Theon and his crew set sail the same day they arrived at Dragonstone. It was already late in the evening, but Visenya stood on the cliff and watched the ship leave the port. She kept thinking about whether she should have at least given him more men, but no... The Ironborn would do best in their own company, and she needed her army with her. Part of her fleet has already sunk, attacked by Euron Greyjoy, and another part should soon dock in the port of Meereen and take the remainder of her army to Westeros. But it will still take at least four months... Until then, she has to make do with what she has.

She shouldn't have any problem with this, considering she has the support of Dorne and the Tyrells. And dragons.

Yes, dragons... They all found a place to sleep for the night near where she was standing. Viserion lay closest, because his head was almost resting against - or rather nearly crushing - her feet.
Not so long ago they were so small... They used to lay on her lap, cuddle up to her, and before that they even climb on her. Now the roles were reversed, she relied on them more than they on her. However, this did not change the fact that she still saw them as her children, perhaps the only ones she would ever have.

She stroked Viserion's head as he slowly blinked his eyes, slowly falling asleep. She leaned down and kissed the top of his head before turning to do the same to the rest of the dragons. Then she noticed that Robb was standing quite far away - at a safe distance - looking at her.

"Are you afraid?!" she exclaimed. She didn't move from her place. She smiled and pointed to the beast lying next to her. "It's Viserion." then she pointed at the green one. "Rhaegal is there. And there's Drogon and Maelia." here she pointed at a black and a white dragon lying next to each other. But she still didn't take even a step forward, as if inviting Robb to come to her.

"Who wouldn't be afraid?" he replied, but took a step closer, even though he wasn't sure if he wanted to approach.

He had no confidence that Visenya was able to control them all, that one of them wouldn't suddenly attack him. Like Grey Wind, he reacted on his own when he felt that Robb might be in danger. He was terrifying enough, especially when he was up to his waist and still growing, and these... beasts were so much bigger. When Visenya was sitting on the back of one of them, she was barely visible. And they probably kept growing too, as if they weren't already scary enough.

"You don't have to be afraid. Come." she encouraged him with a nod of her head. Her smile widened a little when she saw Robb slowly taking steps. "They won't hurt you, I promise. They listen to me"

It wasn't entirely true, but he didn't need to know that. They usually didn't do anything against her, they never hurt any of her friends, but they kept their untamed nature. She never forgot how the charred bones of a child were brought to her in Meereen. She promised herself it wouldn't happen again, but she couldn't keep the dragons locked up - that's what she swore to herself as well. She will not make the mistake of her ancestors.

Robb wondered why people called her the 'Mother of Dragons'. She didn't give birth to them, did she? Then why is she called their mother? It sounded more like a title designed for self-aggrandizement rather than making any real sense. Why did she talk about them as her children? The story talked a lot about the Targaryens and their dragons, but there was no mention of this bond being parent-child like. It was deep, but not like this.

Just like he didn't understand why she was called 'The Unburnt'. This must be some kind of metaphor, right? Just something to do with her origins or dragons, right?

"They're still animals. You never know what they'll do." he said, but moved even closer until he was standing two steps away from her.

It was practically night, and when he went out for a walk, he didn't expect to find her. If he were to look for her, he would say that she was probably already in her chambers and getting ready for bed. But here she stood before him, illuminated only by the moonlight. It matched her silver hair perfectly, giving her an even more unique, almost magical look.

Standing close to her, he couldn't help but admire her, as a man admire a woman, like a poet his muse, like a painter his model. A poet looks for words to perfectly describe charms, a painter looks for the best paint to best reflect beauty, and a man... simply looks and admires. He wants to look closely, he desires to touch and no matter what he does, he is unable to change his nature.

But he couldn't stop comparing her to Talisa. Every time they were close she reminded him of her, he didn't even know why. They looked completely different, but what they had in common was... kindness. Pure kindness, the desire to help people - although in different ways.

Talisa healed people, no matter who they fought for. She didn't choose sides, she looked at every person the same, as a living being whose life matters and she should do everything to save it.
Visenya, on the other hand, had a much more ambitious vision. Conquer the continent and then start changing world. She had succeeded in Essos with the Free Cities - he had heard that even after she had left for Westeros she had someone continue her campaign to eradicate the concept of slavery - but could she succeed here? Where are people different?

No one waits for a savior to free him from his shackles. Simple people don't care about the quarrels of Great Houses, they go about their lives and are only interested in what is happening to their Lord. It is to him that they go with all their requests, not to the Wardens or the King. These - especially the ruler - are figures that they only imagine based on rumors.
Simple people just want to live. He's not saying that Vis can't provide them with a better life, but it will be much harder for her to convince them to trust her, when she's not in a position of liberator, but a person who brought another war to their lands - even if he supported getting rid of Cersei Lannister.

"I know. They won't hurt you if you don't have any bad intentions towards me." she walked up to him and grabbed his hand. She didn't wait for him to finally decide to approach her, she led him to Viserion, who was lying closest to them. "He loves being petted." she added, placing Robb's hand on the dragon's head.

It was... A strange feeling. He used to catch lizards with Jon when he was a kid, and they're covered in scales just like dragons, but much, much smaller. In addition, Viserion was very warm to the touch. Not just warm, like human skin, but even more so. As if this fire he can breathe was always burning somewhere inside.

"That's...weird." he finally said.

"That he likes being petted?" she asked, stifling a laugh.

She knew what he meant, but she couldn't help but tease him.

"No." he also laughed briefly, moving his hand further over the dragon's head. "It's very specific to the touch, but pleasant." he explained.

Viserion moved his head a little, scaring Robb at first, but he just wanted to move closer, showing that he really liked being petted.

"It's getting pretty late..." she remarked after a few minutes of silence between them as they were petting Viserion. She hesitated, not sure if she wanted to say what was already on the tip of her tongue. She cleared her throat and finally said: "Will you walk me to the castle? It seems that my knight has already gone to rest."

Nonsense, because she herself told Ser Arthur to leave her alone when she left the castle. She desired this bit of loneliness, watch the ship sail away and immerse herself in her own thoughts. When she saw Robb behind her, she wanted to ask what happened between him and Theon, but she doubted he trusted her enough to tell her about it. That's why she chose to remain silent about it, if he wanted to share it, he would.

For now, Theon isn't here and won't be any time soon, and if the conflict returns and she needs to resolve it, the most she can do is ask Varys, maybe he will know what happened.
She herself didn't feel ready to share her worries with him yet, so she wasn't going to be offended by Robb's lack of trust.

"Of course, Your Grace."

She's definitely not afraid for her safety here, otherwise she wouldn't be here alone when I came. Her knight does not leave her side even for a moment unless she orders him otherwise. Did she... want to spend some more time with me?

True to Visenya's pessimistic predictions, no letter arrived from King's Landing. All that happened was that the Iron Fleet withdrew from Blackwater Bay, leaving the capital vulnerable to attack from the sea. It was suspicious to say the least, but there was no time to waste.

Now Visenya was in a situation that was as unreal to her as getting on board of a ship to Westeros in Meereen. Namely, she was at the gates of King's Landing, which were just opening.
With the Iron Fleet withdrawing, she was able to send the Unsullied to enter the city using secret tunnels.

They expected that they would encounter resistance from the Lannister army, that Euron simply ran away when he found out who he had declared war on and left Cersei alone on the battlefield.
But it was different. It had to be, otherwise the gates wouldn't have been opened to her so quickly, they must have met no resistance to get here so quickly.

Visenya was sitting on a horse, wearing the same outfit she had come to Dragonstone in, even her hair was styled very similarly. The city opened up to her, but there were no shouts of joy like it was in Essos.
Varys told her that she shouldn't be the first to enter the city, that it could be a trap, but she didn't listen to him. She didn't feel like anyone could threaten her at that moment.

On her right was Ser Arthur - as usual - and on her left this time was Missandei. She was followed by the rest of the army, which did not take part in the secret entry beyond the walls of the capital.
Leaving Dragonstone to come here, she felt both sadness and excitement. Now she was only accompanied by stress. She knew what the Red Keep looked like inside, after all, she had spent some time here when they brought her here after Robert's death. She should be afraid of who she might find inside, who she might come face to face with. But something was wrong. No Lannister troops on the streets, no Iron Fleet...

What if...

"This is Visenya of House Targaryen! Rightful heir to the Iron Throne, First of her name, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms! The Mother of Dragons, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Queen of Yunkai, Queen of Astapor, Queen of Meereen, the Unburnt, Breaker of Chains!" when Missandei introduced her to people, she felt like chasing her horse to get to the Red Keep as quickly as possible.

She remembered a dream she had long ago, before Maelia was born. About a shadowy figure that walked through the streets of King's Landing. It walked past destroyed houses, terrified or dead people to the castle and then to the throne room. She remembered faint crying in the background, screams and inhuman roars. Now she knew they were dragon roars. She also knew that what she saw next: a naked, ash-stained girl with silver hair, sitting on the ground, with a small dragon climbing on her back - must have been Daenerys and the birth of the Drogon, Viserion and Rhaegal.
The only thing that remained a mystery was the first part of the dream.

Riding slowly towards the keep, she looked at the people who came out into the street to see what was happening. No one tried to get in her way, but they didn't look at her warmly. It certainly didn't help that her dragons were circling above the city, exploring new place.

She couldn't say whether people were hostile towards her or were simply afraid and didn't know how to react to the new situation. She couldn't blame them, they didn't know her, they didn't know what her intentions were. She would be afraid herself if she were in their position: A stranger, with an army and dragons, comes to the city and calls himself your ruler. Especially when it looked like the previous Queen had escaped. How can you explain the simultaneous lack of an army and a navy differenty?

At the steps leading to the Red Keep, she dismounted. She felt her heart pounding at the thought of what was about to happen. He knows these stairs, these corridors, leading to the throne room. She swallowed, overcoming the memories of the first time she was here. This is where she was born, this is her home, this is the only place she can create it for herself.

It was like arriving at Dragonstone, which was almost tantamount to declaring war for the Iron Throne. Entering the Red Keep was like a victory. She went up, or rather almost ran up the stairs. Without waiting for someone to open the door, she pushed it herself.

She collided with the void. There was no one here, not even servants. As she walked, the sound of her heels hitting the floor echoed through the halls. She immediately headed to the throne room, she knew the way here. There were Lannister's lion banners hanging around, they were even present in some elements in the corridors and windows.

"Stay here." she said over her shoulder, stopping in front of the door leading to the throne room.

"Your Grace-"

"This is an order from your Queen." she quickly cut off Ser Arthur's objection.

She turned her head and slowly stretched her arms out, resting them on the door handles. She took a deep breath and - feeling a shiver run through her - pushed them hard, and they slowly began to open.

The hall was as she remembered it, except that the lions no longer had the company of the stags on the banners. A spacious chamber that has seen so many coronations, so many important events. So many of her ancestors stood where she stands now. Her parents certainly did too, many times. Her grandfather - the Mad King - also died in this room at the hands of Jaime Lannister. And now she's standing here. Not as a prisoner, not as a war trophy, but as a Queen, the last of the house of the dragon.

Once she had a quick look around the room, her eyes went straight ahead, to the Iron Throne. It stood there, as if waiting for her. Her whole body was shaking in anticipation, she had to focus on her steps so as not to trip over her own legs. Tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away as she climbed the few steps that led to the throne.
The last time she stood this close to it was over four years ago. She would then reach out to touch it, but finally didn't do it. Jaime interrupted her when found her in the throne room. She even remembered what he told her then: 'If you wanted to sit on that chair, you'd have to kill a lot of people first.'

Here she is, several years and countless deaths later. She could no longer imagine that her father should sit on this throne after the death of the Mad King, now she only had an image of herself in her head.

Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. A place from which she can do more than anywhere else. A title she had been chasing for recent years.

She slowly reached out a trembling hand, trying to calm her breathing. It was real, not a dream. She had to touch it to make sure. She needs to see what it feels like before she sits on it.
However, this time also her hand stopped halfway, and again because she heard Jaime Lannister's voice.

"Visenya." she had never heard him address her like that. It was always her false name, the one they gave her: Maegelle. She was disgusted by it and it would never get through her throat again. They wanted to rob her of who she was destined to become.

Fortunately, they failed.

She turned sharply and saw Jaime standing at the entrance to the corridor at this end of the room, on her left behind the Iron Throne.
He didn't have time to say anything more before the Unsullied and several Dothraki, whom she treated as her personal guard, burst into the room. Of course, Ser Arthur was also at her side almost immediately.

If he and Jaime recognized each other, they absolutely didn't show it.

"Stand where you are and drop your weapon." Arthur said, standing before Vis.

"I don't want to hurt her majesty." assured Jaime, clumsily - because he only had one hand - unbuckling the belt that held his sword and throwing it to the floor, then kicking it towards the soldiers.

Just as he had decided when Cersei told him of her plan to leave - or rather escape from King's Landing - so he did. He didn't sail with her, he was fed up with her. Enough of her lack of respect for human life, enough of her selfishness, greed, lust for power... Even if he was to be sentenced to death by the Dragon Queen now, it would be better than another day of living under Cersei's thumb.

"What are you doing here? Where is everyone? Where's the army, where's Cersei?" Visenya asked, moving from her place to stand in front of him, no more than two steps away. She was glad Tyrion hadn't gotten here yet, otherwise he'd already be giving her a thousand reasons why she shouldn't kill Jaime - even if she wasn't planning on doing so at all.

She didn't like him, didn't feel the same sympathy for him as he did for her - or at least he had loved her once, she couldn't be sure of that anymore - but she wasn't going to kill him. Assuming, of course, that he wouldn't cause trouble and try to kill her again.

"You are not safe, Your Grace." he started. "Cersei took the entire army to Iron Fleet ships and escaped with Euron Greyjoy. She wants to kill you, let you think you've won, and then strike you unexpectedly. She can't attack you openly, so she will do it by stealth." he said it quickly, as if he was afraid that he would be caught and thrown into the dungeons or beheaded at any moment.

Of course she escaped, as she suspected. She will come back later, she will wait until Visenya stumbles or one of the attempts on her life succeeds. Because that was the only option she had, to act like a coward. It will now be impossible to find them in the entire vast sea, to predict where they are going - if they has any specific destination. Moreover, to challenge the Iron Fleet, she would have to either engage the dragons in the fight or risk her entire fleet, while many ships of it were still on the other continent. She only hoped that they would not sink with the part of her army that had not even arrived to Westeros yet.

"And you are telling me this because...?" she had a feeling he was telling her the truth, but she still wasn't sure of his intentions. Maybe he still held a grudge against her for how she used him to escape? She didn't like it, but it was a necessary evil. Their last encounter was on the battlefield and it didn't go well either, as he charged at her with a spear.

How could she trust him? Cersei could have manipulated him and he probably wouldn't even know it, and she would have walked into a trap.
It would seem that with the false queen gone, things would be calmer for a while, but now she will have to look over her shoulder at every step and remain surrounded by guards if she didn't want to lose her life. After all, all it takes is one well-aimed arrow or an accurately thrown knife...

"Because I'm fed up with my sister, fed up with people dying in wars, I want it all to end. Visenya, Your Grace, you have known me forever, I never meant any harm to you-"

"You pitied me, it's not sympathy." she interrupted him, not wanting to hear where he was going...

"I loved you."...but he said it anyway. He confirmed her suspicions and she felt bad again about the way she treated him, as if his feelings didn't matter. He offered her his heart, and she threw it on the ground, trampled it and left him alone with the problem. Just like she left Daario, whom she in turn liked very much, who made her happy... "Cersei called me pathetic because I love a woman to whom I am nothing. I'm nothing to everyone I love, but I'm not as bad a person as you all try to tell me. I want an end to the bloodshed and a better life for all those people who have suffered one tragedy after another in recent years. If you are able to change this fucked up world, I am willing to give my life to make it happen."

She fell silent for a few minutes. She tried to find words to describe what she felt, but she couldn't. She shouldn't feel sorry for a man she didn't like and whose family had done so much harm to her, but at the same time she was kind to Tyrion, even making him her Hand. Jaime wasn't any worse for her, in fact she was the bad one, involving him in many things that were only meant to benefit her. Where would there be justice if she didn't give him the same chance as Tyrion, as Varys, because of whom her aunt died.

"You recently tried to kill me." she finally uttered, still wondering what she should do.

"We were opponents on the battlefield, and if it were like that again, I would do the same without hesitation, because I always fight for my people." he replied, taking a step towards her, not caring that the Unsullied extended their spears towards him. "But I don't want it to be like that." he added. He really looked tired of it all, he wasn't lying when he said he wanted it all to be over. "I was dismissed from the Kingsguard by King Tommen Baratheon, what made me my father's heir." after these words, she began to guess what he was getting at, but she was only sure of it when he knelt down on one knee. He didn't stop looking into her eyes even for a moment. "I, Jaime Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West, promise to be faithfull to Visenya Targaryen, rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. I pleadge fealty to her, and shall defend her from all enemies in good faith and without deceit. I will respond to any call. I swear this by the gods old and the new."

"You have no army, your sister took all of it. You have no authority, people despise you." she said, approaching and stopping only when she was standing right in front of him. All this time she had her hands clasped in front of her. She raised her head as she did in her role of a queen, thus breaking their eye contact as well. "But you disobeyed your sister and stayed here, I assume mainly to warn me." she looked at him again, but without bowing her head even slightly. "I accept you as my Warden of the West, but if I ever even suspect that you have betrayed me, I will burn you alive."

Was it a good decision? It remained to be seen, but she hoped she hadn't made a mistake, because any careless step could cost her her life. It was based mainly on how she remembered these siblings. Cersei was never an easy person to live with, it was bound to end like this sooner or later.

"Ñuha Dāria, mirri vala iepagon iā rhaenagon, ziry koskla zirȳlago hae Christer Renel." she didn't even realize when the next Unsullied entered the room, one of them ran up to her, bowed and said these words.

*"My Queen, some man asks to see you, he introduced himself as Christer Renel."*

Christer Renel... Selaria's brother. The one who helped her send the letter. They met once and it was a very... specific moment, not to say: strange. He spoke to her strangely. He said that sending the letter would be his last act of helping her, but now he asked for a meeting.

'Anyone who wants the throne is your enemy, capable of strangling you in your sleep.' - that's what he told her. She still felt chills run down her spine as she thought about that advice.

Why did he want to see her? Could she trust him? He helped her, he was the brother of her mother's maid, but he caused such a strange feelings in her, that she wasn't able to judge either his intentions or himself.
But maybe... Maybe it had something to do with Selaria? She didn't know what had happened to her since they separated. She assumed she was dead, but what if she wasn't? Maybe she's even here somewhere? Maybe she's proud of her and is waiting to see her after so many years? But then she would come to her herself... And if she needs to be saved, is that the point? She will do it without hesitation, she has the abilities to do so...

Or she's just getting her hopes up and will be very disappointed when she meets Christer - because she's already made up her mind, she has to see him. Even if only to thank him.

"Ivestragon zirȳla bona kesan rhaenagon zirȳla isse se dārōñe tistālion hen Mele Gaomagon." she replied.

*"Tell him that I will meet him in the royal chambers of the Red Keep."*

A ghost of a smile crossed her face as that glimmer of hope appeared that Selaria might still be alive. However, all traces of joy disappeared when she turned and looked at the Iron Throne.

This is not the end of fighting, bloodshed and constant stress. If it's a symbol of victory, she doesn't deserve it, not yet. She was so close, it would only take a few steps to stand in front of it again and touch it, or even sit on. But no, this is not the time, she can't do this. For now, she can only continue to fantasize about what it is like, having it at her fingertips, but not being able to reach for it.

She turned her gaze forward, past the still kneeling Jaime, and went into the corridor leading to the King's and Queen's chambers.