[Dragonstone]
Following their wedding, Jacearys and Eleanor returned to Driftmark to oversee the progress of their fleet, which they hoped would rival that of the Sea Snake, Corlys Velaryon.
Daemon and Aelinor had just finished visiting the maestar who had confirmed she was carrying twins, when Ser Fowler ran up to them.
She'd had a scare after finding out about Tommen's death, and her mother crowning herself Queen.
"What is it?"
"Multiple ships have been sighted heading for us."
"Did you see the banners?" Aelinor asked.
Had her mother sent men to retrieve her? If so, where did she get the ships?
"Black, with a three headed red dragon."
Daemon smirked. "Tell your men they can stand down. That is my sister."
On the bay of Dragonstone, Daenerys Targaryen, Tyrion Lannister, Varys, Missandei, and Grey Worm were in a rowboat, looking out at the castle as they approached.
Arianne Martell had recently returned to Dorne after receiving news of her uncle's better health. But, Daenerys had enjoyed the company of the young Dornish Princess, and was grateful she did not blame her for Rhaegal burning her brother alive as he tried to claim him, following his failed marriage attempt.
A number of ships were anchored in the water behind them. Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion flew overhead.
Suddenly two unfamiliar dragons appeared. One golden, the other a mix of black and green.
It seemed Daenerys was not the only one with dragons.
Everyone disembarked the rowboat, landing on the beaches of Dragonstone.
Daenerys walked on ahead. She kneeled down and pressed her palm to the sand, then stared up at the castle and walked further down the beach. The others followed.
They climb the steps and approach a gate flanked by two statues of dragon heads. Two Unsullied approached the gate and pushed it open, revealing a walkway up to the castle.
Daenerys, Tyrion, Missandei, Grey Worm, and Varys walked through the gates and up the walkway, entering the foyer.
A tapestry bearing the dragon sigil of House Targaryen was hanging off to the side.
Daenerys walked over to it and felt the fabric before approaching a set of doors. Two Unsullied opened them for her.
She entered the throne room, followed by the others.
Varys and Missandei stopped following her as she approached the throne, staring at it. Grey Worm moved to continue onward but Missandei put her hand on his chest to stop him. Tyrion looked around the hall.
Daenerys ascended the steps but walks past the throne into the Chamber of the Painted Table. Tyrion followed. Daenerys walked alongside the table, running her fingers across it.
Tyrion walked alongside the table opposite her and stared at the dragon carvings on the wall.
Daenerys stood at the head of the table and stares down at the map of Westeros. Tyrion looked at her.
"Shall we begin?"
"Without me?" A voice started them, causing them to turn around.
There stood two figures with bright silver hair; a man and a noticeably pregnant young woman.
"Daemon?" Daenerys whispered.
"Welcome home, sister."
It seemed Daenerys had arrived just in time. Outside, a storm raged.
Rain fell on the beach and the castle, lightning flashed, and thunder crackled overhead.
Daenerys, Daemon, Aelinor, Tyrion, Grey Worm, Missandei, and Varys were standing in the Chamber of the Painted Table, staring out at the storm.
Tyrion and Aelinor had had a mini reunion of their own as they watched the two siblings meet for the first timr.
"On a night like this, you came into the world." Tyrion told her.
"I remember that storm. All the dogs in King's Landing howled through the night." Varys noted.
"I wish I could remember it." Daenerys turned away from the window and walked over to the table. "I alwys thought this would be a homecoming. It doesn't feel like home."
"Our true home was destroyed centuries ago." Daemon added.
"We won't stay on Dragonstone for long." Tyrion told her.
"Good." Daenerys looked at the figurines placed on the table. "Not so many lions."
"That is what happens when you make enemies in nearly every Kingdom," Aelinor said.
"Cersei controls fewer than half the Seven Kingdoms. The lord of Westeros despise her. Even before your arrival, they plotted against her. Now..." Varys began
"They cry out for their true queen? They drink secret toasts to my health?" Daenerys walked closer to Varys. "People used to tell my brother Viserys that sort of thing, and he was stupid enough to believe them." She picked up a dragon figurine from the table. "If Viserys had three dragons and an army at his back, he'd have invaded King's Landing already."
"Conquering Westeros would be easy for you. But you're not here to be queen of the ashes." Tyrion told her.
"No." Daenerys set down the dragon figurine.
"We can take the Seven Kingdoms without turning it into a slaughterhouse. If the great houses support your claim against Cersei, the game is won. Aelinor's son is the Lord of Highgarden. With the Tyrell army and the Dornish on our side, we have powerful allies in the south."
Daenerys looked at Varys. "I nevr properly thanked you for that."
"They joined our side, my queen, because they believe in you."
"You served my father, didn't you, Lord Varys?"
"I did."
"And then you served the man who overthrew him?"
"I had a choice, Your Grace-serve Robert Baratheon or face the headman's axe."
"But you didn't serve him long. You turned against him."
"Robert was an improvement on your father, to be sure. There have been few rulers in history as cruel as the Mad King. Robert was neither mad nor cruel. He simply had no interest in being king."
"So you took it upon yourself to find a better one."
"Your Grace, when I was ready to drink myself into a small coffin, Lord Varys told me about a queen in the east who-" Tyrion began.
"Before I came to power, you favored my brother. All your spies, your little birds, did they tell you Viserys was cruel, stupid, and weak? Would those qualities have made for a good king in your learned opinion?" Daenerys asked Varys.
"Until your marriage to Khal Drogo, Your Grace, I knew nothing about you, save your existence and that you were said to be beautiful."
"So you and your friends traded me like a prized horse to the Dothraki."
"Which you turned to your advantage."
"Who gave the order to kill me?"
"King Robert."
Aelinor looked down.
"Who hired the assassins?" Daenerys walked closer to Varys. "Who sent word to Essos to murder Daenerys Targaryen?"
"Your Grace, I did what had to be done to-"
"To keep yourself alive."
"Lord Varys has proven himself a loyal servant." Tyrion told her.
"Proven himself loyal? Quite the opposite. If he dislikes one monarch, he conspires to crown the next one. What kind of a servant is that?"
"The kind the realm needs. Incompetence should not be rewarded with blind loyalty. As long as I have my eyes, I'll use them. I wasn't born into a great house. I came from nothing. I was sold as a slave and carved up as an offering. When I was a child, I lived in alleys, gutters, abandoned houses. You wish to know where my true loyalties lie? Not with any king or queen, but with the people. The people who suffer under despots and prosper under just rule. The people whose hearts you aim to win. If you demand blind allegiance, I respect your wishes. Grey Worm can behead me or your dragons can devour me. But if you let me live, I will serve you well. I will dedicate myself to seeing you on the Iron Throne because I choose you. Because I know the people have no better chance than you."
Aelinor chose to ignore this. In a way, it stung as he knew her from birth. He saw what she had done, without expecting anything in return.
"Well then, I suppose it is lucky you were sent an anonymous letter of warning," Aelinor noted.
Daenerys looked at her. "Yes, I suppose it is." She turned to Varys. "Swear this to me, Varys. If you ever think I'm failing the people, you won't conspire behind my back. You'll look me in the eye as you have done today, and you'll tell me how I'm failing them."
"I swear it, my queen."
"And I swear this-if you evr betray me, I'll burn you alive."
Varys smiled. "I would expect nothing less from the Mother of Dragons."
"Forgive me, my queen. A red priestess from As'shai has come to see you." Grey Worm informed her.
[Dragonstone - Throne Room]
A woman was standing alone in the throne room. Daenerys entered, accompanied by her brother, sister-by-law, Tyrion, Varys, Missandei, and Grey Worm. They approached redheaded woman.
She began speaking Valyrian. "Queen Daenerys, I was a slave once, bought and sold, scourged and branded. It is an honor to meet the Breaker of Chains."
"The Red Priests helped bring peace to Meereen. You are very welcome here. What is your name?"
"I am called Melisandre."
"She once served another who wanted the Iron Throne. It didn't end well for Stannis Baratheon, did it?" Varys said.
"No, it didn't."
"You chose an auspicious day to arrive at Dragonstone." Daenerys turned to look at Varys. "We've just decided to pardon those who served the wrong king."
Varys bowed his head to Daenerys who turned back to Melisandre.
"The Lord of Light doesn't have many followers in Westeros, does he?"
"Not yet. But even those who don't worship the Lord can serve his cause."
"What does your Lord expect from me?"
Melisandre began speaking Valyrian again. "The Long Night is coming. Only the prince who was promised can bring the dawn."
"The prince who was promised will bring the dawn. I'm afraid I'm not a prince." Daenerys responded.
"Your Grace, forgive me, but your translation is not quite accurate. That noun has no gender in High Valyrian, so the proper translation for that prophecy would be the prince or princess who was promised will bring the dawn." Missandei corrected.
"Doesn't really roll off the tongue, does it?" Tyrion quipped.
"No, but I like it better." Daenerys replied. She turned back to Melisandre. "And you believe this prophecy refers to me?"
"Prophecies are dangerous things. I believe you have a role to play, as does another. The Acting Warden of the North, Jon Snow."
"Jon Snow? Ned Stark's bastard?" Tyrion asked.
"You know him?" Daenerys questioned.
"I traveled with him to the Wall when he joined the Night's Watch." Tyrion added.
"And why do you think the Lord of Light singled out this Jon Snow aside from the visions you've seen in the flames, that is?" Varys asked.
"As Lord Commander of the Night's Watch he allowed the Wildlings south of the Wall to protect them from great danger. He has united those Wildlings with the northern houses so together they may face their common enemy. They wished to crown him King In The North, but he declined." Melisandre told them.
"He sounds like quite a man." Daenerys responded.
"Summon Jon Snow. Let him stand before you and tell you things that have happened to him, the things that he has seen with his own eyes."
"I can't speak to prophecies or visions in the flames, but I like Jon Snow and I trusted him, and I am an excellent judge of character." Tyrion said and Daenerys smiled at him. "If he does rule the north, he would make a valuable ally. The Lannisters executed his father and conspired to murder his brother. Jon Snow has even more reason to hate Cersei than you do."
Daenerys paused for a moment. "Very well. Send a raven north. Tell Jon Snow that his Queen invites him to come to Dragonstone...and bend the knee."
Daemon sighed. "Our brother was obsessed with this prophecy. At first he thought it referred to him. But, when his son was born, he thought he had created the Prince Who Who Was Promised. They're both dead."
"And we are not." Daenerys responded. "Did you think it was you?"
"No. When it comes to prophecies, I err on the side of caution. Our brother was so consumed with the idea he needed three children, the dragon must have three heads, that he left his wife who had given him a son and daughter."
"Sparking my father's rebellion," Aelinor added.
"Yes, where he stole our family's throne after killing our brother." Daenerys laughed, turning to her only living brother. "He'd be rolling in his grave. A Baratheon and Targaryen joined again. I don't think that's happened since Aemon Targaryen and Jocelyn Baratheon, the parents of the Queen Who Nevr Was."
"No, it has not."
"And you two would not dispute my claim? You could have been crowned Queen after your brother's death, yet you ran."
"I thought I wanted the Iron Throne," Aelinor said. "But that was when it was unattainable. I realized I simply did not want my brother Joffrey to have it. I knew he would be a terror. Then there was Tommen, sweet Tommen, but easily manipulated."
"They also had no real claim to the throne, did they?"
"Some would say neither did my father. But, no, they did not. They are both my siblings and cousins. All I want now is to raise my children in peace. My mother is not the Queen I wish to rule. I love her, but she has made mistake after mistake. Our family is dying left and right. Both of my brothers are dead. My sister and I have left her. She has lost the thing she cared most about; her children. There's no telling how dangerous she has become."
"You do know how this may end, do you?"
"Yes, but I hope it does not come to that. If not for me, for my sister. Myrcella is good and kind. We may disagree with our mother's actions, but by no means do we want her dead."
"Hmm." Daenerys turned to her brother. "And you brother?"
"That bloody chair cost our family so much pain and devestation. I have a family to think of now." He looked at Aelinor who cradled her stomach. "Soon, I will have two of my own children to look after. Not to mention the eldest and Lord of Highgarden, a boy of only one nameday."
"Yes. He would have had the opportunity to grow into the role had his father, grandfather, aunt and countless others not been slaughtered in the Sept."
"Her mother did that."
"And it led my baby brother to hurl himself from the Red Keep," Aelinor interjected, tears streaming down her face.
"Prophecies are dangerous. Our brother let himself be consumed by the idea he was the Prince Who Was Promised. He was born in the aftermath of the tragedy at Summerhall, which claimed the lives of our great grandfather, his knight, Ser Duncan, our great uncle Duncan and his wife Jenny of Oldstones, as well as Maestar Corso. He had been born amongst the salt of our family's tears and smoke of the flames from the burning castle. On the night his son was conceived, he was told a red comet had been sighted in the sky, and he was born here on Dragonstone, salt of the sea and smoke of the Dragonmont volcano, leading him to believe his son was the Prince Who Was Promised."
"They're both gone now," Daenerys uttered.
"Yes, they are. As is Viserys." Daemon walked over to Aelinor, pulling her into his embrace. "If that is all, sister, my wife should rest, for the babes."
"Babes?"
"Twins."
Daenerys revealed a half smile. "Congratulations. I wish I could have children of mine own to carry our family legacy."
"What says you can't?"
"Not what, who. The witch who murdered my unborn child and cursed my husband."
"And you believe her?"
Daenerys shrugged. "It doesn't matter. We have more important things to deal with."
Daemon nodded, bowing his head. "Your Grace."
He and Aelinor turned, returning to their chambers. He helped her into bed and laid down beside her.
"So, you've met my sister. What do you think?"
"She's nice, I suppose, but I'm not sure how well she will receive me, given that I am the Usurper's daughter. I can see what exile has done to her though. It has hardened her. She still has a good heart, but she understands that only having a good heart will not help her restore the Targaryen dynasty to power."
"And how do you feel about that?"
"My father was not meant to be King. He didn't ask for it. He didn't want it. But, he accepted it because he had the greatest claim, other than you. You had already fled. A wise choice I am glad you made."
"So am I." He said.
"I do not like the idea of my uncle going to King's Landing."
Her Uncle Tyrion had suggested he go to King's Landing and meet with her mother to broker terms of peace.
But, her mother hated him and blamed him for the death of Joffrey, which he played no part in, and their father, which he did.
She had been looking for any excuse to kill her brother. This was practically a golden opportunity, offered to her on a platter.
Tyrion was certain her mother would not kill him. Not now, at least. Not when it served her no other purpose except finally being rid of him.
He ensured them he would be back before the arrival of Jon Snow, but Aelinor was not so sure.
"Have you had any more dreams?"
Aelinor nodded. They were becoming more frequent.
"They scare me. I was not meant to see the futyre. So many things I want to prevent, but I don't know if I can." She sighed. "My mother has been running from a prophecy spoken to her by a wood witch. Most of it has come true. She lost two children, her sons, and both her daughters left her. She killed Margaery, Loras and all the others because this witch told her a younger, more beautiful woman would take all she held dear. Margaery had control over Joffrey and Tommen, as much as one could control Joffrey. My mother despised her for it."
"The Red Priestess was right. Prophecies are a dangerous thing."
"The Ironborn and Dornish envoys will arrive soon. Along with my son's great grandmother."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"It's not their arrival that worries me. It's what happened following their departure."
"What did you see?"
"Your sister will lose her allies if she follows my uncle's plan. They will stranded, killed, or taken hostage."
Silence fell between them.
This was not the way to begin quest for restoring the Targaryens to the throne.
The question was; could they change what she had seen?