[MEEREEN AT NIGHT]
[A Tent outside of Meereen. MISSANDEI is teaching GREY WORM how to read by a fire.]
"My name is Grey Worm. I come from the Summer "Ills.""
"Isles. Summer Isles."
"Summer Isles."
"I am from an island called Naath."
"When they took you?"
"When did they take me? I was five years old."
"You remember your home?"
"I remember when they rowed us away from shore. How white the beaches were. How tall the trees were. And I remember my village burning. Smoke rising into the sky."
"It's sad how these people are torn away from their families to be enslaved by those foul Essosi people" Sansa commented with a frown.
"Essosi slavers" Varys corrected. "Not all of them are foul, my lady. Most of them are slaves". As a former slave himself, Varys was well aware of the plight of Essos, be it slavers or those Dothraki.
"One would have thought the 'Free Cities' would be exempt from slavery," Margaery said softly.
"They are Free Cities because of the relation they had with Valyria, not because they are a city of free people" Varys explained with a smile. "Braavos is the only city that was found by the slaves who escaped the Valyrian Freehold. Though slavery is unlawful in the city, those with enough wealth and influence can flout such laws."
"Like your friend the Magister?" Jon asked.
"Like my friend the Magister," Varys nodded with a sad smile. "I have tried, but sadly the man loves his comforts too much."
"You two seem very close" Jon added.
"We met young" Varys said with a sad smile. "I was just just thrown out by the warlock that cut me and Illyrio back then was a poor Braavo. "
"And you two have been friends ever since" Jon added.
Varys nodded with a smile. Hard not to remain friends when Illyrio ends up marrying his sister. But that is not something they knew, and Varys was adamant about not sharing it with them.
"And now you stand to plot against your dear friend" Jon continued. "Must hurt."
"Illyrio feels he is best suited to make Westeros great, I feel different about it. Good friends… almost brothers we may be, but I know him well enough. He will not take Westeros forward."
"Almost sounds like you're the one with Targaryen blood in you, Lord Varys. That you feel you know best because of it."
Varys gave no outward reaction to it, only lowering his face behind the sleeve of his tunic to hide his chuckle.
"Would that I was a secret Targaryen, I would have taken the Throne for myself, Prince Jon."
"But you're not that man are you," Jon asked, ignoring the title the eunuch used. "You're someone who prefers to work in the shadows, like a puppeteer."
Varys chuckled again.
"I suppose I do favour being the helping hand rather than the commanding head" the eunuch smiled. "But alas, I am not who you think I am."
Jon said nothing more but was slow to look away from the Spider.
Varys kept his eyes on Jon even after he'd looked away, hiding a frown behind his sleeve.
[DAENERYS and BARRISTAN SELMY enter. They stand]
"How are the lessons coming?"
"Very well, Your Grace."
"Missandei is teacher good, my queen."
"Might not be as good as he thinks" Robert snorted.
"You'll have to continue later. It's time."
[DAENERYS and BARRISTAN SELMY exit, followed by GREY WORM. Overhead, the shadow of a flying dragon soars in the moonlight. On the ground, the Unsullied run through the rocky landscape. They strain to open a gate in the rockface. GREY WORM lights a torch as do the other Unsullied. They travel through the sewer tunnel.]
"A sneak attack… would be quicker and a surprise. After that show, they expect a siege no doubt" Renly mused.
[Meereen slave's quarters.]
[Many slaves are gathered in the dark chamber, seating and standing. Two of them speak, one for Daenerys and one again. The one for Daenerys points to what Daario did to their Masters' champion, speaks about the army she has and asks whether they wish to remain chained. One slave says she wishes to live and feared the worst would be done to them than what was done to the children. The one speaking against Daenerys points out that he had been through two slave revolts and how the Masters always win]
"They are afraid, which is natural. People always fear those that sit in power" Robert said with a frown. It reminded him of the Rebellion, of when the three Stormlands Lords fought for Aerys because they feared being burnt alive.
"Yet some are pragmatic enough to step forward and seize a chance when it is presented to them. Some want better" Stannis muttered. He remembered the Rebellion as well, remembered the siege on Storm's End. He remembered how he was at his wit's end and was grasping at whatever he could find close at hand to survive. It was why he had employed Ser Davos' help, to smuggle them food.
[GREY WORM and the Unsullied enter. GREY WORM speaks Valyrian]
"All men must die."
[The slaves are surprised to see them. The two arguing slaves stand.]
"But I promise you, a single day of freedom is worth more than a lifetime in chains."
"Who are you?"
"This one is called Grey Worm. I was taken as a baby by the Masters of Astapor, raised and trained as Unsullied. Now I fight for Daenerys, the Mother of Dragons and Breaker of Chains."
"You are Unsullied? They taught you how to fight before you could walk. We are not soldiers."
"We have no training, weapons."
[GREY WORM and the other Unsullied remove the bundles around their shoulders. The weapons clatter as they hit the ground]
"There are three slaves in this city for every Master. No one can give you your freedom, brothers. If you want it, you must take it."
"He is a good commander, a natural leader" Jon Arryn mused.
"I'm afraid it's more than natural talent, Lord Arryn. The Masters that train Unsullied find potential boys to raise to leaders and have them fight until only one remains, the strongest of the lot. The training to lead is harsh, more so than the training to follow" Varys explained.
Jon Arryn frowned. It was a sad thing, to know men were subjected to such cruelty. Yet, he could not help but wonder whether there was something they could take from this. Perhaps something that would strengthen their forces.
[MEEREEN, NIGHT]
[A GREAT MASTER and two guards walk the empty streets. They encounter some graffiti reading "Kill the Masters". They look up to a high tower where a Targaryen flag is waving. Suddenly, a mob of slaves comes running at them. The guards run, leaving the GREAT MASTER to his own devices. He tries to flee, but more slaves pour around each corner. The slaves shout and set upon him.]
"Good" Daenerys muttered. Grey Worm had managed to do it, he had managed to turn the slaves to her side… No, not slaves. They were free men and women now. They were her people now.
[MEEREEN, DAY]
[DAENERYS walks among the cheering slaves, flanked by children. The former slaves call her 'Mhysa'. DAENERYS, JORAH and BARRISTAN SELMY walk down the steps on the cliff, surrounded by cheering former slaves. They ascend to the overlook, joining GREY WORM and the Unsullied.]
"Remind me, Ser Jorah, how many children did the Great Masters nail to mileposts?"
"163, Khaleesi."
"Yes, that was it."
[DAENERYS looks to GREY WORM, who gives a nod to an UNSULLIED soldier The Unsullied march forth, pressing the citizens of Meereen.]
"I think I know what she intends to do," Robert said with a smirk.
"But is it necessary?" Renly whispered. "she would be doing the same thing they did."
"The difference would be that these shitheads deserve it. And it sends a message, and messages like these do a lot more to show how serious you are than empty words and mercy" Robert explained. "Daenerys Targaryen is a soft woman, but she is doing this because she knows it's necessary, for her people."
Renly stared a moment.
"It's odd hearing you defend the actions of a Targaryen."
Robert snorted and waved his brother off.
[The shores of MEEREEN]
[An Unsullied nails a Meereen Slaver to a cross. Others scream. They line the path up the mountainside, each with one hand nailed to the post, pointing the way. The citizens watch. DAENERYS stands on a platform above, surveying the city, under the Targaryen flag. The screams echo.]
"That was deserved", almost all of them agreed. Those who did not thought it was too gruesome and that a cleaner punishment could be managed.
But none of them thought she was doing something excessive. They all agreed that these Slavers should be punished.
[TYRION'S CELL, KING'S LANDING]
"To tell you the truth, this isn't so bad. Four walls. A pot to piss in. I was chained to a wooden post covered in my own shit for months."
"Only you would compare prison cells and how one is better than the other" Tyrion snorted.
"Anything to lighten the mood" Jaime smirked.
"Don't. You know what's coming?"
"My trial for regicide. Yes, I know. I know the whole bloody country thinks I'm guilty. I know that one of my three judges has wished me dead more times than I can count. And that judge is my father. As for Cersei, well, she's probably working on a way to avoid a trial altogether by having me killed."
"She probably is" Jaime nodded.
Myrcella wanted to argue in her mother's defence, but after all she'd seen, how could she?
"Now that you mention it, she did ask."
"So, should I turn around and close my eyes?"
"Probably look out for the 'Strangler' in your food. Cersei is petty enough to have you suffer in the same way" Jaime hummed.
"The Kingslayer brothers. You like it? I like it. You're really asking if I killed your son?"
"Are you really asking if I'd kill my brother? How can I help you?"
"Well, you could set me free."
"You know I can't."
"Then there's really nothing else to say."
"What do you want me to do? Kill the guards? Sneak you out of the city in the back of a cart? I'm the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard."
"You could get away with it too. You're the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, nobody would suspect you" Tyrion said with a grin.
"Could pin it all on Bronn and save my ass" Jaime smirked.
"Now that one could survive a Trial by Combat."
"Sorry, I'd forgotten. I'd hate for you to do something inappropriate."
"Inappropriate? You're accused of killing the king. Freeing you is treason."
"Not the first time you'd commit it" Tyrion whistled innocently.
"Hopefully the last time" Jaime rolled his eyes.
"Except I didn't do it."
"Which is why we're having a trial."
"A trial. If the killer threw himself before the Iron Throne, confessed to his crimes, and gave irrefutable evidence of his guilt, it wouldn't matter to Cersei. She won't rest until my head's on a spike."
"She wouldn't!" Tommen exclaimed. "You'd be found innocent!"
"Your mother really hates me," Tyrion said with a tight smile.
"But she wouldn't do that! Tell him Myrcella."
But Myrcella was silent. She didn't know the answer. She didn't know whether her mother wouldn't do it.
[LITTLEFINGER'S ship]
[SANSA looks out on the ocean. Littlefinger enters.]
"Where are you taking me?"
"I'm getting married to your Aunt Lysa. She's waiting for us at the Eyrie. You'll be safe there."
"She agreed," Catelyn said in horror. Her sister knew the hand Baelish had in Ned's death, no doubt she had told Lysa about it when she met her. And yet Lysa still agreed! How could she betray her family this way?!
Jon Arryn's eyes hardened and he fisted his hand in anger. The Vale in that man's hands… he could not bear the thought.
"Did you kill Joffrey?"
"Did I kill Joffrey? I've been in the Vale for weeks."
"Doesn't mean you didn't have anyone do it for you" Sansa muttered.
"I know it was you."
"And who helped me with this conspiracy?"
"Well, there was Ser Dontos. You used him to get me out of King's Landing, but you would never trust him to kill the king. Because you're too smart to trust a drunk."
"Then perhaps it was your husband."
"No."
"How do you know?"
"I just do."
"Thank you, for your confidence in me," Tyrion said genuinely.
Sansa only nodded in reply.
"You're right. He wasn't involved in Joffrey's death. But you were. Do you remember that lovely necklace Dontos gave you? I don't suppose you noticed that a stone was missing after the feast."
"You mean after you took one stone and smashed it with your knife?" Catelyn said heatedly. "You're framing her!"
If Ned was not equally outraged, he would point out that she was talking to a wall. Literally.
"The poison. I don't understand. The Lannisters gave you wealth, and power. Joffrey made you the Lord of Harrenhal."
"A man with no motive is a man no one suspects. Always keep your foes confused. If they don't know who you are or what you want, they can't know what you plan to do next. So many men risk so little. They spend their lives avoiding danger. And then they die. I'd risk everything to get what I want."
"So he killed Joffrey for no other reason other than to confuse people?" Brandon the Elder asked incredulously. "That makes no sense!"
"And what do you want?"
"Everything. My friendship with the Lannisters was productive. But Joffrey, a vicious boy with a crown on his head, is not a reliable ally. And who could trust a friend like that?"
"That's a motive that makes sense" Lyanna muttered and Brandon nodded in agreement.
"My new friends are predictable. Very reasonable people. As for what happened to Joffrey, well, that was something my new friends wanted very badly. Nothing like a thoughtful gift to make a new friendship grow strong."
"So someone had Joffrey killed through this weasel" Catelyn muttered, still angry that her daughter got involved in this.
"You did have a hand in this then" Margaerys whispered to her grandmother.
"It would seem I would be the only one to benefit from this" Olenna shrugged.
"We" Margaery corrected her with a sigh. "I wouldn't have to be married to that horrid demon spawn."
Olenna smirked slightly.