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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 69: Queen of Thorns
Summary:
🌟Merry xmas!🌟
Chapter Text
The majority of the gardens were still green and bright despite the colder days. Some determined flowers even still bloomed, though Daenerys noted there were just as much hibernating bushes and trees as there were evergreens. She passed an elaborate fountain with a dragon spitting water down below, to make her way to one of the sitting areas overlooking Blackwater Bay. The elaborate vines encasing the white rock were nearly bare but the hedges leading to it were thick and green and strict straight lines.
Lady Olenna was seated at the round table set within the sitting area. She was a small woman, wrinkled and gaunt. She was draped in colours of mourning, chiffon veil having a golden outline of a rose amidst the black drapes of fabric. More cloth-of-gold roses heaped at the hem of her black skirts, yet otherwise the woman was dark.
She was seated between two young women who Daenerys knew must be Desmera Redwyne and Alla Tyrell; both had the brown hair of the Reach but Alla had hazel eyes in comparison to Desmera's dark brown. Desmera had the same type of sweet beauty that Alla held, even if she possessed so many freckles it was as if someone had scattered a jar of cinnamon across her skin. Unlike Olenna both of the young ladies were clad in brighter hues, Alla in green and Desmera in indigo. To the side of the women were two tall guards who were twins and clad in Tyrell green.
For the meeting Daenerys was wearing a dress of lilac with flowing skirts and sleeves, with hundreds of gleaming white pearls sewn within. More pearls clung to her ears, her throat, her wrists, her fingers, threaded through her hair. Ser Barristan, clad in white and gold glittering armour, was at her back along with Strong Belwas. Further back were her private khalasar, content to mingle through the garden around them. Missandei was seeing to other affairs, and her Lady Hand would join her later at the tourney.
"Your Imperial Highness, good morn to you," the woman upon the left, Alla, greeted her. Desmera quickly followed suit.
Daenerys gave them both a warm smile, "Lady Alla, Lady Desmera, we are well met. And I thank you for the invitation, Lady Olenna."
"Of course, the pleasure is all mine. Ser Barristan, I must confess I did not believe we would ever meet again unless it was in the next life yet here we are," Lady Olenna greeted the old knight as Daenerys sat down next to her as her Queensguard took post at either side of the marble archway.
"Fate has a habit of taking us to strange places, even if we must retake some steps," he replied.
"And I would wager you aren't here to return back to the Red Keep, to swear service to the new king."
"My place is by my empress's side," Ser Barristant said, with a stern note of finality in his voice.
"A choice few are given," Lady Olenna mused. Then her face softened, looking like every visage of the Crone carved within a sept scattered across the kingdoms, but Daenerys wasn't fooled; her eyes were as sharp as a hawk's as she asked her, "I would assume many were fighting for you attention, empress. It does me good to know you are willing to accept the humble offer of my grandson. Many would overlook Willas, if only for his lame leg."
"Your grandson was quite a conversationalist, and I did enjoy the discussion about horses," Daenerys said truthfully. "I was wed to a Dothraki husband and if they know anything it is horses."
"They seem a barbaric lot, from what rumours and gossipy would tell me" Lady Olenna said as a pair of servants put down plates bearing an assortment of food, mostly pastries, fruit and sweetmeats. They all waited for the servants to finish, with Daenerys declining the offer of wine but accepting the honeyed milk.
"In some ways they remind me of dragons," Daenerys replied as the servants departed. "You either grow strong enough to survive them or you die."
She had and her brother had.
"And it seems you are doing well in such as the former," Lady Olenna told her. "If all you have to show for your conquest of Essos is the scars upon your face then I say well done. Even Aegon lost a bride and a dragon during his conquest of Westeros."
"Scars make a man look dangerous and danger is exciting," Desmera then spoke. "I do not see why the same cannot be said for a woman. Especially an empress with a dragon."
"You are too kind. Though in truth I gained these scars from Old Valyria, and it seemed a place not even part of the world and certainly not one I would return to," Daenerys said.
"I have read one of the books you wrote about the adventure there," Alla Tyrell said, leaning forward in her seat as she asked, "Is it truth that there was such a great feathered serpent with a beak like a bird?"
"If you are going to accuse the empress of falsehoods while she sits right before you then I fear your septa's lessons in courtly manners failed you, dear girl," Lady Olenna said in a scolding tone and Alla flushed a delicate red.
Alla hastily amended her words, "I only speak of such curiosities, Your Imperial Highness. Even the likes of wyverns are scaled, not clad in a peacocks feathers like the beast described attacking you."
"I take no offense, I know some already dismiss my accounts of such a place as drunkard tales. And in truth much of which I saw still disturbs me," Daenerys said, taking one of the lemon cakes. It was sweet and moist.
There was a brief pause before Desmera seemed to jolt in her seat, almost as if a heel met her ankle, and she quickly said, "Out of that recount, the shipwrecks you described frightened me the most. Especially with Gerion Lannister's vessel and his armour. We all knew he had left to Old Valyria on some fools journey for his House's sword many years ago but never knew that he had truly been lost within the Smoking Sea."
Daenerys swallowed down her cake, more than willing to speak of her time in Old Valyria. She certainly knew why it was such a curiosity and she was pleased that the two maids grew more open and animated as she spoke of her time there. Some parts, like the Heart or the dragon eggs she had not included in her recount but on the whole the books she had written were what she had seen. The mines, the millions of bones, the Child, the shades, the ruins, the twisted animals and humanoid remnants.
Many of the inquiries were along that path, Alla and Desmera asking for more clarity on some aspects of the journey to Old Valyria as they recounted different parts of the books that liked and what Daenerys had discovered. Desmera in particular seemed fascinated by the Hall of Heroes, speaking of how she routinely used pencils oft in her writings.
"The mess is far easier to clean up using them," Desmera said, after her own story of knocking over an inkpot and ruining an afternoon of work. "Even in comparison to a stick of charcoal my hands don't grow filthy."
It became quite plain the longer they spoke that Lady Olenna wanted the two young maidens to take more initiative and her stare was like a dagger in their sides as she bid them speak with eyes alone. She would jump in with a few comments but clearly wished for the two women to speak to Daenerys more oft and slowly but surely Alla and Desmera took heed of the woman's signals.
Daenerys remained courteous and curious, quickly learning that Alla was the more shy of the duo yet forcing herself out of her comfort to directly converse and question Daenerys. Even so Daenerys could see the faint bead of sweat on her brow and how she seemed to fumble over some questions as she struggled to keep herself in front of the discussion. Desmera had an easier time of it and seemed more fond of the heroics Daenery retold about her conquest, even if the young maid ate more than the three of them combined.
Down below Ghidorah landed in Blackwater Bay, his massive weight causing a huge explosion of salt water and surf. The great dragon used his wings like rafts, keeping himself aloft. Buzzing about him like a sparrow was one of King Aegon's dragons but at such a distance she could not tell which one it was. A few ships were making their way past but were giving the dragon a wide berth. Daenerys wondered how many shipwrecks lined the bottom of the bay.
She focused back on the conversation which Olenna had rejoined, the old woman telling a story of how she had once been betrothed to Prince Daeron Targaryen, son of King Aegon the Unlikely.
Aemon's brother.
Daenerys had to wonder how old Olenna truly was and how quickly all that would be left of her was the imprint she placed upon House Tyrell. She could understand why Olenna would be so forward in reaching out to Daenerys- with the king obviously favouring a friendship and alliance with his aunt, it was reasonable to assume she could advocate for an appropriate wife. Even if there were still some annoying rumours she would abandon her throne in Essos to remain in Westeros now that she was within the Seven Kingdoms.
"Unfortunately said betrothal fell through," Olenna was saying, one withered hand toying with the carved hilt of her cane. "And I've found the highgarden far more to my flavour than the Red Keep, no slight intended. The sea isn't quite for me, nor all these steps."
"I lived in the Great Pyramid of Meereen for some years," Daenerys popped a grape into her mouth, swallowing it down before continuing with, "I certainly enjoyed the convenience of simply climbing upon Ghidorah and leaving the apex of the pyramid that way instead of bothering with the stairs."
Alla straightened in her seat, tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear as she said, "Being able to fly does seem like a wonder. Even moreso since dragons were considered extinct for so long some even started to doubt the dragons themselves. Especially when the one who brought them back is a beautiful woman. Targaryen women are famed for their beauty, from the likes of Queen Rhaenys and Princess Viserra, to Queen Shaera and Rhaenyra the Realm's Delight. It is a wonder to how you've remained unwed, I would wager men from all across Essos and further would be vying for your hand Your Imperial Highness."
Daenerys felt like they were finally approaching the true purpose of the meeting.
"I haven't yet met someone worthy of that station," Daenerys said, crossing her ankles and making the numerous pearls upon her dress clink against one another. "They must be someone who can handle the responsibility of my empire and myself as a Targaryen, and thus far none have met such a thing."
"King Aegon has dragons," Desmera said. "And he has since ridden his for the first time under your tutelage."
"The king is bound to Westeros, just as I am bound to Essos. It cannot be."
"Dragons returning- both metaphorically and otherwise -change a good deal of things. Especially with winter menacing our heels. Night falls for all of us in the end and it is best we secure the future before we're trapped in the tundra for the gods-only-know how long," Lady Olenna said. "And the narrow sea is a small thing to a beast such as yours. The Ironborn even compared it to their storm god."
"I have followers of many different faiths. While those of R'hllor say I am his mortal wife, I do not encourage human sacrifice in my name nor encourage holy wars," Daenerys said, voice growing stern. It had been some issues as her reign spread and she knew there was still fighting here and there but she made it apparent she did not want to kill or convert those who believe otherwise. Daenerys had her own faith, with small figures carved in the form of the Fourteen kept in her private quarters, but she viewed her faith as private, for each man and woman to decide for themselves what felt right. She would not enforce it nor demand it.
"It does this old heart good you aren't about to act like that fool boy Stannis," Lady Olenna said with a shake of her head. "A war for the Iron Throne is a bloody lot and we're only just stepping past it all. The realm needs stability after all, not more gossip and questioning and doubts."
"Lady Olenna, if I might be bold," Daenerys began. "You seem, in both person and reputation, a woman who enjoys the banter of a good debate and matching wiles. However, I will speak freely here; I have no aspirations for the Iron Throne. Once I might have, yet after my subjugation of Essos my responsibility is now to those who I have freed from slavery. I have no doubt the masters would slither in an instant they get a chance- it will take time to stamp them out, and if I abandon those who have given me their faith and trust then I don't deserve my place as empress. I view trust in the highest regard, I see it as one of the most precious things we can be given and to return."
"Some would say trust is a weak thing, in comparison to a dragon," Lady Olenna said.
"And yet trust is the only reason Ghidorah permits me upon his back."
The two eyed each other but Daenerys saw no reason to lie to the Queen of Thorns.
The old woman must have realized it as some of the faint tension within her disappeared and she smiled, wrinkles tugging her sagging skin, "Well that does fix some things. So I will be blunt in turn- I do seek for your approval in either Alla and Desmera here as fitting matches for King Aegon. He views your words in high regard and I have no doubt he will lend an ear to your opinion if you advocate for either of them. They are from strong, long established Houses within the richest kingdom of Westeros. We remained loyal to your father, King Aerys, during that entire rebellion business and have recently supported King Aegon in his ascension in reclaiming the throne and have given numerous gestures of strong support in the rebuilding after the War of Five Kings."
"And..." Desmera began, faltering as Daenerys directed her attention to the freckle-faced maid, before the young women forged forward with, "Even if you chose to retain...close relations with King Aegon, we are more than willing to accept it as such if you support either of our Houses in our suit. We will do our duty to the realm, regardless." Alla nodded in agreement while Lady Olenna gave nothing away.
Daenerys arched a pale brow and Ser Barristan shifted slightly behind her. In the distance she could hear the familiar voices of her khalasar as they continued to mingle in the garden.
"I do have an interest in whom my nephew marries, if only to provide stability to Westeros in the aftermath of the War of Five Kings with the beginning of winter," Daenerys finally said. She took her cup, draining it down in a few easy swallows. The golden metal clinked as she put it back on the table, continuing with, "And I do confess, Lady Alla and Lady Desmera, you both are both worthy candidates. Both in terms of status, Houses and location; with winter, in the aftermath food growth will be essential and the Reach is the most fertile of kingdoms. The Riverlands is close yet they have been pillaged and burned deeply in the war. So yes, I do agree both of you have the appropriate status for acquiring queendom."
There was also the issue of the Long Night but Daenerys did not bother to broach the topic. And in a way having the Reach so far from the North meant it would be one of the last kingdoms to be ravaged if the Others break down the Wall.
"So will you support me in forwarding them as choices?" Lady Olenna asked, eyes narrowed. "House Tyrell nor Redwyne forget whom we owe gratitude to, especially with my cousin, Lord Paxter Redwyne, in possession of the largest fleet and shipping lines in Westeros along with his role as master of ships. We will not forget such a gesture if you endorse either of our girls, Empress Daenerys."
"Have either of you met the king's dragons?" Daenerys asked as an answer, now looking to Alla and Desmera in turn.
"I- no, we have not been given that privilege," Desmera managed to say.
"The king does not like his dragons to be disturbed," Alla agreed. "They tend to be quite...hostile towards others."
"Perhaps that should be remedied," Daenerys said with a considering tone. "If either of you wed King Aegon, then your children will become dragonriders. You will be queen to a dragonrider. The house of dragons doesn't suffer fools and those that are get burned and misery follows. The last who tarried lightly with such things set the very realm ablaze with their stupidity and greed. Being a dragonrider is a great privilege and also a great burden. I have no illusions about what my child is, what he is capable of. Our grief and glory. If I do support either of you, I want to know if you can accept that burden. Accept bearing children who will carry it. If I know that as truth then I will gladly support either of you."
Down below Ghidorah took flight with a noise like distant thunder, his huge wings making waves ripple across the water as he heaved his great bulk from Blackwater Bay. A servant then approached, bringing word that it was time for them to leave to the tourney grounds beyond the city as the event was about to begin. And that was the end of their breakfast.
Neither Desmera nor Alla attempted to corner Daenerys into more conversation as they rose from the table; instead Lady Olenna stepped forward and graciously offered for Daenerys to accompany her personally to the tourney.
Daenerys did not know if the two maidens would be ready to understand what she demanded, but she could hope they were willing to.
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