The Queen of Flames (Sequel to 'The Demon of Winterfell') (On Hold)

Chapter Seven: Captive

Daenerys's eyes went wide, though she tried to mask her surprise with a pleasant smile. "Oh," she stated. "Well, that is unfortunate. You've traveled all this way to break faith his House Targaryen?"

"Break faith? Your father burned Emmelyne and I's grandfather alive. He burned our uncle alive. He would have burned the Seven Kingdoms- -"

Daenerys interrupted him. "My father... was an evil man. On behalf of House Targaryen... I ask your forgiveness for the crimes he committed against your family. And I ask you not to judge a daughter by the sins of her father. Our two houses were allies for centuries, and those were the best centuries the Seven Kingdoms have ever known. Centuries of peace and prosperity with a Targaryen sitting on the Iron Throne and a Stark serving as Warden of the North. I am the last Targaryen, Jon Snow. Honor the pledge your ancestor made to mine. Bend the knee and I will name you Warden of the North. Together, we will save this country from those who would destroy it."

There was silence for a long time. Jon looked between Davos and Emmelyne before answering. "You're right. You're not guilty of your father's crimes. And I'm not beholden to my ancestor's vows."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because I need your help, and you need mine. "

Daenerys and Tyrion shared a look. Daenerys looked back at Jon, still trying to seem polite. "Did you see three dragons flying overhead when you arrived?" she asked.

"I did," Jon replied.

"And did you see the Dothraki, all of whom have sworn to kill for me?"

"They're hard to miss."

"But still, I need your help?"

"Not to defeat Cersei," Emmelyne said. "You could storm King's Landing and the city would fall to you in a day. Ser Davos and Stannis Baratheon nearly took it, and they had only armies, not three dragons."

"Nearly," Tyrion stated, and Emmelyne was reminded of how he was the one who saved King's Landing with the wildfire.

"But you haven't stormed King's Landing," Jon said to Daenerys. "Why not? The only reason I can see is you don't want to kill thousands of innocent people. It's the fastest way to win the war, but you won't do it, which means, at the very least, you're better than Cersei."

"Still, that doesn't explain why I need your help," Daenerys stated.

"Because right now, you and I and Cersei and everyone else, we're children playing at a game, screaming that the rules aren't fair."

Sternness overwhelmed Daenerys when she spoke to Tyrion. "You told me you liked this man."

"I do," Tyrion replied."

"In the time since he's met me, he's refused to call me queen, he's refused to bow, and now he's calling me a child."

"I believe he's calling us all children. Figure of speech."

Jon seemed fed up with the needless conversation. He sighed. "Your Grace, everyone you know will die before winter's over if we don't defeat the enemy to the north."

"As far as I can see," Daenerys began, "you are the enemy to the north."

"Cunt," Emmelyne said to herself.

"I am not your enemy," Jon stated. "The dead are the enemy."

"The dead?" Daenerys asked, looking at Tyrion. "Is that another figure of speech?"

"The Army of the Dead is on the march."

"The Army of the Dead?" Tyrion questioned.

Jon sighed. "You don't know me well, my lord, but do you think I'm a liar or a madman?" he asked.

"No, I don't think you're either of those things."

"The Army of the Dead is real. The white walkers are real. The Night King is real. I've seen them. If they get past the Wall and we're squabbling amongst ourselves..." Jon began to step forward, but two Dothraki stepped up as well, staring at him with their dark eyes, "we're finished," he concluded.

Silence once more. "I was born at Dragonstone," Daenerys finally said, rising from her throne and beginning to walk toward the Northerners. "Not that I can remember it. We fled before Robert's assassins could find us. Robert was your father's best friend, no? I wonder if your father knew his best friend sent assassins to murder a baby girl in her crib. Not that it matters now, of course. I spent my life in foreign lands. So many men have tried to kill me, I don't remember all their names. I have been sold like a broodmare. I've been chained and betrayed, raped and defiled. Do you know what kept me standing through all those years in exile? Faith. Not in any gods, not in myths and legends. In myself. In Daenerys Targaryen. The world hadn't seen a dragon in centuries until my children were born. The Dothraki hadn't crossed the sea, at sea. They did for me. I was born to rule the Seven Kingdoms, and I will."

She was not very far from Jon. He didn't hesitate. "You'll be ruling over a graveyard if we don't defeat the Night King."

Tyrion stepped over to Daenerys's side. "The war against my sister has already begun," he said to Jon. "You can't expect us to halt hostilities and join you in fighting whatever you saw beyond the Wall."

Emmelyne shook her head, stepping closer. "You don't believe him," she stated. "I understand, of course, it all sounds like utter nonsense. But if destiny has brought Daenerys Targaryen to the shores of Dragonstone, it has also made Jon Snow the King in the North. You were the first to make the Dothraki cross the sea? Jon was the first to make allies between the Northerners and the Free Folk. He was named Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. He was named King in the North. Not because of a stupid birthright. He doesn't have a birthright. All of the Northerners made him their leader because they believe in him."

Davos joined Emmelyne now. "All those things you don't believe in, he faced those things. He fought those things for the good of his people. He risked his life for his people. He took a knife in the heart for his people. He gave his own- -"

Jon gave him a sharp looking, stopping him. Emmelyne lowered her head. Davos hesitated. "If we don't put aside our enmities and band together," he said, "we will die. And then it doesn't matter whose skeleton sits on the Iron Throne."

"If it doesn't matter, then you might as well kneel," Tyrion stated. "Swear your allegiance to Queen Daenerys, help her to defeat my sister, and together, our armies will protect the North."

"There's no time for that," Jon argued. "There's no time for any of this! While we stand here debating- -"

"It takes no time to bend the knee. Pledge your sword to her cause."

"And why would I do that? I mean no offense, Your Grace, but I don't know you. As far as I can tell, your claim to the thrones rests entirely on your father's name, and my own father fought to overthrow the Mad King. The lords of the North placed their trust in me to lead them, and I will continue to do so as well as I can."

"That's fair," Daenerys said. "It's also fair to point out that I'm the rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. By declaring yourself king of the northernmost kingdom, you are in open rebellion."

Footsteps sounded suddenly, and the bald, egg looking form of Lord Varys hurried into the room. He stepped up to Daenerys, whispering in her ear. She looked up at Jon, Davos, and Emmelyne. "You must forgive my manners. You'll all be tired after your long journey. We'll have baths drawn for you and supper sent to your rooms."

She turned, speaking Dothraki to one of the men near her. He stepped up to Jon, Davos, and Emmelyne. "Am I your prisoner?" Jon asked.

Daenerys turned back to face him. "Not yet," she replied.

And then, the Northerners were escorted to their rooms.