The Black and Red Dragon

Chapter 70: Loyalties and answers

A few hours later we meet in the war room with The Painted Table. At the meeting, several people are present: Me, Daenerys, Tyrion, Varys, Grey Worm, Missandei. I also decided to bring Aelyx with me. He should get experience with these types of meetings. I did instruct him to keep quiet unless he has something valuable to add. The war table has been updated to the current status of Westeros. As far as we know that is.

Daenerys looks outside to the storm that is raging. "On a night like this, you came into this world," Tyrion says. "I remember that storm. All the dogs in King's Landing howled through the night," Varys says.

Daenerys turns to us. "I have seen that night. As much as I like Dragonstone, it is not my home," she says and looks around the table. "We won't stay on Dragonstone for long," Tyrion says. "Good. Not so many lions left," Daenerys says while looking over the table. I look at Aelyx who sits next to me and lean to him. "Pay attention," I whisper to him.

Varys looks at her. "Cersei control fewer than half the Seven Kingdoms. The lords of Westeros despise her. Even before your arrival, they plotted against her. Now..." Varys says but is interrupted by Daenerys. "They cry for their true Queen? They drink secret toasts to my health?" She started to say and walks towards Varys. "People used to tell my brother that sort of thing, and he was stupid enough to believe them..." she pick up a dragon figure. "... If Viserys had three dragons and an army at his back, he'd have invaded King's Landing already," she finished saying.

"Conquering Westeros should be easy for you. But you're not here to be the queen of the ashes," Tyrion points out and shifts rather awkwardly. "No," Daenerys says and puts the figure down.

"We can take the Seven Kingdoms without turning it into a slaughterhouse. If the great houses support your claim against Cercei, the game is won. With the Tyrell army and the Dornish on our side, we have powerful allies in the south," Tyrion says. Daenerys looks at Varys. "I never properly thanked you for that," she says. "They joined our side, my queen, because they believe in you," Varys says with a slight bow. I poked Aelyx gently to alert him so that he pays extra attention.

"You served my father, didn't you, Lord Varys?" She asks him. "I did," he answers. "And then you served the man who overthrew him?" She continues to ask. "I had a choice, Your Grace... serve Robert or face the headman's axe," he says. "But you didn't serve him for very long. You turned against him," she states while looking intently at him, studying 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," he explained. Daenerys looks at him with a raised eyebrow. "So you took it upon yourself to find a better one?"

Tyrion clears his throat awkwardly. "Your Grace, when I was ready to drink myself into a tiny coffin. Lord Varys told me..." Tyrion started to say but became silent when Daenerys raises her hand. "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?" She asks.

Aelyx was looking intently at the conversation. Studying both his mother and Varys. I also looked at Varys intently. There is something I need to ask him.

"Until your marriage to Khal Drogo, Your Grace, I knew nothing about you, save your existence and that you were said to be beautiful," he says in a soft whisper. "So you and your friends traded me like a prized horse to the Dothraki?" She says in a cold, sharp, and deathly tone. "Which you turned to your advantage," he answers. "Who gave the order to kill me?" She asks. "King Robert," he says. I stand up.

Everyone looked at me as I stand up. I walked to Varys at a steady yet intimidating pace. "Who killed my father?" I ask in a cold unforgiving tone. He looks at me. "King Joffrey," he says. "To keep yourself alive, you killed a simple and loving father..." I whisper angrily and turn back to my seat. Daenerys looks at me and then to Varys with slight anger. Aelyx puts a supportive hand on my shoulder.