She has thought long about it, and she has found that.
"I will find no love in Westeros," Daenerys declares to the council before her with finality. She doesn't bend under the sudden attention nor does she acknowledge the confusion in those who are of Westerosi descent. They had been discussing trivial things and Daenerys let it go on without her input, trusting those with more knowledge on the matters she is naive to. Unlike last time she didn't let the foolish Hizdahr zo Laraq guilt her into stopping the execution of every great master over the age of six and ten.
"Pardon, Your Grace?" A councilman and learned man asks her, their lightweight fabric robe decorated in dark green, showing that they are an expert in stewardship and maintaining their former master's treasury.
"I have come to a realization," she intones, giving her Westeros folk a look before continuing, hopefully, they don't feel disappointed. If they wish to return to their home she'll release them from service, "about my quest for the Iron throne."
"Your Grace, The throne is your birthright." Ser Barristan declares passionately.
"Is it?" She mutters to herself, but louder she speaks more softly, "It matters not if it is my birthright, I have thought about this for a long while."
'You can only help those who want to be helped.'
Stealing herself she speaks, "The people of Westeros think of me as a mad woman. I am not blind to the way I look to those who wish to keep the wheel spinning. I am not like my father, if they wish to war themselves over a petty throne I'll let them. I have a new purpose."
She spares a glance towards Barristan and he seems dumbfounded.
"They will never see me as anything other than a foreign invader." Dany takes a deep breath and looks up at the whole room, "Truthfully, my family has never been Westerosi, my ancestors were of Valyria.
"I was raised on the soil of Essos. I have fought, sweated, and given my blood for this land. I have liberated thousands, and I plan for thousands of more."
"I have people who look to me as their mother, and what kind of mother would I be to abandon them when they look to me for strength, protection, and the fundamental truth that they deserve to have autonomy over their bodies." She feels her blood thrumming with validation as the freedman in her council roars in approval.
"If I can't break the wheel, then I'll build a wagon to carry everyone on it." Dany reaches for her cup of sweet wine, she lifts it above her head, "From this day forth I have officially declared the start of a new age! I will bring forth a new empire!"
"I will bring forward a new era, one that will cast a shadow on the ways of Slavery! I will make a world that is prosperous for all no matter their birth! One where mothers don't get their babies snatched from their arms.
"An empire built of the courage of its people and not the backs of their suffering!"
"My first order is to abolish slavery on all levels in every city under my command,"
She makes sure to keep her gaze locked with Missandei's, "My second declaration is that the isles of Naath and all its inhabitants are now under the protection of the Dragon Empire." Her most loyal advocate inhaled and covered her mouth in surprise.
"Today starts the age of the Stormborn dynasty!" She ends up watching as they all stare at her in silence, she catches Jorah watching her with admiration and awe.
Barristan merely swallows thickly.
"Your Grace."
"What about the dead?" Daenerys feels her heart stutter at the mention of the vile creatures who took her son away from her.
"I- I don't know." She says, pressing her hands to her eyes.
"What is the issue?" Missandei's benign tone makes her look up.
"What?" Daenerys asks.
"What makes you conflicted, besides the possibility of your child's endangerment? Are you afraid of feeling guilty? You shouldn't, you've already given everything for them once and look how they repaid you."
Seeing her face flicker with emotions Missandei sighs, "I admit I am biased, I don't care for them, they don't care for me. Truthfully they don't deserve your grace, they were given it and they hurt you. Betrayed you and used you."
"You are someone who's done so much good, and they took advantage of your wish to be a good Queen."
"I burned the city!" She cries out.
"You did," Missandei states simply, "But how many times did you give them all a chance for surrender? How many times did you not reign fire and blood in favor of doing what was right, what the men of your council insisted."
"You sacrificed your all for them because that is what you do Daenerys."
Her first name being spoken by Misssandei makes her jolt.
"We, everyone who follows you it is because we choose you. Because you proved to us that we matter only to ourselves."
"You have fought for us, been starved, and been beaten just like us. You more than any noble can understand how we feel. You also showed us that even the most powerless can take their destiny into their own hands."
Missandei sets the scroll she had been reading and reaches for Daenerys hands, "The fact that you regret it shows me that who I chose is true, but the only person who can forgive you is you."
"The dead," Daenerys says, changing the topic, "I haven't decided."
"I'm almost tempted to wait to see if the sea freezes and then worry, but I can't let people who don't deserve it die because their overlords are too prideful to see a bigger problem."
I don't want to risk my children for them." She admits.
Missandei nods in understanding.
"What if they come asking for your help?"
"Why would they?"
Missandei merely gives her a look, dipping a piece of bread in some imported honey before answering, "Who wouldn't wish to have an army and dragons on their side when fighting an enemy who is made of ice, and fortunately we have the advantage in the fact that they would need us. It would not be us who needs them."
Dany swallows thickly while tapping the table, a board she has in her private chambers is a mock map of the known world.
"Are you sure of this, your grace?" Jorah says, walking with her as she makes her way towards the dragons. She is wearing riding gear and has a satchel strapped to her person. In it a miscellaneous assortment of things for a short trip. A foolish one made in haste.
"I thank you for your concern, as you have always been a great service, but I will not be dissuaded from this endeavor." She turns to him with a soft look, and he has to stop his heart from stuttering. Just a mere few moons ago she looked at him with such contempt.
"I need you to stay and make sure that the council adheres to our new order and I wish for you to make sure they give Missandei the respect that she deserves as my voice while away."
They both pause waiting for the guards to open the door and Daenerys reaches for his arm, "There are very few I trust, especially now."
"But you are one of them." Jorah swallows, still amazed as always when in her presence.
"You honor me with your trust," he says thickly, giving her a slight bow, knowing she won't change her mind.
"What will you do about Tyrion Lannister?" He asks as they continue their way. It's almost dusk, but there is a small crowd of people milling about as she passes the staff going about their business. Most stop and give Daenerys surprised and revered looks, a few more bold folk even calling out to her.
She waved towards those who called for their mysha, shifting warily when she accepted an offered necklace from a little girl, fortunately, she simply scurried off with a glow of satisfaction,
"I don't know." She tells him as they arrive at another entrance, this one leading to the tunnel that takes them to the dragons. Daenerys pulls out a small medallion that she was inspired by from Qarth, it allows only her accent to a direct path leading to her children's lair.
"I can never trust him, as he will always be loyal to his family." Entering the tunnel their steps echo, leading them in the darkness.
"He may never be my hand again, but I may find use of him still." She says making her way towards the beast made of fire. As the dragons all greet their mother, she turns back and gives him one last instruction, "Don't let him wander alone, but allow him the ability to leave his room, give him as much wine as he wishes, I hear he's more malleable like that."
"Your Grace," he calls when she is about to mount Drogon, who is waiting with his siblings.
"Be careful." He says.
She gave him a warm smile, "Always."
Tyrion groans as the door slams open, he rolls over and tries to block the sun that shines through his window, something that he should be grateful for, having walked into the literal dragon's den.
"Get up." The gruff voice of Jorah is both a comfort and a pain in his ass. Tyrion ignores the man and burrows farther into the bed, he is surprised at how well he is being treated. He groans as light invades his eyes when the blanket is pulled off of him.
"I quite liked this solitary thing." He mumbles into his hands as he rolls over onto his back.
"Tough shit," Jorah says, kicking his bed and making him grumble as he gets up.
"Has the queen finally decided to feed me to her dragons?" He quips as he tugs on a clean shirt. In the corner of his eyes he sees the taller man smirk, "Nay, I doubt you would make much of a meal anyway, fortunately for you, the Empress isn't here to feed you to her dragons."
That makes him stall putting on his boots, his mind trying to comprehend the sentence.
"Empress?" He definitely does not squeak out.
"Aye, Empress Daenerys has declared that she is to reinstate the empire of old, but she is going to wipe the stain that is slavery off her ancestors' lands and bring forth a new age."
"Oh," he says meekly.
"What about Westeros? The Iron Throne?" He asks incredulously.
Jorah merely shrugs, "I know not the ways of a Queen."
A/n:
So… I totally used the cliche empire stick. I just love it and think she deserves it.
Besides I like the idea of her creating the empire of old, but by abolishing slavery and not enslaving everyone.
How will Westeros be affected with Daenerys not planning to invade?