"You wish...for me to go on a conquest across Essos, Ser Barristan?" Daenerys asked, Drogon's eyes fixed on the knight as he bowed his head.
"That is correct, your Grace."
"...I expected you to be one of the few that wishes for me to return to Westeros as soon as possible."
"You have done more good work here, your Grace, than many other kings have done in Westeros. You've liberated tens of thousands of slaves and have destroyed two cities of Slaver Bay.
Even if Astapor manages to recover, those we left behind at Meereen should still be strong enough to hold them off while getting word out to us."
"I can't believe that Ser Barristan Selmy, the honest Kingsguard commander, would talk about conquest," Tyrion spoke with a raised eyebrow and Barristan sighed at that.
"I would not expect myself to do so either, but what I have seen from the slave masters makes even the vilest acts of Westeros look like child's play," he replied and Tyrion observed the haunting look in the man's eyes.
"Ser Barristan?" Daenerys spoke up, drawing everyone's attention to her as Barristan stood tall. "Would you mind telling me something?"
"Anything, your Grace?"
"You have served my grandfather, my father and the Usurper. Tell me, was Westeros ever truly at peace under any of them?" she asked and the Knight hesitated for a moment before he replied.
"There were moments of quiet and temporary peace, yes, but as all rulers should know, one should never confuse quiet for peace. While everything did look well on the surface, many houses and their lands were still stuck in a silent war with each other and they could never quite cooperate together unless there was a rebellion or a war."
"So, there never was true peace?" she asked, taking a slow breath as he shook his head.
"No, your Grace."
"I was born in exile," Daenerys began, Drogon's gaze fixed on her as she rubbed his snout. "I was hunted, sold and used. Westeros never wept for me and it never came to save me. Yet here..."
She trailed off, staring at the small crowd that still lingered with a smile before continuing, "Here, my people follow me. They bleed for me. They believe in me. Lord Tyrion, during our discussion, you once said that rulers are shadows on a wall and that people believe in them only as long as the light shines upon them, yes?"
"I did?" Tyrion asked, giving a nervous chuckle as everyone gave him flat stares. "Ah, yes. Yes, I did."
"Well, I do not wish to be a shadow nor do I want to be a ghost clinging to a throne that brings me nothing but anguish," she replied, her eyes moving to her son as he looked back.
"Drogon?"
"Yes, Mother?"
"If we go west, how many cities will burn before they kneel?"
"Many."
"What if we stayed?"
"There are nine cities. Far less than many," he replied, Illyrio giving a silent gulp as Visenya let out a low growl while Rhaenys flicked her tail and blew out a plume of smoke.
"I...will not chase a throne that never wanted me," she replied, standing tall as her three children let out deafening roars. The entirety of Pentos paused as they heard the monstrous bellows and Daenerys smiled proudly at that.
"I am Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Mother of Dragons, Breaker of Chains, Liberator of the Enslaved, Guardian of the Freed and I will remain in Essos!" From the outskirts of the city, the Dothraki and Freed men stood tall as they heard the dull echoed words, raising their weapons and letting out shrill battle cries.
"I...will unite the Free Cities! I will break the old powers that thrive on slavery and power! I will build a dynasty that does not rot the moment I sit upon it!" Barristan unsheathed his blade, Grey Worm and Daario standing atop the balcony that overlooked the courtyard.
As one, the three knelt along with the Unsullied lining the walls, Varys' eyes wide as they all bowed their heads in unison.
"When Westeros looks to the west, they will not see an exiled beggar looking for a throne! No, they will see a queen whose rule was forged not by inheritance, but fire! By blood! And by choice!
Now is your time to decide! Shall you follow me on this path of conquest knowing that bloodshed and anguish shall walk with us?!"
"KHALEESI! KHALEESI! KHALEESI!/ MEESA! MEESA! MEESA!" the bellows of the Dothraki and the Freedmen echoed all around Pentos, whom were silent with awe and fear as they heard it.
"I have said it once and I will say it again, your Grace. My life and blade are yours," Barristan spoke with a smile, Grey Worm and his Unsullied striking their chests with a fist that made it sound like a drum of war.
"I always did like ambitious women," Daario didn't miss a chance to flirt, chuckling at Drogon's narrowed eyes and Daenerys' amused smile as she nodded.
"...Well, I suppose I've bet on worse plans."
"As have I. Whatever you need, your Grace, Pentos will provide," Illyrio spoke after Tyrion, both bowing their heads.
"I wouldn't mind living up to the name of my ancestor even if I'm from a bastard line," Daemon replied and Daenerys turned to Jon Connington as he tapped his shield with his sword and nodded.
"I will follow your lead. I cannot say the same for the company as they work on payments."
"Yunkai. My son has torn it down to the last brick, but I am more than happy to give you the city as your base as long as you swear to follow my command until the end of the war," Daenerys replied, everyone waiting patiently as Jon paused for a moment.
"Throw in a chest of gold and we have a deal."
"Uncle Jon..."
"The company needs a down payment to ensure that she is keeping her word as we are."
"Very well. Three chests of gold and various gemstones and Yunkai at the end of this war should we win. Is that a fair deal?" she asked, raising a hand to him.
Jon walked closer and ignored Drogon's piercing stare as he sheathed his sword, shaking her hand with a firm grip and nod.
"It is a fair deal, your Grace. The Golden Company shall follow your command."
"Thank you," she replied before her gaze moved to Varys atop the balcony. "Lord Varys, you have heard my declaration and my plans. What say you? Do you stand with or against me?"
All looked to the former Master of Whispers as he stood tall, inclining his head just enough to show respect before replying.
"My duty has always been to the people, the forgotten, the voiceless, the ones crushed beneath the wheels of power. If you truly intent to break the chains of Essos, then I shall serve you, your Grace. That is, so long as you allow me to speak when you stray from said path."
"Then, Lord Varys, know this. I do not fear the counsel of others, but their silence during a battle," she replied and Varys gave a pleased smile before he nodded.
"Then, allow me to accompany you on this path, your Grace."
"It would be my pleasure. Illyrio?"
"Yes, your Grace," the man spoke, stepping forward as she cleared her throat.
"Send ravens and riders to Braavos, Lys, Myr and Tyrosh. Tell them that I do not plan to come in secret. They may bend the knee, open their gates and cast out their slavers or they may see what fire and blood truly looks like."
"As you command, your Grace."
"Lord Tyrion."
"Yes?" Tyrion asked as Daenerys glanced at him.
"How good are you with numbers and sorting inventory?"
"Very good, if I must toot my own horn."
"Wonderful. Our people have brought a surplus of valuables and weaponry with them. I want numbers on how many there is of everything along with that of what Pentos has."
"Will do."
"Lord Barristan, Daario, begin the training of the Dothraki and Freed Men on naval and warfare battles."
"We will endeavour to exceed your expectations, your Grace," Barristan replied, Daario bowing his head along with him as she nodded and turned to Missandei beside her.
"I never got to ask y-"
"You saved me, khaleesi. If death and pain is all that awaits us at the end of this path, then I shall follow you," Missandei replied with a smile, Daenerys surprised at her response before giving a warm smile.
"Thank you, Missandei. Drogon, I have a request to make of you."
"Ask, Mother," Drogon replied and Daenerys rubbed his chin before she did.
"New Ghis and Qarth were said to have allied with the renewed slave masters of Astapor. I want all three cities to be gone."
"Anyone I should spare other than the slaves?"
"No. Leave no one alive."
"Easily done," he replied, cracking his neck and stretching his neck with a growl. "Sisters, train your Thu'um while I am gone...and make sure to look after Mother."
"That's what we always do," Visenya replied, making him chuckle before he turned his gaze to everyone else.
"I don't need to say it again, but I will. Anything happens to Mother and the entire world will be reduced to ashes."
"...Can he do that?"
"He can call upon storms, summon lightning, tornadoes, breathe out pillars of flames that can melt even stone and that's before he's had the chance to fully mature to his full size. Yeah, he kind of can," Daario spoke with a shrug and Tyrion gave a nervous smile as Drogon looked at them with a smirk.
With that done, his wings flared out wide as Daenerys stood back. Each flap of his wings pushed him higher and higher before he took off into the air, soaring high above Pentos.
He then turned to the east where his two destinations lied, the sun glinting on his scales as he dove towards it.
'Time to do what I do best: shout everything into oblivion.'
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Jon Snow's breathing was heavy as he sat atop the wall, his black cloak thrown over his shoulders. Right beside him was a large, rotund man who looked like he was having trouble breathing as well, both of their gazes fixed on the frozen wasteland below.
"It's not your fault, Jon."
"Over 80 000 wildlings and six Night Watch rangers, Sam. All of them were killed except for me."
"What about the hundred wildling kids you saved?"
"Died from the cold on the trip here."
"You sure it was the cold or...?" Sam trailed off and Jon realized what he asked as he shook his head.
"No, I was with them every passing minute. I tried my best to make sure everything was as perfect as it can be for them, but they took their own lives during the travel."
"Oh," was all Sam could get out, Jon's eyes moving from the ground below to the Night Watch men patrolling the Wall. Some looked disgruntled at doing so while the others were more focused on him, each looking a bit distrustful as they moved on with their duty.
"What is the word of me?"
"Grenn, Pyp and I are trying our best to make sure that no one turns against you, but some are still miffed that you wanted to bring wildlings here."
"And Thorne?" Jon asked, remembering the knight that hated him as much as Jon hated him.
"He's at his usual post at the front gate. We think that he might be getting people to turn against you, but we don't know fully."
"Then, we'll have to prepare for when he makes his first move," Jon replied, but before Sam could speak, the man's head turned as a horn blew to the left.
Everyone went still as the horn died off and was blown again, Jon gripping Longclaw at his weight while Sam hoped that it would stop at the second.
Then, everyone's hearts dropped at the third blast, all turning to Jon as he let out a shaky breath.
"All hands to battle! Stewards! Begin your preparations! Builders! Move the weapons forward! Fighters! Man the Wall!" His voice cut through the silence, sharp and commanding as the yard exploded into motion.
Men ran for their bows and spears, orders being shouting back and forth as chains and winches were checked. Barrels filled with dragonglass as well as various other things were moved to their locations and Jon stood at the ready as Sam was still beside him.
"J-Jon-"
"Sam, I understand that you're scared, but if you can't help, then go with the stewards to finish their preparations," he replied, Sam pausing for a moment before he nodded and rushed off.
With his one distraction now gone, Jon's eyes focused on the ice below, narrowing them when he saw the shadows beginning to dance.
Everyone's breathing grew shaky as the temperature plummeted, Jon raising a hand as he noticed the shapes beginning to walk out of the forest.
"Archers! Hot Arrows!"
"ARCHERS! HOT ARROWS!" Others called along the walls, a line of flaming arrows soon aimed at the ground before Jon dropped his hand.
"Fire at will!"
"FIRE AT WILL!" As one, the arrows were fired down, all aimed at the field of oiled-up planks and linen on the ground.
In the blink of an eye, the snow was lit ablaze, a sea of fire erupting to life. It was not an attack as their enemies were still far away from the flames, but the large inferno gave off enough light to illuminate the area in front of the wall for dozens of meters.
"Seven help us," Jon heard one of the fighters murmur and he did not blame them, staring at the tens of thousands of undead sluggishly walking out into the light.
There were none of the pale blue ones with the long white hair that he had fought, but that didn't matter to him when the undead stopped just out of reach of the flames.
Soon, they found themselves staring down hundreds of thousands of undead, the Night Watch all with their dragonglass arrows at the ready.
Then, he noticed them, the demons hiding in the shadows of the forest. It was hard to make out anything in the darkness, but it was hard to miss the moonlight reflecting from their snow-white hair and their pale blue skin.
He couldn't see the one that had made the dead rise as his shoulders, but he knew that he was hidden in the back, most likely biding his time until the time to strike was ripe.
"FAAS RU MAAR!" He heard a voice shout clearly across the blizzard and his eyes widened as he felt a chilling fear ripping through his core.
It travelled up his spine and settled on the back of his neck, his entire body shivering at the cold. It was not just him as many of the Night Watch's archers scrambled backwards, looking as if they had seen the Stranger itself.
"L-LOOSE!" he shouted to the archers that still struggled to hold their bows in hand, but his heart dropped when he saw that none of them even tried to notch an arrow.
His gaze flicked back down at where the flames were beginning to die down and the last thing he saw in the darkness was the figure walking out into the light with a hand raised.
"FONAAR! (ADVANCE!) The flames were snuffed out as the undead surged forward with shrill cries. Jon forced himself to calm down, his racing heart slowing down before he unsheathed Longclaw with a tight grip.
"Men of the Night Watch!" His voice echoed over the falling blizzard as he took a deep breath. "Today, we do not know what we are facing nor do we know if we'll survive! What we do know is that we are the Men of the Night Watch!
Our courage shields the realm from their darkness! We do our duties not only when they seem easy with no cost, but also when all we have are on the line! If we break here, on this very night, then everything behind us will end!
These things took our brothers! They took children who have never held a sword in their lives, but tonight I say this! They will NOT take this wall! Now archers! Pick up your bow, take a dragonglass arrow and aim!"
For a moment, silence hung as Jon finished his speech, but soon, one raised his bow and picked up an obsidian-tipped arrow. He was followed by another and then another until every archer had their arrows aimed.
"LOOSE!"
"LOOSE!"
A/N: And we end it off here~! Kicking the new year off with a slow upload that was mostly because of my family not giving me time for myself.
Next chapter: The Power of the Thu'um.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until next week...
Ba-Bye~!