Fire and fury | Daenerys Targaryen

Burden

Daenerys gestured towards the balcony overlooking the moonlit gardens. Stepping outside, the cool night air washed over them, carrying the scent of salty ocean – a fragrance that evoked forgotten memories.

They sat on the edge of the balcony, a comfortable silence settling between them before the dam of emotions broke. Ardella spoke first, her voice thick with regret, confessing the reasons behind her disappearance, the greed to offer Daenerys more than her advices that had driven her away from Meereen.

Daenerys listened intently, the vulnerability in Ardella's words chipping away at the walls she'd built around her heart. She, in turn, spoke of the loneliness that had consumed her, the betrayal that she has feared from Ardella ever since she heard of her father's demise.

As the night deepened, their conversation flowed, laced with apologies, unspoken longing, and a flicker of the love that still simmered beneath the ashes of the past. But neither of them could act on it for the crown on their heads carry a weight that they can't just discard.

Ardella revealed the letter she received from Daario that unveiled the parentage of the twins and his wish to entrust the children to her protection. Daenerys flushed at the Baratheon's knowledge of her finding solace in the sellsword's arms after her departure but moved by Ardella's intention to honor Daario's last wish.

"What will happen to us now?" Daenerys asked since speaking of the past that led them here won't change their present as much as it offered somewhat of a comfort to them.

Ardella sighed, "Even if I wanted to, I cannot bend the knee to you now. My surrender will only aid Cersei's cause." She reached out, a hesitant touch she was dying to make all night finally brushed against Daenerys's hand. The warmth, both physical and emotional, sent a tremor through Daenerys.

"My allies," Ardella continued, her voice dropping to a low murmur, "I can't say which one of them will stand by my side to allow our... reconciliation. The consequences for both our reigns would be dire."

The truth hung heavy in the air, bitter and undeniable. Daenerys knew Ardella was right. Even as her enemy, the Baratheon's passivity allowed her to focus on Cersei alone. If Ardella surrenders, many will join the Lannisters and strengthen the one true force standing against her.

"Even a whisper of our friendliness could compel them to change sides." Ardella said and retracted her hand unwillingly but her eyes glistened with something familiar to Daenerys.

The first rays of dawn painted the sky a fiery orange as they reached a fragile understanding of each other. The path ahead would be long and arduous, filled with the ghosts of their past and weight of a crown. But for the first time in years, they saw a possibility of healing, of forging a new bond – not as lovers, perhaps, but surely as something more than enemies.

~~~

Weeks bled into one another, Daenerys didn't see the Baratheon queen since that night. Only a rolled-up parchment without a royal seal, but with Ardella's familiar, elegant handwriting found its way to her one day.

Daenerys' heart pounded a frantic rhythm as she unfurled the message. It was a map, meticulously drawn, pinpointing the location of Euron Greyjoy's iron fleet. But the true weight settled with the accompanying sentence: "Burn them all."

Revenge for the Sand Snakes, a crippling blow to the Lannister's main navial force – the message offered a tactical advantage, a path towards her first victory. Yet, it stuck a thorn of hesitancy in Daenerys. Was this Ardella's olive branch for a secret alliance stemmed from remnants of her feelings towards the dragon? Or a cunning ploy to weaken both sides, leaving her own position unchallenged?