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Published:2020-04-25Updated:2026-04-06Words:409,591Chapters:71/?Comments:5,539Kudos:6,021Bookmarks:1,663Hits:467,571
The Stormborn and the Stormbringer
SkilledWarriorKiwi
Chapter 68: King's Landing
Summary:
🎃🎃🎃
Notes:
Ramblings
Chapter Text
King's Landing was the most populous of cities within Westeros, sprawling across several miles with high walls. The square-shaped city was dotted with manses, guild halls, arbors, granaries, brick storehouses, septs, timbered inns, smithies, merchant stalls, taverns, graveyards and brothels. Threading through the city like veins were wide streets lined by trees and branching alleyways. Three hills humped the landscape, named for the Conqueror and his sister-wives. Aegon's Hill was mounted by the Red Keep with its iron ramparts and massive drum towers. Rhaenys's Hill and Visenya's Hill were both sources of immense construction where the ruins of the Dragonpit and the ruins of the Sept of Baelor once were.
Still, the first thing Daenerys noticed about King's Landing was the stench. Only Volantis during its blood-fueled rampage came close to the smell, and even then it had reeked of smoke, burning flesh and frenzied bloodshed instead of the stench of rotting fish, night soil and piss that rose from King's Landing. It was so pungent, the miasma wafting across the Blackwater towards them as the ship approached the harbour as if the city was enshrouded in smog.
It had been three days since she had landed in Dragonstone, being shown more of the isle and castle itself while discussing more of the draconic history with the king.
Daenerys had enjoyed flying with Aegon, and it would have been the first time dragons had flown together since the Dance. Morning and Lady Rhaena had been all alone, until Morning's mysterious death some years later until all that remained was the stunted Last Dragon that never even flew. Yet now Ghidorah's wingbeats had echoed like great claps of thunder as he ascended the Dragonmont with Dawn's little orange form following. Yndros and Wildfyre were further behind but still keeping pace. One of Ghidorah's wings was as long as several of the smaller wyrms, his flight so much more languid compared to the determined flutters of the small dragons.
The Dragonmont was immense but Daenerys had been around the likes of the Great Pyramid of Meereen and the Painted Mountains. The air upon the smouldering mountain was pleasantly warm as they landed at several ancient cave fronts. The great pits had been carved by claw and fang, showing winding shimmering walls of obsidian. Some were small, only able to fit the smaller dragons, but by far the majority could fit even a beast of Ghidorah's size.
Roaming the long abandoned caves reminded Daenerys of her time exploring Old Valyria and the various dragon life signs everywhere. The great scratches upon the stone, where heavy claws had propelled dragons in the air, bits of broken shells and scattered scales. Blackened bones of meals feasted upon so long ago and occasionally they would find pieces of gleaming bones as dark as obsidian.
As they explored the caves Daenerys spoke of her time in Old Valyria and compared the isle to the roosting places of the dragons of yore. She didn't care if the king believed her or not, but nonetheless he was fascinated by her recount. She had written several books about her journey but the experience was still fresh in her mind as if she had only just returned from that unholy place. She let Aegon ask his questions, especially intrigued by the mines and twisted fire mage tunnels beneath the Fourteen Flames with the hostile shades.
He also seemed curious about the feathered serpent with its peacock feathers and sharp beak, debating with her if it was a natural born creature with a draconic relation like wyverns or something left over from the Valyrian experiments.
"It was a very beautiful creature but like everything in the ruins it was tainted by the Doom. Old Valyria was the greatest civilization in the known world, yet that come with a horrific cost that must not, cannot, be repeated," Daenerys told the king.
She had also argued him out of the notion flying across Blackwater Bay with Dawn, from Dragonstone to King's Landing as they began to make movement to leave for the capital from the volcanic isle. For a young dragon the flight would take the better part of a day and Dawn had not adapted to a rider yet. Much like when learning to ride a horse, both steed and rider must grow with one another and let their bodies adapt. Daenerys still easily recalled her blisters and aches when first joining Khal Drogo's khalasar and how badly she struggled upon horseback.
Daenerys pointed out how Dawn had started huffing when they ascended to the higher peaks of Dragonstone and even the king was grimacing as Daenerys had to help him down from Dawn's scaly back at the highest cave. She spoke of her flight across Essos to Braavos and how strained both rider and dragon had been. In emergencies both being pushed certainly, but at current leisurely flights it was unneeded and would only cause harm. Still, she suggested a hot bath before the king retired for the evening before they flew back down to Dragonstone.
The rest of their remaining days on Dragonstone was mostly discussing the current political climate of their respective lands. While they had sent letters about such things, it was still nice to actually hear the king's voice and speak more thoroughly on the topics. Daenerys was curious about all the kingdoms with their holds and lords, having been raised on stories of Westeros by her brother while Aegon was curious about more details in the conquest of Essos and how she reined in the ancient slave masters and how in turn that effected trade and relations with the Seven Kingdoms.
Daenerys did feel a point of pride in aiding Lady Asha and Lady Yara in acquiring Casterly Rock as the new seat for House Greyjoy as part of her contribution in helping Westerosi politics- she had helped heavily upgrade the fleet of Lady Yara's own during the empire's expansion across Essos, as negotiations with Lady Asha began with the newly crowned Targaryen king. The greatest jewel she had given to the Greyjoys was the YiTish vessel, a gift she had been given in helping navigate new trade agreements through the Jade Gates to the Golden Empire after prolonged communication with the Yi Ti empire.
Daenerys had taken care to cultivate friendly relations with the Golden Empire of Yi Ti as her own power grew across Essos, personally writing to the current god-emperor nearly a year ago. It had been an act to divert any potential war with the Golden Empire, especially when Daenerys acquired the title of Empress and the western portion of Essos fell beneath her rule. She did not want them to think they were neighbors with a opportunist warmonger who would invade them at the first opportunity even with the security of the towering Bone Mountains acting as a natural barrier for everything barring a dragon, so part of her message in assurance her current war was against the slave masters and not just her pillaging and rampaging.
She received nearly five hundred messages in return; one from the god-emperor but also countless others from the hundred princes that rule their own realms within the Golden Empire, along with the priest-kings, sorcerers, warlords and imperial generals. Dozens, hundreds, even thousands of numerous ranks in the complexity of the land of Yi Ti that Daenerys spent nearly a week sorting through the messages and gifts before personally writing responses and sending her own gifts back in a gesture of friendship. Some of the letters she received were polite yet distant, perfectly diplomatic, others were more curious about her dragon or future plans for her emerging empire, others were inquiring about new trade deals with Qarth, one was a very sweet letter from a ten-year-old priest-king asking her if he could have one of Ghidorah's scales in exchange for the exquisite rabbit statue he had sent her.
Daenerys had sent a golden scale in response to that one. A few letters were more bold, opening asking for a dragon egg in exchange for coveted secrets of Yi Ti. One prince was offering her trade in hydraulic technology and water systems and flush toilets with pressurized showers in exchange for an egg. Daenerys did not know what those last two were even if the idea deeply intrigued her. Another from a league of sorcerers inquired if she knew the process of Valyrian steel to share and offered arcane secrets of Yi Ti magic in exchange. One warlord sent word that if she hatched another dragon and was willing to sell it, then the payment would be in the secret YiTish art of skyfire. When she asked Missandei the Lady Hand mentioned some rumours of Yi Ti magic akin to pyromancy that could make immense colourful explosions in the sky in a variety of shapes and hues. So yet while curious she diplomatically declined the offers.
Yet while writing to Yi Ti she remembered Lernaea's words back in the Citadel, about how the supposed dragons of the Golden Empire were creatures of water and as articulate as any man. So she was quite excited when several of the letters had been accompanied by books and scrolls about YiTish folklore and stories including some about dragons. Serpentine with scales like a fish, with manes and whiskers along with deer-like horns. Daenerys had a brief, childish daydream about traveling to Yi Ti to meet the god-emperor in person and exploring to see if Ghidorah could sense the watery dragons while learning about the skyfire but alas she was needed elsewhere.
The YiTish vessel had been gifted to Daenerys, which was a response to Daenerys gifting one of the princes a short sword made from Ghidorah's teeth to celebrate the finalization of the new trade deal. In turn Daenerys gifted it to Lady Yara who in turn handed it over to her sister. The exotic swift vessel, with its angular jagged sails more akin to a dragon's wings, was well received by House Greyjoy. The fleet that had remained in Westeros had been largely destroyed by Euron Greyjoy's idiocy, but the destruction of the majority of the Iron Islanders in the failure of Old Town made it far more easy for Lady Asha to take control. With Daenerys backing her claim and King Aegon agreeing to it, dissenters were swiftly quieted. Also helped was how wildly unpopular House Lannister was in the aftermath of the Mad Queen destroying the Sept of Baelor so the handover of Casterly Rock went without incident. Last she heard House Greyjoy was changing its words to fit with its new standing, as Lady Yara had been irritated at her family words and how We Do Not Sow had essentially limited her House to being raiders forever.
She wondered if Lady Yara or Lady Asha or even their younger brother would be in attendance for the great tourney at King's Landing Well, she would know soon enough as all too soon she was traveling across Blackwater Bay while King's Landing grew upon the horizon followed by the stench of the city.
Standing upon the deck of the ship Daenerys wrinkled her nose, the sea air doing little to dismiss the stink. The only other cities that stunk like that in Essos had been those recovering from war or under siege.
"Does it always smell like this?" she found herself asking Ser Barristan.
The old knight's face was unreadable as he followed her stare to the growing form of the heart of the Seven Kingdoms, "Only after rain does the smell somewhat ebb. Otherwise yes, Your Grace."
"...Interesting."
An excited throng of smallfolk was awaiting upon the docks of King's Landing, the gold cloaks standing guard as they surged forward with excited calls and waving as the Westerosi king and Essosi empress departed from the ship. Daenerys had wanted to go to them, to meet the kingslanders and introduce herself, but she knew she had to play her part to the nobility before all else.
An ornate litter bore her up to the Red Keep through the winding streets of King's Landing. Ser Barristan saddled up and rode beside her along with her Queensguard and handmaids. Missandei sat upon the cushions opposite her, golden jewellery flashing when strips of sunlight slipped through the red silk curtains.
The Red Keep overlooked the Blackwater Rush, the pale red stone looking pink in the afternoon sun. The sky was cloudless but despite that there was still a noticeable chill to the air whenever the litter was thrown into shadows as they passed statues and towering buildings.
It was far removed from the tundra that would soon encase the entire kingdoms, not just the North, but it was still a far cry from the sweeter climate of Essos. Daenerys shook off that thought, the surge of food concerns, and focused back upon the capital.
They moved through one of the great bronze gates into the Red Keep, the towering drum-towers of the castle throwing deep shadows down below as they entered the cobbled square. Daenerys offered no protest when she was guided to her guest quarters despite her curiosity, knowing there would be time for that later. Meanwhile much of the city was enthralled by Ghidorah's immense presence as he circled overhead several times, even if to her son's irritation he had to land outside the city.
She was pleased King Aegon had the sense to not house her within the Maidenvault. As it was, her apartments were richly furnished with Myrish carpets and rugs, a carved screen of dark glossy wood from the Summer Isles showing the Age of Exploration, and there were numerous tapestries draping the walls from Lys, Norvos, and Qohor. However she also recognized a painting of Garth Greenhand with a desolate field blooming behind his steps and another showing Balerion the Black Dread burning down Harrenhall in great sweeping strokes of gold and blood-red, and in one corner there was a gleaming suit of ceremonial black armour that the dragonkeepers of King Jaehaerys' era wore. Several huge arched windows dotted the apartment, giving a sweeping view of the city down below.
There was a flurry of activity as her belongings were delivered by servants and maids, before a hot bath was drawn in the adjacent washroom. She fended off offers by the castle servants to bathe her, fully confident in her ability to wash herself and also declining her own handmaids who remained in the smaller adjacent room. Her Queensguard remained on guard for her apartment.
In three hours would be grand welcoming ball for her presence, which would in turn begin the grand winter tourney. From the windows she could see the tourney grounds beyond the city, between the King's Gate and Lion's Gate. Ghidorah's distant glittering form was further westward, upon the huge field by Gate of the Gods. Daenerys briefly reached out to her child, feeling the answering pulse of his mind against hers through their bond, before she turned away.
The great tub was hot and steaming, the water rippling with scented oils and delicate pink petals. She swept the soapy cloth up her limbs, scrubbing them free of the dirt and salt that had acclimated from her trip across Dragonstone and then the Blackwater. She used a broad-toothed comb for her hair, the ivory dotted with pale rubies. The pile of bells at the table next to the bath grew ever larger with each year.
As she bathed Daenerys mentally ran through as many Westerosi Houses as she could, trying to remember their names, colours and heralds for tonight she would be lavish upon attention by them. The king was certainly a novelty still, especially with his hand still empty, yet Daenerys was an exotic ruler of Essos. One of the remnants King Robert failed to destroy and she returned and brought the ancient slave trade of Essos to its knees.
And Ghidorah was near enough Balerion the Black Dread's size, while only half a decade of age.
Shaking that off Daenerys continued to lather her limbs, humming a nonsensical tune under her breath as heralds and sigils swept through her mind. She done enough of that with Missandei but Ser Barristan had warned her of the vipers within King's Landing and how they would be watching her from every angle for any sign of weakness. The whispers, the rumours, the spying, the prying, the opportunistic lurking in the shadows for the slightest misstep.
The 'game of thrones' the old knight had called it.
'Typical politics' had been Missandei's more blunt response.
Either all.
The dress was of black Naathi silk, with subtle pleats in the flowing skirts that gave the barest flash of an inner crimson when she moved. Hundreds of tiny diamonds the size of pinheads dotted the black, making it shimmer like the night sky. More red silk of Naathi make peeked out of her inner sleeves. The overbust corset was dark crimson, with black lacing and golden grommets. Embroidery and beading covered the gleaming brocade, with the three-headed dragons flying across the surface edged in golden thread. Her dress lacked a collar or shoulders, instead a multi-chained gold necklace of diamonds and rubies glittered across her collarbone. Two garnets, one in the form of a teardrop and the other a tiny flame, clung to her earlobes.
Her hair was tumbling down her back and towards her waist in numerous elaborate braids that held her bells along with dozens of black and white pearls. The diadem of fire opals rested atop the gleaming tresses. Her fingers were bare besides a single ring of silver and pearl while her nails were coated in gleaming crimson polish. Sweetly spiced perfume was dabbed behind her ears, at her nape and upon her wrists.
Missandei looked just as radiant, matching her empress in wearing gleaming black with gold jewellery. Her dress had a flaring skirt covered with hundreds of butterflies in shades of red, orange and yellow to the point it looked as if the skirts were ablaze. They plucked and primed at one another as they prepared for the event, Daenerys rearranging the looping coils of Missandei's golden necklace while the scribe fixed one of the pearls in her hair.
"You look beautiful, Your Grace," Ser Barristan said. Regardless of how much time passed he never changed his address of her, and Daenerys never bothered to try.
"Not too daring for a first supper?" Daenerys said, looking down at herself and seeing the slight swell of her cleavage, the bare tanned skin of her shoulders and sternum.
"Westeros is quite ridged in many aspects in comparison to Essos," Ser Barristan said carefully. "And King's Landing with the nobility will never hesitate to whisper and mutter. No doubt yourself and Lady Hand will be the source of many such mutterings, regardless of whatever direction this supper shall go."
Missandei then japed that they both should wear Qartheen gowns to dinner to truly create a sensation, which caused Daenerys to laugh.
The Red Keep was bustling with servants and guests as the opening feast began, as the city itself surged with vibrant activity. Tomorrow would herald beginning of the grand tourney at midday, and already the inhabitants were excited and anxious. Tourneys brought in knights and lords and ladies and servants from every House across the Seven Kingdoms, knowing it would be the last grand event before winter fully settled in and all were eager to begin with it.
Daenerys walked in arm with Missandei as they entered the Great Hall of the Red Keep together. Missandei was her Lady Hand, her herald, her scribe, her spymaster, her closest confidant, her sister in all but blood, and they would be seen as one.
She found herself ignoring the scores of nobles staring at her as their entrance was announced, ignoring the music and scented flowers, ignoring the steady thrum of voices, and instead her gaze was upon the twisted form of the Iron Throne at the opposite end of the Hall. A barbed symbol of conquest, towering over all in a flared nest of ancient swords. It was so much different than her own modest throne of entwined collars. She shook off the thought, focusing back upon the Great Hall as she walked up to where King Aegon and his entourage were awaiting before the Iron Throne.
Both Empress and Lady Hand greeted the king gracefully, with the king accepting their hands and giving kisses upon their knuckles. It reminded her so much of the stories Viserys had read to her when they were young, tales of valiant knights and beautiful ladies, of gleaming ballrooms and grand feasts with kings and queens welcomed by their people as music swirled through the air with the great glittering black dragon skulls dotting the Hall.
The Red Keep as her brother had told her, and in that moment it seemed just as he said it would be.
For a brief flicker a veil of tears blurred her eyes, but Missandei's arm was tight and warm around hers so just as swiftly the melancholy slipped by.
The next few hours was a sweeping mass of people, music and food. The king could only linger with them for a short while before his attention was demanded by the hundreds of lords and ladies in attendance. Daenerys at times near fumbled with a herald or address as she moved about the Great Hall but just as quickly Missandei's lips would be at her ear to whisper her truth. And when guests and lords would grow too probing or picking to the Naathi, Daenerys would move forward to fix them with the kind of glare that made Wildfyre submit and all too swiftly those prying would move on with downcast eyes.
The absence of the Lannisters and Baratheon was vivid however, in the almost sly tension that lingered in the air like smoke. The last time in Westeros a House had been destroyed such had been with the Defiance of Duskendale caused by House Darklyn, wherein King Aerys had been held captive for half a year before Ser Barristan had slunk into the besieged castle upon his lonesome to rescue the king. The aftermath of the failed Defiance had been bloody and House Darklyn destroyed in retribution with House Rykker taking over the hold and lands. The lesser Houses that were lost, the Boltons and Freys, were less spoken of yet their absence was seen all the same.
Daenerys did not particularly care, simply taking note and moving on. The lions and stags would have killed her as a newborn babe given the chance and she would shed no tears over their Houses becoming nothing but history. And the Freys violated sacred guest right and the Boltons were just the same. She replied with bare interest whenever a lord or lady asked for her opinion on such a thing, Daenerys simply stating it was King Aegon's decision to mete out the throne's justice as were the vassals. As it was, they were not her Houses anymore. She was more kept abreast of the happenings of Essos with the various cities as they recovered and grew.
She did however stop to converse with Lady Yara Greyjoy, the older woman looking supremely uncomfortable in her black-and-gold dress even if Daenerys could see the hard leather boots near hidden by the dark skirts. The woman was quite relived with Daenerys's presence, using it to escape what looked like a particularly riveting conversation with Lord Tallhart.
"Put me in a battle against corsairs during a summer storm over this," the Greyjoy said with a grimace. They had sidled away from the center of the Great Hall, where many were dancing to the lively flute music, and Lady Yara was drinking from a flagon while Daenerys sipped at a goblet of iced milk. "But alas, my sister has demanded we make friends here especially with the blood so fresh from the Five Kings. And our neighbours need soothing after taking Casterly Rock, there's quite a lot of bloody history 'tween us ironislanders and the Westerlands."
"How fares your new hold? Is it to your liking?"
"It's not a rocky spike of windy damp shit and salt like ol' castle Pyke so I like it just fine," Yara snorted, ignoring the scandalized stare from several nearby noble women. "My late father used to say hard places breed hard men, and hard men rule the world. Yet see how that fared him, during that War of Five Kings and his idiocy there. We may love our family but that doesn't stop them from being fools."
"Have you chosen new House words?" Missandei asked, a gold-painted nail circling the rim of her goblet. "I know Lady Asha was considering such, as the acquisition of land has made your traditional House words quite a moot point. And to herald in the new age for your people."
"After that tale of the Witch King along with our recent history, she and myself are quite partial to making them 'What is Dead May Never Die'. Aye, we speak of our Drowned God as King Aenys's left us but we've also died enough over the centuries yet here we are. About time we learned and stopped upping our noses at sowing as all we've been reaping is death and defeat. The dragons returning made that clear, we adapt or die."
"I wish you good fortune in such," Daenerys said, sincerely. Then she asked, voice growing gentle, "And how fares your brother?"
Yara grimaced, taking another hard swig from her flagon before answering with a blunt, "Bad. 'bout all there is to it, empress. If anything he encompass those new words we're thinking of, the poor fool. But he isn't dead and those that did it to him are so even moreso. Asha has hopes but...when you break something it isn't ever going back to how it was, no matter how many times you try."
Their conversation shifted to more eased topics after that, mostly Yara speaking of how they were thinking of integrate ironborn into the shipping fleets or exotic explorers to help tide over their transition from Pyke to Casterly Rock. While Westeros certainly traded with the likes Essos, it had been many centuries since any had done as Lord Corlys the Sea Snake had done in traversing the seas. Even if Yara mentioned the winter storms would be enough but it was something to look forward to when spring came and for them to prepare ships after so many were lost with Mad-Eye Euron. Daenerys was open to that, especially with her oversight for Essosi cities all the way to Qarth. Perhaps that type of shipping lane could even be expanded to Asshai and Yi Ti.
She traded some more banter with the woman, well used to her more crass wording and being reminded of the Dothraki in a way before she parted from the Greyjoy's company. Missandei fluttered off, beguiling a group of musicians and easily sliding into words with the nearby Lady Blackwood and her husband.
Daenerys meanwhile made her way to the balcony, finding a dark haired man leaning on a cane, a brace affixed to one leg, and looking out across the city towards the darkening sky and light-speckled form of King's Landing below. His finely made clothing was a lush green with dozens of spiraling golden roses with intertwined vines spilling across the fabric.
"Lord Willas Tyrell, I presume," Daenerys introduced herself.
"You presume correctly, Empress Daenerys," the man replied, smiling at her. He reached out, taking her hand for a kiss before saying, "It is an honour to be in your radiance. I see the tales of your beauty are not exaggerated."
"I should warn you, my lord, I am inundated with constant compliments about my looks and it has somewhat worn its luster," she said, amused. Out on the balcony the lone goldcloak was doing a very commendable impression of a statue.
Lord Willas responded in kind to her slight teasing, "Then perhaps I could compliment you upon being the first dragonrider since the Dance, a hundred years in the making. Beautiful women are quite well known indeed yet beautiful women who command the greatest dragon alive- I believe only Queen Visenya and Lady Laena could stand by your side."
"That would do it, after all they say the dragon has three heads," she said, smiling warmly as she asked, "How fares your stay here, my lord? Are you here for the tourney?"
"A tourney is a well way to welcome winter, especially as it will be many years before we see another. Alas I haven't partook in one since my younger years, yet many of the horses I have bred are being used by the knights and lords competing."
"Ah, a cultivator of horseflesh. I was wed to a Dothraki husband and they are a people who value their horses over everything else. I myself own a zorse, a gift from the Jogos Nhai."
"I have heard of such creatures, well known for their endurance and bad tempers. They say a zorse could survive on weeds alone for months and walk near a moon with only a puddle of water."
It was a nice conversation, as both herself and Willas began to talk of horses. Even if she traded hooves for wings, she still used her zorse quite often even if learning they were apparently rather foul tempered and known to kick and bite oft- making them rather desired war mounts, which considering the bloody history of the Jogos Nhai with their YiTish neighbours actually made quite a lot of sense -was a surprise as hers had always been quite mild tempered, she still enjoyed horses. Willas mentioned her adventures in Old Valyrian, having acquired several of the books she had written about it, asking her about the flesh eating horses she had witnessed there. They were interrupted at different points by servants bearing goblets and food, even if they were silent and swift and just as quickly left the two alone.
Willas did mention he was due to wed upon his return to Highgarden, and Daenerys had previously noted an heir to a great House being unwed for so long was quite unusual. Even with his lame leg it was obvious Willas was a witty and engaging conversationalist, and Highgarden and the Reach were incredibly advantageous places in Westeros. Still, some were so petty they only see his weak leg the same way many would only see the scars upon her face. As it was Willas ignored her scars just as she ignored his cane before inquiring about Willas's breeding of the finest hawks and hounds in Westeros. Horses were the largest income but the other two were also utilized and sold by the lord.
That escalated into them discussing the potential of dragon breeding, as Willas asked her about the physical differences in her dragon compared with that of King Aegon's trio which all looked different from each other as well. Then it went on to comparing the historic Targaryen dragons and which could be related to each other and if it was possible to breed specific scale colours. She mentioned Malashae the Most Magnificent, the dragon mural with the rainbow wings, and they spent quite some time discussing the possibilities even as the sun fully set beyond with the black sky sprinkled with stars. Daenerys didn't really know if anyone could actually breed dragons successfully, or at least breed specific traits due to how magical they were. Still, it was nice to talk to Willas about it even if she knew the distant goldcloak would be telling anyone who waved a coin under his nose about it later.
She did noticed how Willas was left upon his lonesome, asking him if he would be missed as she was taking up a large portion of the night simply talking to him.
"I have my kin accompanying me this night yet I wished for a few moments alone from the singing and dancing. The last years have been busy enough and sometimes I need the air to think. And this conversation has been interesting and evokes quite some thoughts," Willas said, gesturing across the balcony and and city down below.
"Yes, I have heard your House has suffered quite some hardships. Upon that note I would offer my condolences for the loss of Queen Margaery, along with that of your father the late Lord Mace," Daenerys said, voice gentle. "While I never met the queen, I knew the common people loved her well and true. If I only knew that about her then it is enough."
"I thank you," Willas said, his eyes softening. "I am glad to know my sister's reputation even reached as far as the lands across the Narrow Sea. I miss her dearly yet I know she would cuff me about the ear if I spent all day lamenting her in darkness."
"And your brother, Ser Loras. He has recovered well?"
"You are well informed, Your Imperial Highness," Willas said, shifting his grip on his cane. "And yes, my brother has recovered from his wounds yet still has flare ups of pain. As such he is on bedrest for the night, so he will have better strength to watch the opening tourney tomorrow. Our grandmother, Lady Olenna, is keeping him company which is why she is not in attendance right now. Only a headcold yet with winter upon us we do not wish to brandy about lightly with her health. A regret I am sure, for I know she was eager to meet with you."
"If you wish it, I could spare one of my healers from my personal entourage," Daenerys offered. "And despite the rumours the slave masters spread about me, they do not make poultices from newborn babes."
"Well there has been some wild rumours," Willas said, not insulting her by denying it.
"I would say the oddest one about me is the one created that I slaughtered my handmaidens and bathed in their blood to keep my youth," Daenerys said with a frown. "I never understood that one considering I was not even in my twentieth nameday when they began it. How many wrinkles did they think I accumulated then by such logic?"
"Same as the ones that claim my lady mother has thorns growing upon her tongue," Willas said with a snort. "Though upon that I know my grandmother would like to meet you, if you have time to spare. She is quite cross at not being able to attend and I know she was looking forward to making your acquaintance. The tourney begins at noon tomorrow, so I would ask if you were partial to meeting my grandmother for a morning tea tomorrow. That way you can also see the gardens, which many flowers still bloom despite the chill. Then perhaps you can travel together to the tourney grounds, she is quite versed in all the Houses in attendance and would be glad to lend you her knowledge."
Daenerys was only surprised it took Willas so long to make such a suggestion, "I think I would enjoy that."
Her attention was then pulled away by a fairly tipsy lady in black-and-green, who then promptly threw up in one of the vases on the balcony. Daenerys thought it would be a proper time to retire for the evening as she had a fairly short sense of patience for drunken foolery, so she simply bid Willas Tyrell goodbye, choosing to act as if she hadn't noticed the green-and-gold guests who had lingered quite some time just beyond the balcony and partially hidden by a dragon skull.
Leaving the Grand Hall felt like getting a bucket of cold water tossed in her face, even if the noise and smell followed her all the way back into her apartments.
There Daenerys and Missandei discussed the upcoming meeting with Lady Olenna Tyrell over a platter of hot tea, unwinding after the evening of gossip, conversation and social bantering.
"I would suspect it has in part due to the Queen of Thorns still having an eye upon the Iron Throne," Daenerys said, sipping from her cup as she went directly to the point.
"I would presume the same. There are two granddaughters of Lady Olenna's without a betrothed and are fond of the court," Missandei said. "Desmera Redwyne and Alla Tyrell. Though in Alla's case she is of cousin-blood to the late Lord Mace, yet was one of Margaery Tyrell's ladies-in-waiting and had a sisterly bond with her. So enough all the same as the Redwynes and Tyrells are heavily entwined and marry oft."
"Would the current affairs of the realm support such a match?"
"The Reach is the most fertile of all the Seven Kingdoms," Missandei said, golden eyes half lidded and distant. "In terms of recovering once the Long Night is dealt with- and with glass houses during such winter -it would be invaluable in crops and livestock cultivation. The North is as large as all the other six kingdoms combined but very scattered and distant compared to the rest. They also suffered far more destruction in the War of the Five Kings and if the Others did invade then it will be the first place they march in Westeros."
"There is House Redwyne but a moot point if one of their ladies is related to the Tyrells regardless," Daenerys said as she took a sip from her cup. "Tyrells and Redwyne are close in alliance so both families would support either match as they're allied. Are there any other within the Reach which could content with their strength?"
"Only House Hightower, however the Targaryens have never fared well when a marriage was made with one of that stock," Missandei said.
Daenerys agreed with a grimace as she recalled the two most famous names; Ceryse Hightower, Alicent Hightower. Queens who brought death and destruction even if in Ceryse's aspect her infertility was hardly one to blame upon herself yet the lack of annulment into years of a childless marriage due to the Hightowers connection to the Faith led to Maegor's black brides which escalated into the eventual seizure of the Iron Throne and the death of Aegon the Uncrowned. Meanwhile Alicent Hightower's ambition and greed along with that of her grasping family directly lead to the extinction of the dragons due to the Dance and thus Daenerys agreed with never again entertaining the notion of that House ever marrying back into the Iron Throne. At the current point it seemed to be a pattern.
And at the same time Missandei was correct that the Reach was the greatest provider of food in the realm. Only the Riverlands came close but they had been razed severely by the War of Five Kings as well.
"Or perhaps I am overreaching and the Lady Olenna simply wants to discuss simple and mundane matters," Daenerys said which made Missandei give a very unlady-like snort into her cup.
If only.
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