Game of Thrones season 7 fanfiction

DAENERYS

"Home," she thought as the ship moved closer to Dragonstone. Viserys had pledged to get her home safe when she was still a child. But the promise had gone to the grave along with him, in a pot full of molten gold.

The castle came into sight, stout and sturdy.

"One of the strongest and most well-built castles in the whole Westeros," Tyrion informed, leaning over the deck. He wore a quilted violet doublet, the Targayen sigil festooned over the left breast.

Her ship kissed the shore with a soft bump. A damp wind tore at her silky hair as Daenerys set foot on her birthplace for the first time. It was a mystical feeling. Very gently, she bent over and touched the floor. The dusky stone felt rough beneath her fingers. An overwhelming emotion took over her. Dany shivered.

Two Tyrell soldiers sauntered towards the gates and threw them open divulging the bewitching scenery beyond.

Danerys felt Tyrion's hand on her shoulder. "Welcome home, my queen," he said smiling warmly.

She stood up and turned her neck. Varys stood there, clad in orange robes, with Missandei and Ellaria Sand next to him. The Tyrells had arrived, and so had the Martells all geared up for the big fight.

She minced towards the castle. With the ocean lashing against the shore, she made her way into the spacious courtyard. The eyes of grotesque gargoyles and stony wyverns followed her as she made her way inside the central keep.

The spiral stairway was long and lit diffusely. Missandei followed her with a lamp. The light from the torch threw Tyrion's shadow across the wall. The dwarf stood as tall as a king.

"That was a long ride," Tyrion wheezed as they reached the top. Numerous chambers could be spotted on that floor but Dany's eyes averted to the biggest one. She entered it.

The room was round with unadorned black walls. Dany saw four tall windows, overlooking the four directions, sunlight streaming through them. In the centre of the room lay a huge table tenanting almost all the space. It was adorned by a vast map of Westeros nearly as big as the table itself.

"The Painted chamber," Varys spoke. "Right here Aegon the Conqueror plotted the invasion of Westeros." He walked around the room looking around, occasionally stroking the walls.

"It is beautiful," Daenerys croaked. Her voice came out hoarse and raspy. She realized that she hadn't had even a sip of water for the last few hours.

The hall was filled with the sound of roaring waves. Tyrion walked towards the table. "Now that everything is in its right place, shall we begin?"

She looked at him calmly. "In a few minutes. I have to clear something first."

She had ordered the dragons to be transported to the dragonpits, a place from where they couldn't cause much harm.

Two stout Martells stood guarding the damp rocky chambers. Ear-splitting cries could be heard from inside. With a heavy heart, Dany tiptoed into the chamber.

Daenerys felt a blast of heat she entered the room. The chamber was dark and dank a circular stone ceiling. Rhaegal and Viserion napped on the hard stone floor. Drogon was flying from one wall to another breathing small amounts of flame.

Dany knelt beside Viserion and stroked his rough forehead. The white dragon opened its eyes a bit and closed them again.

"Rhaegal!" she called out. The green scaled beast didn't even move a muscle.

"Are you angry with me?" she asked sadly. The dragons did not respond. "Even I would be furious if someone chained me up in rooms with barely enough air."

"GYAAAOH!" Drogon swooped down in front of her. His smouldering red eyes glared at her furiously. She reached out a hand to him. "I'm really sorry," she mumbled. "But this is for your own good."

The beast spit fire on her hand, burning some of her emerald dress. The flame disappeared after a while. Drogon spread his wings and flew back to the walls.

Dany felt lost. My own children, she thought as she sat down between Viserion and Rhaegal.

"I'm sorry I'm not taking you with me," she found herself speaking. Her right hand began to stroke the white dragon affectionately. "If it wasn't this war, I would have spent endless hours with you."

Rhaegal grunted in reply. She patted him on the head. "We could have flied everywhere. From Casterly Rock to the Thousand Islands, from north of the Wall to Dorne."

She stood up and looked up at Drogon. The black dragon clinging to the wall was gazing at her intently.

"I don't know when all this will be over," she spoke loudly. "I don't even know if I will live. But if I do, I promise you, I'll be a more caring mother." She walked towards the doorway.

Drogon flew down once again. His brothers woke up within the blink of an eye. The three beasts stared at Dany and screeched.

Daenerys felt a stab of guilt and pity. No, she thought. A queen must be strong. "GYAAOOOHH!" the dragons screeched again, this time more shrilly. Without looking back, Daenerys stormed out of the room and trotted towards the Painted Chamber.

It was the longest walk of her life.