Fire and fury | Daenerys Targaryen

Captured

A silence filled the war room after the two queens sat across from each other. Daenerys was bold as she continued to stare at the Baratheon, taking in every inch of her.

The features of Ardella's fair face that became more prominent as she reached her peak of youth. The golden armor with Baratheon sigil that enhances Ardella's beauty with royal elegance but also adds an element of intimidation to the woman.

But she despised the Baratheon's honest eyes that she used to love are no longer expressive as they are concealed by a queenly grace that Ardella seem to have mastered during their estranged years.

On the other hand, Ardella sat conflicted. The tightening in her chest at the presence of the dragon bothered her. If the Targaryen came before her coronation, she would have offered the whole of Westeros to her with a sense of righteousness that she broke her promises to the dragon for her.

Afterall, it was true.

But Daenerys made family in Meereen, perhaps fell in love and loathed the princess that ran away from her. She was nowhere near her dream that Ardella built for her when a crown landed on the Baratheon's head instead.

After all these years, Ardella didn't expect to feel suffocated as if the air in her lungs left her. All she knew coming to Dragonstone was yielding to the dragon out of love and promises is not an option anymore when the blood of thousands bled for her reign already.

"Are you here to bend the knee?" Daenerys's question broke the silence.

"No." The simple answer didn't surprise the Targaryen but she didn't anticipate the Baratheon to say, "I just had to come before Cersei."

At the dragon queen's narrowed eyes, Ardella continued, "If you kill one queen, the other will unite all of Westeros to stand against you, essentially winning the troops and allies of the defeated one. As long as I am captured here after coming to negotiate with you, my army will stand still while Cersei has no choice but to defend the capital on her own, making her the queen to lose first."

Daenerys frowned at the revelation. "What makes you think I won't kill you here instead of marching towards Cersei Lannister?"

"Because it will give the people more reasons to resist you. If you are tyrant enough to murder peaceful guests, no one would accept your reign unless you want to be the queen of ashes." Ardella presented the checkmate.

The familiar fire burned through the dragon at the knowledge of being tied up by the Baratheon. At the last resort of refusing to be Ardella's pawn, Daenerys promised, "You may have came here on your own but you won't leave even if you wanted to."

Ardella stared at the dragon without expression, "When the whole of Seven Kingdoms is at your gate demanding my release, I am sure you will reconsider, your grace."

Both of their eyes widened when Ardella addressed Daenerys as her grace mistakenly. The Baratheon's breath hitched at her error that just came out naturally without her intent.

In turn, Daenerys's face softened as years of memories rushed inside of her, breaking her hardened facade upon meeting the contender for her throne.

Ardella cleared her throat to gain some sort of self-control but her resolve crumbled a bit when Daenerys whispered softly, "You promised to be never my enemy."

Ardella's jaw clenched as couldn't find a word to say. Nothing she could ever say would fix what is already broken. After a moment, she rose from her seat, "Should I make my way to the dungeon?"