Night fell upon the great city of Meereen. Where once the bells rang, now oppressive silence hung in the air. No one dared speak throughout the city. Hours ago the Queen discovered her General and advisor bleeding out in an alley. Half an hour later her men found her lover unconscious in the streets, a puddle of his own blood surrounding him. Soon word spread of her advisors death. Now the city waited in baited breath for any news regarding the lover and General.
"Bring me Hizdahr Zo Lorac." Dany whispered as she held Thomas limp hand. He now rested in their bed, all his wounds now bandaged. Daario, who stood near the door heard the command and sent two men to fetch the master. She had already seen and mourned over Ser Barristan. Tears still spilled from her eyes as she watched the love of her life lay in bed covered in bandages. She was hysterical when they first brought in his body. He seemed so lifeless she was sure she lost him. Now though, all she felt was a burning rage unlike anything she felt before.
"Hizdahr is in the waiting room, your grace." Daario spoke up when one of his men returned.
"Good." She practically growled out. Slowly standing, she reluctantly released his hand before heading off to deal with the traitors.
"I heard the news your grace. I offer my deepest apologies." Hizdahr bowed.
"Barristan the bold, the called him. He crossed a continent to serve me and he died in an ALLEY!" Dany spat. "Killed by cowards who hide behind masks." Dany, who upon entering moved to stand before Barristan's body whirled around to glare at Hizdahr. "Grey Worm, my commander of the Unsullied. I have never seen a more loyal soldier. May not ever see the light of day thanks to those same cowards." Hizdahr was sweating as Dany slowly advanced on him. "Thomas Ward, my most beloved friend. A man more honorable has never existed. He was loyal to a fault and cared for me like no other and these retched dogs attacked him! They littered his boy with wounds as they hounded him. I have been patient, I have been lenient. No more. Daario, round up the head of ever great house of Meereen and their first born child. Bring them to the catacombs."
"At once your grace." Daario nodded.
"But I am the head of my family." Hizdahr looked uncertain. Daario nodded behind the man where two Second Suns stood waiting. They stepped forward at his signal and dragged the pleading man away.
An hour later Dany stood with a group of unsullied and terrified masters and their children. She walked forward into the darkness looking for any sign of her children. On her hand was Thomas's dried blood. She waved it forward and was rewarded with a snarl. Turning back she glared at the terrified people before her. Walked behind them the unsullied used their spears to move their prisoners forward a few feet.
"Walk forward." Dany commanded. Everyone seemed hesitant until the unsullied used their spears.
"You cannot do this." One man said as he clutched his son who seemed to be a year younger than Thomas. The boy glared at Daenerys who looked back at them with uncaring eyes.
"Another step." Again the unsullied forced them all forward until they were at the edge of the torch light. "They will eat you if I tell them to." Daenerys walked forward until she was just behind everyone. "They may eat you even if I don't. Children. Some say I should give up on them. But a good mother never gives up on her children. She disciplines them if she must." She walked behind them until she stood behind the man who spoke out and his son. Turning back to Daario she motioned towards them with her head. Daario walked forward with another man and shoved the two to the ground. Now completely out of the torchlight, the two shook in fear as they heard low growls and rattling of chains. "But she does not give up on them." A small light appeared in the darkness. The man and his son stared in awe for a moment before the light sprang forth and engulfed them. Screaming in agony the two burning men fell over as Rhaegal and Viserion ripped them apart and feasted on their charred flesh.
The people who still lived knelt before Daenerys begging for forgiveness while the youngest children cried in fear, begging for their mothers. Dany ignored them all until she stood behind Hizdahr Zo Lorac. "Who is innocent? Maybe it is all of you. Maybe none of you. Maybe, I should let my children decide your fate." She put her bloodied hand on his back. Rhaegal's nose twitched and he reared his head up and roared at Hizdahr.
"Valla Mo Ghoules." Hizdahr replied as tears of fear ran down his face.
Dany removed her hand and looked upon the crying children. "Don't want to overfeed them." She muttered before personally ushering the children out. The unsullied lead their parents to the dungeons.
Back in her chamber Dany laid down next to Thomas who still hadn't stirred. Sighing, she ran her fingers through his hair as she contemplated her next move. Daario had counselled a mass purge of the city, district by district but she shot that down as it sounded like something her father would have done. Barristan had counselled mercy but that had failed and claimed his life. "What should I do Thomas?" Dany sighed as she snuggled closer to him.
The next night she went to Hizdahr.
"My Queen, please don't kill me." He begged on his knees.
Dany glared at him. "Where is the bravado from the other night? What about Valla Mo Ghoules?"
"I did not want to die a coward." He whimpered. "But it would appear I don't want to die at all." Tears came to his eyes. Dany eyed him uncaringly.
"Luckily for you, I have another use for you." Dany rolled her eyes when the man perked up instantly. "Congratulations on becoming my second in command." Her task done, she left him to ponder her words.
The days seemed to blur together into meaningless drabble without Thomas. While Dany was out of it, she did notice how Missandei spent all her free time by Grey Worm's side. Her heart went out to the girl but her mind stuck to Thomas. The doctors she had look at him all seemed to say that he was improving but that they had no way of knowing when he would wake. Every time one told her this news she would lash out at something and order them away. Daario tried to speak with her but since his attempted seduction she had lashed out of him harshly. On a particularly bad day she struck him with goblet. Since then everyone has been on edge around her. Afraid she would lash out and order them to be fed to her dragons. Even the Sons of the Harpy ceased killing.
Three days after Thomas was first brought in Daario requested a private audience with her. She begrudgingly allowed it. Preparing to kick him out she was unprepared for what he said.
"It would appear the Sons of the Harpy have finally stopped killing."
"Yes, it would appear the nobles were sufficiently threatened." Dany replied easily.
"Funny how they stop once you elevate Hizdahr as your right hand man." Daario pointed out and Dany rolled her eyes.
"What are you getting at?" Dany asked.
"Well, I believe he got the Harpies to stop because he was elevated in position. Now since Thomas is out of commission, you will also be easier to kill." Daario explained.
"I will be fine while Thomas recovers." Dany stated, her voice hard and unwavering.
"I'm sure you will but just in case, you should have someone else by your side."
"And who, pray tell would that be?" Dany snapped already guessing at who he was referring to.
"Marry me, and I will protect you for all time." Daario flashed her a winning smile.
Dany was just about to lash out and scream for her guard to cut off his head when another idea popped into her head. She smirked as this new plan seemed much more entertaining. "And why should I do such an inadvisable thing?" She responded playfully.
"Why would it be inadvisable? You are a queen you may do whatever you like?" Daario questioned.
"I can't simply do whatever I want." Dany responded.
"Why not, you are the ruler of Meereen. No one can tell you what to do."
Dany shook her head and sighed.
"Look I know I won't be advising you but simply providing a distraction for you but may I offer up one piece of advice?"
Putting her plan on hold for now humored the man and nodded.
"On the day of the great games, round up all the great masters, wise masters, any masters you can find and slaughter them all."
Dany was about to agree before her conversation with Ser Barristan came forward. About her mad father who burned men alive for fun. Immediately her previous plan to humiliate Daario vanished from her mind and revulsion took its place. "I am a Queen, not a butcher." Her tone left no room for arguments.
"All rulers are either butchers or meat." Daario shook his head.
"I will never be a butcher." Dany glared at him. "Now get out of my sight."
Daario, realizing he screwed up bowed before taking his leave.
2 days later and as Dany walked into her chamber after a long day, a feint groan was heard. Dany who froze to listen to the noise immediately rushed over to the bed and noticed Thomas shifting around.
"Thomas, don't move!" She cried out as she clambered into the bed. "It's ok, my love, it's ok I am here." She held his head as his eyes fluttered open.
He tried to speak but only ended up coughing. He did however manage to choke out the word water.
"Hush now, I will get you all the water you need." Dany nodded and rushed to fetch him some. Some minutes later they were laying their together. His head resting on her lap as she played with his hair.
"I was so scared when they brought you to me." Dany began.
"I'm sorry for scaring you." Thomas muttered. "Did any of my men survive?"
Dany shook her head. "No, they all died. Ser Barristan also fell. Butchered in an alley. Grey Worm was gravely injured in the same alley. He woke up two days ago." Dany clutched his head closer to her. "I feared you would never wake up. I brought some of your bloody clothes to Rhaegal. He was livid. I fed two nobles to him and Viserion after your attack. Since then the Harpies have backed off for now. Hizdahr also holds the title of my right hand." When Thomas gave her a look she smiled at him. "It is only to keep the Harpies at bay. You will always be my right hand." She leaned down and gave him a tender kiss.
"I will miss Barristan." Thomas muttered.
"We all will, but now I need you to focus on getting better." Dany ordered. "Luckily none of the wounds you received were crippling so all you will be getting is scars."
Thomas chuckled lightly. "I hope you like scars. I seem to be getting a lot of them." Dany smiled as well.
Tomorrow I am going to oversee the fighting pits. Hizdahr says it is tradition." Dany informed him. "I will return later that day so don't worry. I will be surrounded by Unsullied and Daario will be coming with me." Thomas made a face and Dany couldn't stop the giggle from escaping her lips.
"I hate Daario."
"I do too." Dany smiled at him. "I hit him with a goblet, you know." Dany beamed when Thomas broke out into laughter.
"What did he do to you?" He asked, trying to regain his breath.
"I don't actually remember, he just annoyed me and that was the closest thing to me." Dany and he shared a laugh. Afterwards they sat in comfortable silence. Dany stroking his hair and Thomas relaxing in her lap. After a while Dany looked down and noticed he had fallen asleep. Smiling again she kissed his forehead before drifting off herself.
The next Day Thomas was sitting in the throne room talking with Grey worm who was also recovering when Dany burst through the doors and stomped in. When the two men gave her questioning looks she motioned behind her. Thomas's eyes widened as he saw Jorah Mormont standing next to a dwarf.
Horrible ending to this chapter but I couldn't really think of a better one. So the season premiere aired tonight. NO SPOILERS IN REVIEWS! IF I find a single spoiler I will heckle and belittle you something fierce. I haven't watched it yet! SO Don't spoil A god dam thing! Anyway happy game of Thrones day!