This should have been their last day in Meereen. Tomorrow morning everything should be ready to sail and in about three months they will be on Dragonstone. A lot of time, but considering that she spent over four years in Essos, a few months doesn't seem that long anymore.

She has never seen anything in Westeros other than Casterly Rock and King's Landing, and soon she will finally have the opportunity to see her own lands. She wonders what they look like... She always wanted to see the Eyrie, or Highgarden and all its gardens... Or Winterfell, apparently it's huge, much bigger than the Red Keep and second only to Harrenhal. Tyrion told her that the castle made an impression on him and when he heard about the fire he was even sad and somewhere he hoped that they would rebuild what was destroyed.

She stood on the balcony and watched the sunset, this is the last time she can admire it here. She had the feeling that she didn't want to leave this place, these people, these views. Everything has become so peaceful lately, it's hard to leave these lands and go into the unknown, not knowing what awaits you. She won here, but will she win there too? This was what she feared the most, the unknown.
It wasn't even about gaining the throne, it was a symbol, nothing more. She wouldn't want to get it if it didn't mean so much to people, if they didn't think a ruler must sit on the Iron Throne in King's Landing.

These are problems of the not so distant future, and now she will have to face one more thing... Telling Daario that he is staying in Essos. She put it off because she didn't want to break his heart and... And at the same time, she selfishly didn't want to deprive herself of the warmth of his arms when he hugged her.
Now she can't escape it.

"Your ships are almost ready." she didn't want to take her eyes off the city, but she had to make things clear. She took the goblet of wine from the railing and returned into the room, where she set it on the table. "I saw that they were finishing painting the sails, they will definitely be done by tomorrow."

"That's good." she replied, forcing a smile. She went to sit on the couch, put her hands on her knees and started playing with her fingers.

"I wonder how the Dothraki will cope with 'poisonous water.' And then-"

"You're not coming with us." she interrupted him before she chickened out again, there was no time to put things off.

They looked at each other in silence for a moment before Daario moved closer to her and stopped in front of the couch. She could tell she surprised him with that statement, but it seemed like he didn't understand it like he should have.

Or he didn't want to understand it.

"New strategy? Second Sons will attack from the west, will we surprise them? We will take Casterly Rock and the Lannisters will remain isolated in King's Landing." he sat down next to her and grabbed her hand gently to stop her from playing with her fingers. He sensed something was wrong, but thought she was just stressed about the travel.

"Good idea." she forced herself to smile again, it was visible in her eyes. "But you're staying here. You're not sailing to Westeros."

As she crushed it out, a stone got off of her chest, but was immediately replaced by another one, caused by the fact that she clearly hurt Daario.

"But...Visenya-"

"There is finally peace in Meereen." she interrupted him, leaning out of the couch to reach for a goblet of wine and handed it to him as if it would ease his pain. "I want you and Second Sons to make sure it lasts. You will rule in my name..."

"Fuck Meereen."

"Don't say that, we have to take care of this city. And I have one more request for you: End slavery in Lys and Volantis, the last cities where it still exists. If-"

"I'm here for you, not for them." he interrupted her, not accepting the cup, which she kept holding out towards him. He got off the couch and knelt on the ground in front of her. Finally, resigned, she put the goblet back on the table. "I love you, I want to serve you, kill your enemies, give you what you want..." he sighed in frustration.

"I want to destroy slavery, completely. And you swore to me." she noticed. "So I order you to stay in Essos."

She saw that her words did not satisfy him in any way, and that was not what they were intended to do. She was supposed to be honest, not comfort him.
She couldn't treat it like her relationship with Jaime, because she didn't feel anything towards him, it was easy to reject him and run away, start a new life. Daario she didn't want to abandon, she liked him, a lot. Maybe it wasn't love, but leaving a friend is never easy. Especially since it was with him that she shared the first intimate moments of her life and will never forget it.

"If I want to rule Westeros, I must make alliances. And we all know that the best way to do that is through marriage." she explained calmly when he still didn't get up from the ground and held her hand.

He sighed and then asked:

"Who are you marrying this time?"

"I don't know yet, but for someone for sure." she shrugged. Involuntarily, she raised her hand and plunged it into his hair, combing it as if it would calm him down.

"You are the Queen, not a prize for the highest bidder." her hand froze in his hair when he said that, and mostly because he was right. Unfortunately, the reality was different, she couldn't fight the whole world alone, she had to secure alliances. She has already seen what it is like to rule without the support of the strong, influential and rich. She won't let that happen again.

Her word was final, but she still felt the need to explain her decision and do it in a way that he no longer questioned it, accepted it.

"I can't sail to Westeros with my lover." she finally said, the last argument she had left.

"The king wouldn't think twice about it, he would just do it."

"The king doesn't worry about illegitimate children." she replied. "He will deny they're his and the matter will be over. I can't do that, my heir must be legitimate, otherwise the Lords won't accept him."

"Then screw the Lords." If only it were that simple... "I don't care who you have children with, who sits next to you in the throne room. I only want you, I love you, do you understand?"

She doesn't understand. She would like to, but she doesn't understand. She doesn't know what it's like to love someone so much that you can't live without him. She doesn't know what it's like to be rejected by a loved one. She can only feel sorry for him, but her decision remains unchanged.

Besides, she's waiting to meet this mysterious boy...

"Is that what you would like? Be my mistress?"

"I'm not proud of it, but... I only care about being with you. Seeing you every day, making you smile. I make you happy, I know it, you do too." she looked down, but not for long, because Daario took her chin and lifted it. "Let me go with you, fight for you."

She moved her hand from his hair to his cheek, caressing it gently before leaning in and placing a kiss on his lips. She tried to pour into it everything she felt and wanted to say, but couldn't find the right words. She wanted to give him this one more moment, hoping that it would be like a balm to his heart, and not a knife that would only deepen the wounds.

"This isn't goodbye." she whispered once she had pulled away. "We'll see each other again, I promise. Until then, we will exchange letters."

He didn't say anything. The silence was worse for her than if he continued arguing with her, or even shouting, crying, whatever. Because this silence was more eloquent than all the words in the world.

He let go of her hand and stood up. He took a step back and finally reached for the wine she had offered him earlier. He drank it all at once.

"You will get the throne you want so much, I'm sure of it. I wish I could see it." it hurt. "But I won't betray you, ever. I will do everything you wish. I hope you won't forget about me." he gave her a forced smile, she saw it. "I will wait, Visenya Targaryen, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, of the Great Grass Sea, of Dragon's Bay and my heart." after these words, he bowed slightly to her and quickly walked out, leaving her alone in this large room.

It's strange, she didn't feel lonely here before, and now the emptiness is tearing her apart.

She was supposed to talk to Tyrion that same evening, but she was unable to sit still in her chamber. Instead, she wandered the corridors of the Great Pyramid for a long time before finally finding herself in the audience chamber where she had spent so much time over the last two - or so - years.
She was sitting on the stone steps, with a window behind her and a jug of wine and an empty goblet next to her. She didn't even like the taste of it, but at least she didn't feel so alone.

Hearing footsteps on the stairs, she looked up and saw that it was Tyrion who had come to her. Apparently he was fed up with waiting and decided to look for her.

"Sorry, I had to... Be alone for a while." she said, even a little too loud, because her voice echoed throughout the entire room.

Tyrion just nodded and sat down next to her, taking the jug in his hands and drinking straight from it, not bothering to go get the goblet or take hers. They sat like that in silence for a while, before Vis gathered herself to say why she felt that way and started talking.

"I left a man who loves me so much that he would do anything for me. And you know what I feel? Emptiness." she wasn't looking at him, but somewhere ahead.

It was strange for her, no heartbreak, no tears, just... Emptiness. Something that was pulling her down, that brought dark clouds over her.

"A good ruler sometimes has to sacrifice something." she didn't answer, but she took the jug from him and drank a little herself, also not bothering about pouring herself to a goblet. After one sip, she set it aside, but on the other side, so Tyrion wouldn't reach for it again. They can't get drunk here, their journey begins in the morning, and she still needs to discuss one thing with him. "He wasn't the first or the last to love you."

"Do you think Jaime..." the words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them.

It seems since she ran away it must have been at the back of her head: Wondering if Jaime really loved her. And now there was the question of whether she had hurt him as much as she hurt Daario. What must he have felt when she pushed him away while they were kissing?

Well, the cold water certainly quickly cooled his enthusiasm.

"Yes." Tyrion replied, guessing what she wanted to ask. "You could compete with Cersei, your hair is blonde enough." he managed to make her laugh a little, because she smiled, lowering her head a bit. Tyrion himself laughed briefly as well. He didn't blame her for what she did because she did it to escape. It was nice to see this girl happy and not constantly depressed at Casterly Rock or King's Landing. "He would treat you well." he added when the amusement had subsided.

"But I wouldn't be happy." she quickly retorted. He didn't dare to argue with this statement.

"So it's finally happening." Tyrion decided to change the subject. "The girl who had nothing but a name has her own army, fleet and four dragons. Everything you could want after escaping. Enough to subjugate a continent. How do you feel with it?"

For a moment she considered whether she should answer honestly. After all, the truth was that she was afraid, afraid as hell. When the idea of returning to her home lands was distant, she longed for it. Then she found a purpose in her life: Changing the world. But this only postponed her return to Westeros.
She could lead the campaign to Lys and Volantis herself, but it would take months or even years. And now that she had allies ready to support her claim to the crown, she couldn't delay. If she was alone and had to build ships, she would go to these two cities in person. But one day she will see them. She will see the whole world that she is so curious about, all the places she has always dreamed of seeing.

She decided not to lie.

"I'm afraid."

I'm afraid of war, I'm afraid of death, I'm afraid of how much I might lose. I'm afraid of letting people down. I'm afraid I'll fail. I'm afraid it will all be in vain. I'm afraid that I'm not good enough, that it will turn out that I'm not suitable for the role I aspire to. I don't even realize how many things I'm afraid of, because I keep pushing these fears deep inside myself, not wanting to show weakness. This admission brought them all to the surface.

"Good." surprised, she finally looked at her interlocutor for the first time since he sat next to her. "You're in the great game now, and great game is terrifying. Only a madman like the Mad King wouldn't have doubts and fear of losing."

"What if I lose?" she asked quietly, almost in a whisper.

"You will die. And everyone who follows you too."

She shuddered, although she tried to hide it. Knowing how much there was to lose chilled her blood and motivated her to act. I cannot fail. I just can't.

"That's why I can't lose." she got up from the steps, Tyrion did it right after her. Vis finally decided to bring up the matter why she wanted to see him. "I need all the help I can get. From you too."

"I would offer you my sword, but... I don't have one."

She smiled, like she did when he joked about his brother's preferences. It was kind of cute that he wanted to fight for her, considering she will be fighting against his family.

"I have enough people to fight. I need something else from you." she reached into the small pocket behind the neckline of her dress and took out a pin, which she was still hiding from his sight. She wasn't sure about this decision yet, but she thought that everything will be revealed in time. "I had it made basing on what I remember... If you ever have any doubts, decide that you no longer want to serve me, that you are not able to fight against your family, you can resign. I will give you a horse or a ship and enough food and money to get you wherever you wish to go." he didn't say anything. He already guessed what was going on, even though he was surprised by such a move. She reached out to him and pinned the mark of the Hand of the King on his chest. "But for now... Tyrion Lannister, I name you Hand of the Queen."

Still slightly shocked, he knelt down on one knee in front of her and bowed his head. Apart from the fact that he did not expect that she would entrust him with such an important position, he had never encountered a ruler who would allow someone not to accept the honor. Moreover, you can resign at any time without telling a reason.

He will help this girl. He will do everything in his power to help her sit on the Iron Throne, because he has never met anyone in his life who deserved it more than her.

"It's an honor, my Queen. I won't betray your trust."

In the morning she stood before boarding the ship that would take her to Westeros. She was about to set foot on the ramp, but hesitated. She turned her head and looked out to sea and the multitude of other ships, under the colors of the Tyrells, Martells, and Greyjoys as well. Once she gets on board everything will change, there will be no turning back. The waves will carry them to lands that were once nothing but pain to her. Now she thought of them as a homecoming.

"Something's wrong?" she turned abruptly to ser Arthur, standing on her right.

"Nothing, just..." she stopped and looked out at the sea again. "Four years ago I left King's Landing on a similar boat. Back then I had nothing, I didn't think I could achieve anything. I ran away because I wanted to be free... And now I'm going back there, with my ships, with my army and my dragons. Sounds like a dream." she smiled, but then jumped when she unexpectedly felt a pinch on her hand. "Ouch!"

"You're definitely not dreaming this." he smiled and shrugged.

"Did you pinch my father like that too?" she muttered, pretending to be offended.

"Many times, he was very fond of talking about dreams. He only stepped on the ground when necessary."

She rolled her eyes and glanced, this time at the city she was leaving behind. For the entire continent she is leaving. Her life had changed a lot since she left, but she didn't regret taking that step.
It is possible that she is the last of her kind and she will certainly not allow her to fade into oblivion in the depths of history. She left her mark forever here, in Essos, and now it's time to do the same in Westeros.

"This way, my Queen." ser Arthur pointed her to the ramp and smiled encouragingly. When she asked him one last, silent question, he only nodded.

Selaria, Daenerys, Ser Barristan, you will be proud of me.

With that in mind, she confidently placed her foot on the ramp and entered the ship, where Tyrion, Missandei, and Varys were already waiting for her.

First, a simple, black, cotton shirt. Then the pants, reaching to the waist and emphasizing it. Then high-heeled shoes, which she tied while sitting on her bunk in her cabin. When she was finished, she stood up and reached for something that she had ordered to be done before sailing to Westeros, when she decided that she needed more practical clothes, and warmer ones. It resembled a coat, the one with buttons on the inside so they weren't visible. She smoothed out the fabric that reached about her knees. Then she adjusted the long sleeves, similar to those on the gowns she wore in Meereen. All she had left to wear was a few rings and a hair ornament, a pin with three dragon heads facing back to back. She put it in the braids at the back of her head and was ready to go.

"It uuits you." Missandei smiled at her, she was waiting for Visenya outside the door.

"It suits you too." she returned the compliment. "Do we have anything planned for today?"

"Yes, dis-"

"Dragonstone on the horizon!" they were interrupted by a shout from the deck.

Visenya didn't give Missandei a chance to repeat herself. An excitement that she hadn't even expected washed over her. She ran up the stairs to the deck of the ship and quickly walked to the bow. The crew were shouting something to each other, but she didn't pay attention to it. It was morning, she and Missandei were the first to go on deck, and from the excitement that appeared among the people, it could be concluded that it was about to get crowded.

In the distance, they could actually see their destination, Dragonstone. Hundreds of years ago, this was where her ancestors stayed when they fled Old Valyria. Now she will live here, at least for a while.

She was so absorbed that she didn't even notice that others had also appeared on board, including Tyrion, who stood on her right.

"Welcome home, Your Majesty."

She didn't count how much time had passed between the moment she saw land and when she stood on the jolly boat. The dragons flew over their heads, heading straight for the castle and flying around it.
From this distance she couldn't see its full beauty yet, but she already knew it is extraordinary. She felt it.

The boat reached the shore. She waited impatiently for the steps to be placed so she could finally set foot on land.
Of course, she was the first to leave and took quite large steps towards the castle. At some point, however, she stopped, looking up at the huge building. With a sigh, she crouched down, resting her hands on her knees, and then moved one of them to the wet sand.

When she sailed here, she thought that she was sailing home, that she would finally find a place for herself in the world, after all, no matter how you look at it, this is also her family home.
How many people passed through these lands? When her ancestors came to this shore, it was an empty island, nothing special. And yet they chose this place as their home. She lifted her hand from the sand and ran the grains between her fingers, thinking about this new chapter that was beginning in her life. She is responsible for thousands of lives, she cannot fail them.

Hearing the screech of the dragons, she looked up back at the path in front of her. She has decided to walk on it, there is no turning back. Enough of hesitating, enough of dreaming about the future, it's time to start building it.

She stood up, dusting off her hands, and confidently moved forward. She breathed deeply, calming her heartbeat.

The first steps led to a gate, a great gate. At the ground on both sides it was surrounded by sculptures of dragon heads, and at the top their entire figures. The two Unsullied went to open the passage for her while she focused on admiring the walls, which were already very ornate in themselves.

She didn't even notice that her closest companions were following her. She felt as if she were exploring this castle herself, as if its beauty was reserved only for her.
Behind the gate, there were even more stairs waiting for them, but the beauty of the castle finally became visible. The gates looked like dragon heads and the towers were topped with figures of these beasts. The building definitely looked like the seat of a family with a dragon as its sigil.

She took two steps at a time to get inside as quickly as possible. Even there, the details in the decoration were taken care of, even though the interior was not rich in small decorations, like the Red Keep. The door handles resembled dragons, and the entire door looked as if it was covered with dragon scales.

The only thing she didn't like was the Stannis Baratheon's banner hanging inside. She grabbed the fabric and pulled it down hard, throwing it to the ground.
This place would never be anyone's other than her family's again. If she is the last of her house, then let it be deserted, but let no one defile it with their sigils.

After passing through several corridors, with the sound of her heels echoing first and others following behind her, they finally stopped in front of a door where stood a throne carved into the rock.
Once upon a time, the heirs to the throne resided in this castle, they were titled Prince of Dragonstone and this throne was for them. Her parents also once lived here, so she would probably have been born here if it weren't for the war.

Thinking about being here and actually being within these walls were two different things. She didn't expect that this place would make such an impression on her, that it would make her think about all her ancestors, especially the most famous ones: Aegon the Conqueror and his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys.
She is the first Visenya since the Conquest, and the second woman to claim the Iron Throne.

Rhaenyra failed to go down in history as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, even though she deserved it. It didn't make her feel optimistic, but times had changed. Rhaenyra fought against her brother, both sides had dragons, the kingdoms were divided.
She is the only person in the world who has dragons. There is no male member of House Targaryen to challenge her claim to the throne.

This is how I will go down in the pages of history, right next to the Breaker of Chains - she thought, entering the large room with the throne.

The chambers needed cleaning, of course, but that's not a problem, she has enough people to do it in one day, at least the most important rooms.
She didn't know the exact layout of the castle, only what she remembered from the notes in the books, but there should be another room here, just above the cliff...

She climbed the stairs almost to the throne and looked around for a passage. It was to the left, and she immediately directed her steps that way.
This chamber was smaller, but no less important. A bas-relief of a dragon decorated the wall, and the main thing that took up almost the entire space was a table.

But not just any ordinary wooden table... Made of stone, in the shape of Westeros, with all the most important castles, rivers, forests and mountains carved into it. There were even figurines on it and three chairs pushed aside. Everything was dusty, left to its fate at some point.
She moved to the very end of the table, her eyes wandering over the places marked on the map. This is where they will plan their next steps, where to fight the battle, and how to transport the troops.

She rested her hands on the stone table and raised her head, looking at her companions who had come here with her.

"Let's begin." she said, interrupting the sound of waves crashing on the cliffs behind her.