Rhaenar hadn't left her room for the past few days, avoiding any one and every one by keeping the Unsullied at her doors. Her decision from the council room the other day hadn't been easy for her, the prospect of actually being styled as Queen made it difficult for her. She knew Dany had sat outside several times wanting to talk to her, but every time she refused entry, letting the Unsullied form some sort of lie as to why she may not be able to come to the door or let her in.
Rhaenar remained slumped on her bed, robe wrapped around her from her bath just moments before and Meereenese chocolates in a bowl to the side. She was pouting, she knew she was but she didn't want to change. Rhaenar didn't even let Mero in to see her, and he was livid; she could hear his shouts all the way from the hallway. She laid back, staring up at the tapestry that hung above her bed.
She didn't understand the scene but there was some form of man fighting against the others, before twisting into some scene of animals. "Rhaenar Targaryen, you better have a good excuse to be avoiding your duties as Queen!" She shot up, hand gripping her robe as she looked to the side, Missandei's murderous face glaring down at her.
Rhaenar squeaked, scrambling away. "Missandei." She said softly, Grey Worm flanking Missandei. That's how she got in, she used Grey worm. "What are you doing here?"
Missandei's eyes shortened with her, gathering those blue skirts in hand. "You have an audience prepared for you; as a Queen you need to speak with them, let them know that their needs are being heard and met."
Rhaenar sighed, collapsing back down. "This is your doing?" She asked nicely, a little groan in her voice.
Missandei nodded, coming to sit beside her. "Yes, as the first duty of my new role, Speaker of the People." Rhaenar was proud for her, but that didn't raise the desire she had to leave her room. "So get yourself up, and meet us there or I'll send Mero in." Rhaenar groaned again. She couldn't face him, too many questions about what would be happening and all with answers she didn't have.
For once, she just needed him to be a complete brute; forget everything and do three things men usually strive for; fucking, loving, and fighting - unless of course, they were the Unsullied. Missandei sighed, seeing her approach wasn't helping as Rhaenar looked as though she wished to be a million miles from here. "These people need you, Rhaenar; and right now, I think you need them."
An indigo eye peaked out from closed lids, letting Missandei know she was being heard. "When is this audience?"
"After breakfast, they've been coming from all over Meereen, some to give their many thank yous." Rhae smiled at the thought, she did want to help people.
"I will join you, let me get ready." Missandei reached over, grasping her hand and smiling. She was doing the right thing by turning up, even if it felt like the weight of the world was resting on her shoulders.
There was one thing that Missandei knew would cheer her up and calm her down, and though she didn't have to do it, for her friend, she wanted to. "Do you want me to do your braids today?" She nodded, thankful. Missandei stood her from the bed, the two walking to the vanity where Rhaenar dumped herself back down. "I should warn you that there will be former masters in the line today wanting an audience with you."
Rhaenar looked up to her as best she could as Missandei began to run a brush through the strands. "How do you both feel about that?"
Missandei shook her head; her own hair bouncing slightly as she wore it down. "The Masters deserve every right to be heard; but I am sure many will come to beg for their family's life." The men they'd imprisoned.
"I'm not letting any man go unless there is sufficient evidence, if it is a unanimous decision and it turns in the favour of the Master, only then will I consider it." Missandei nodded. "As Speaker of the People, I want you to also be in agreement with the decisions that are carried out with the Masters; I value your opinion on this." The little smile didn't go unnoticed by Rhaenar as Missandei began to braid the first section of her, the light strands moving with speed through her nimble fingers.
"I agree with everything you do, you haven't given me reason not to." They both sat flattered as silence settled around them, Grey Worm watching the pair from the side. He couldn't help but admire Missandei, the blue dress bringing out the warm tones of her skin beautifully, making her dark eyes sparkle. He loved the expanse of skin across the back, the freedom of her shoulders and the curve of her neck. She looked like a dream, one he wanted to continue to think about. He sighed.
The two girls giggled at the exhale of air, the soldier too lost in his daydream to notice they'd finish as Rhaenar stood. "I shouldn't keep you any longer, go eat. I'll meet you there."
"Don't be late." Missandei teased over her shoulder, Rhaenar rolling her eyes playfully. The pair left the room, Rhaenar basked in loneliness once more. She had to do this, as Queen of Meereen, this was one of her duties. Walking to the wardrobe, she pulled it open, gazing at the new pretty dresses that hung on the rail. Shades of blue adorned almost all of them besides a select few that had been cream or white. She reached for the first one, pulling it out.
It had come in two parts; the first a white ruffled dress, twisting at the neck where a thin black necklace wrapped around her neck. It was floaty, easy to move in and cool; but the overdress was a heavier blue material restricted parts of her movement. She grasped the jacket type overdress, pulling it up and onto her shoulders as she secured it with a dragon pin; the high neck irritating her. Where she normally relished being as dressed up in tight, high neck clothing, today it made her feel too restricted, too controlled.
Butterflies danced in the pit of her stomach, the fear and nerves snaking into her bones. Time to be a Queen, to rule over people once more.
She pulled on her boots, grasping familiar jewellery as she looked to herself. This wasn't the Rhaenar Blackfyre that had liberated previous cities but Queen Rhaenar Targaryen, a woman who was to rule. Rhaenar left, skirts dragging behind her as she found her way through the maze that was the pyramid. Every corridor looked the same, just different Unsullied guarding them. Rhae sighed, taking the stairs up before entering the council room, seeing breakfast set up but no one in there.
She peered around, frowning but moving further in. "You're late." A voice called out, Rhaenar jumping three feet in the air as she spun, looking at the voice.
Mero sat lazily on a chaise lounge, one leg resting on the chair with the other sprawled out in front of him. She glared, placing her hand to her heart. Rhaenar was going to have to put a notice out about people scaring her, this was the second time today. "Gods, Mero."
"Everyone is waiting for your Queenship in the throne room." He muttered, looking away to the balcony.
She sighed, slumping slightly. "You're angry with me."
His ocean eyes turned towards her, the blue mixing with a range of emotions as he stared at her, eyes running down the dress before flicking back up, clearing his throat. "I wouldn't say angry."
"But you wouldn't say you were fine either." Mero sighed, patting his thigh. She walked over, placing herself down, letting his hands fall to her waist as she sat close. Rhaenar's eyes darted over his face, from his short dark hair to the deep scars that seemed to line his cheek before breaking up across his nose to his eye, and then to the shadow of a beard that despite appearing scruffy, he trimmed religiously. "What, beautiful boy?"
His lip quirked but those blue eyes continued to rage a storm. "You can't keep yourself hauled in that room."
She lent down, running her nose against his. "And why not?"
"You know why." He whispered huskily, bringing his lips to hers. They shared a brief kiss, the two having missed the contact. "I tried multiple times to get through to you."
Rhaenar laughed, her lids heavy as their foreheads touched. "I know. I am surprised you didn't push your way through."
He smiled a shit-eating grin, the colour of his eyes back to aqua. "I didn't fancy my odds against two Unsullied and then a dragon Queen."
"I'm sure you could have taken the Unsullied." Rhaenar teased, her hand placed to his chest.
Mero leaned back, securing her into his grasp. "It was the dragon Queen I wouldn't have faired well against, the odds weren't in my favour." She laughed at him, pressing her lips quickly to his once again. "But it feels as though my luck is changing." She touched at his cheek before moving off him, getting back to breakfast. He groaned, not ready for her to have moved. "I haven't seen you in three days and all I get is two kisses?"
Rhaenar laughed, picking up the honeyed bread. "Food comes first."
"If food comes first, you better lay down. There's something I wish to eat." She cringed, turning to him with a laugh. "Let me have it." He smiled, a teasing wink sent her way.
Rhaenar shimmied back over, not leaving the food from her hand as she sat back down on his lap. "You are despicable." She ate quickly, placing the plate away before facing him once more.
"And entirely yours to do with as you please." Rhaenar smirked, her hands on his shoulders. She had missed him, even if she didn't wish to admit it to herself. He was like a little ray of sunshine, just like Missandei was to her.
"Are you nervous?" He asked as he stood, keeping his arms wrapped around her. The butterflied rushed up again, filling her from belly to throat in seconds. She wanted to throw up at the prospect, of facing those people and passing more judgement.
She nodded, her voice unable to form words as he walked her down from the council room, leading her to the throne room. "You will do beautifully, as you always do." He whispered before pressing a quick kiss to her temple and letting her slip down to the floor, his comforting presence gone in a second. Rhaenar looked behind her at him, indigo eyes fearful as he nodded to her. "You can do this, Dragon Queen. You can rule them all."
Rhaenar turned back around, the dip in her shoulders not leaving as the nerves bit at her. The doors opened, Rhaenar entering. All along the side of the room, people were crammed in to get a look at the new Queen, their eyes immediately darting to her as she rose her chin, stepping in. She didn't think this many people would be here to see her, to watch if she slipped up or if she granted mercy to those who begged.
They stood in silence, mouths agape as she sat down, indigo eyes instantly seeking Missandei who smiled. Those butterflies eased knowing Mero, Jorah, and Barristan were standing behind her and Grey Worm and Jheno were in front; her sister to the side with Daario.
Missandei's clear voice broke out, bringing the room's attention to her. "You stand before Rhaenar Blackfyre of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of Meereen, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons."
Even Rhaenar's eyes widened at the titles, they continued to grow longer. "Please, step forward." She said to the first man that quivered before her, holding a bundle of blankets in hand. He remained still, Rhaenar glancing at Missandei who thought.
"The Queen says you may approach and speak." She said, trying a different dialect. The man stumbled forward, dressed in plain clothes with his head down. Rhaenar wanted to ask him to lift his head, that he didn't need to cower before her but to talk as equals but he spoke quickly, still clinging to the bundle of blankets. "He is a goat herd. He says he prayed for your victory against the slave masters."
Rhaenar smiled, looking back to the man. "I thank him for his kind words, and am eager to know how I may help him."
Missandei relayed her words back, the man dropping down before opening his blankets. The charred remains of a burnt goat stared back at her, a deep sigh leaving her. She knew her dragons were left to roam free, that she couldn't control them, but she forgot the repercussions of them. "It was your dragons, he says. They came this morning for his flock. He hopes he has not offended Your Grace, but now he has nothing."
"No, please; let this man know he hasn't offended, and that it should be me who is sorry." Missandei began to relay her words back to him, his head darting up for a moment and Rhaenar catching his eyes. "While I cannot bring his goats back, I do wish to pay him for them and to supply him with new, if that pleases him?" She asked softly, smiling as his head hurriedly nodded. "Hopefully with the new goats, we may consider a trade deal - we will offer him more money than what he is being paid currently for their price, and in return he supplies us with meat for the capital."
The man muttered again. "He accepts the terms of the trade deal, and asks to extend it to his local farmers, so they all may benefit from the kindness of their Queen. They struggle with selling on the local markets due to the greed of the tax."
"Yes, ask him to return in a few days, and we can discuss how to go forward with this." Though she didn't understand the tongue, she could tell a thank you when it was given as he gathered up the blankets once more. She wanted to see everyone was treated fairly and that they'd never go hungry, even those who lived on the outskirts. Rhaenar smiled happily as he left, quickly walking backwards in case he offended her by showing his back.
Missandei smiled at her, nodding her head as the next one in the line stepped forward. Two men stepped forward, both dressed in the fine clothing of nobility. "The noble Hizdahr zo Loraq begs an audience with the Queen." The smaller one said as he stood in front of the other, her indigo eyes quickly flickering to the taller man. Gasps erupted from the audience, their murmurs whispering excitedly. Who was this man to elicit such a reaction?
"If the noble Hizdahr zo Loraq begs an audience with the Queen, then I wish for him to speak to me himself." Was the man beside him a noble in training? A slave? He was dressed finer than the other slaves she had seen, but the fact that he had announced this Hizdahr zo Loraq made her hesitate.
The smaller man stepped away, letting the other step forward with a confident smile on his face. He took the steps up before bowing, his blue robe standing out. "Queen Rhaenar, tales of your beauty were not exaggerated." She smiled politely.
"Thank you Hizdahr for your kind words." She didn't want tales of her beauty being spread, she wanted tales of men being freed; of an army large enough to march on any city. But, she would still take the compliment.
"Mine is one of the oldest and proudest families in Meereen." Slaver families, she reminded herself.
"Then surely it must be the honour of my own to have you here in this hall." Rhaenar understood she had to be fair to the man, but it didn't stop her from being quick with her tongue.
He bowed his head, hands crossed respectfully in front of him. "My father, one of Meereen's most respected and beloved citizens, oversees the restoration and maintenance of its greatest landmarks. This pyramid included."
She raised a brow, looking around. The Pyramid was beautiful, full of classic architecture and soft decoration that didn't scream wealth or money. "You must give him my gratitude, it would be an honour to meet the man who takes heritage such as this one seriously."
"You have, Your Grace." He said, her brow dropping once more as she eyed him. "You've wrongfully imprisoned him, refusing entry to anyone but your Unsullied. I pray you'll never live to see a member of your family treated so cruelly."
Rhaenar straightened, the politeness out of the way as she stared down at him. "Regardless of what I have done to you father, he is imprisoned because he is a Master and crucified innocent children." She hissed angrily, her eyes darting over those either side of her.
"My father spoke out against crucifying those children. He decried it as a criminal act, but was overruled. Is it justice to answer one crime with another?" He begged.
"I am sorry but imprisoning the masters was no crime; it was a mercy. Until they stand a fair trial, they will remain in imprisonment and only then will they be freed if they are found not guilty. You'd be wise to remember that, as mercy is a kindness I rarely give." It was better than him being dead, crucified the same way that the children were like Daenerys asked for.
Hizdahr sighed. "What's done is done. You are the Queen and I am a servant of Meereen. A servant who does not wish to see its traditions eradicated with the imprisonment of his father."
Traditions? Meereenese culture that Mero had once schooled her on. "And what traditions do you speak of?"
"Of the Meereenese way of life. Of Proper burial in the Temple of the Graces. Of street parties, and slave days; of the history of the Pyramids. My father was a lecturer, a wise man who advises people on the history and culture of Meereen; he's kind, Your Grace, unlike other masters. I ask that you free him."
He bent down before her, his head lowered. "And what of the slave children these other noble Meereenese crucified? They were rotting in the sun, their faces bloated with vultures picking at them. Would you have begged me for their right to a proper burial? Of their right to life?" She asked, angry at him. How could he come forward asking this of her? She hadn't killed him, he was safe, cared for with access to food and water. That was a kindness.
"Your Grace, I cannot defend the actions of the masters. I can only speak to you as a son who loves his father. Please free him, let me bring him before you so he can talk with you himself." Rhaenar looked at this Hizdahr zo Loraq, a new wave of noble.
She swallowed, thinking. She said she would hear out the masters, let them talk to her over the deaths of these children. She had to start somewhere in getting justice. "We will free your father, Hizdahr zo Loraq."
"Thank you, my Queen."
Rhaenar nodded. "But I expect him to attend an audience with me, so we can discuss what will happen with these other masters and the lives of the former slaves." He stood back up, a look of promise in his dark eyes as he backed away. She felt deflated, she had only heard the needs of two and she felt worn out. "How many more are there?"She asked Missandei softly, her body weary.
"There are 212 supplicants waiting, Your Grace." That had to be everyone in the room. She nodded, waiting patiently for the next. Rhaenar's indigo eyes looked forward, falling to the next one.
"How may I help you today?"