell chime over the city. Looking up he heard distant screams of pain. Looking back around he noticed the girls had slit two throats of his men. The other three had thrown the women off and drawn their Arakhs. Sadly before they could use then the Sons of the Harpy appeared seemingly out of nowhere and attacked them. Stabbing and slicing the Dothraki fell quickly.
Thomas who by this point had drawn his sword attacked the nearest Harpy. Plunging his sword into the man's gut he quickly ripped the sword back out before spinning around the body, avoiding a lunge from another. Looking around he noticed that there were ten harpy's left and all of them seemed to be focused on him.
"I don't have all day." Thomas growled prompting two Harpy's to lunge forward. Deflecting one knife before blocking the other Thomas was forced to move back. This continued before he was finally able to disarm one of them and lop off the man's arm. Sadly that only prompted another to take his place.
Back against the wall Thomas lunged forward startling the two men who quickly fell to his blade. Now in the center of the market the remaining 7 surrounded him and lashed out simultaneously. Thomas who tried his best to dodge, deflect or block the attacks wasn't entirely successful and was soon riddled with long gashed and a few stab wounds. Luckily for him he was able to take another two down. Before the final 5 moved back to regroup.
Thomas staggered from his spot in the center of the circle. All around him cries of pain and agony rung out over the city. Holding his side where a particularly deep wound was inflicted Thomas staggered towards the Harpies intent on finishing the fight.
A few swings and the closest one resulted in the man dead but at the cost of his sword hand getting slashed on the back. Dropping his sword form the pain me staggered back before tripping on a body. Now on his back one Harpy lunged forward to deliver the finishing blow. Thomas seeing this rolled to the side and drew his knife before hurling himself at the assailant and plunging the knife into his head.
Now on his belly he rolled away from the final three, dropping his knife, he stopped when he reached on of the dead Dothraki and picked up the Arakh. Taking a wild swing he sliced a Harpy's throat open and embedded the weapon into another's head. Sadly he failed to notice the third and final Harpy who was able to stab him in the back with his small knife. Crying out in agony as the adrenalin of the fight began to wear off as blood flowed from his wounds. Swinging his arm he struck the man in the face, dazing him long enough for Thomas to grab him by the throat. Trying to reenact what Drogo did to Mago he squeezed with all the strength he had left and pulled back. Instead of ripping the throat open life he wanted, he instead crushed the man's windpipe. Gurgling in pain and unable to get air into his lungs properly the man fell onto the ground dying. Thomas took two steps back before his knees hit the floor.
His body followed a second later.
And Holy sh*t this was a bitch to write! This was supposed to be out last Friday but the final scene sucked and then both my grandfathers had to go to hospital because cancer sucks. Then sister graduates high school. So sorry for the long delay and I know I promised there wouldn't be another but life hit me and my family with some really big curve balls recently. To top it all off I am leaving the country next week with no access to my laptop or game of thrones so it will be at least two weeks before I can start writing again. I'm sorry about this and I will try to finish by the end of next month. By finish I mean get to the end of season 6. I will have to put the story on Haitus until I can find a way to view season 7 for free on the internet. Anyway leave a review and let me know what you thought about that last scene. I honestly don't feel too strong about it but I always feel that way about fight scenes. Anyway have a wonderful night/day and I love you all.