Northern Conqueror

Chapter 26: Truce and Teasing

Chapter 26: Truce and Teasing

"Do you think he'll be able to handle it?" Davos asked Jon as they stood on one of Widow's Watch's walls where Daenerys told them of the loss of her fleet heading to Dorne.

"He'll never be what he was," Jon said solemnly, "but Theon deserves to know what happened to his sister."

"He might leave to save her," said Davos.

Jon shook his head. "I don't think he's ready to do that yet. There's still too much Reek in him."

"We also don't know where she is," Daenerys said regretfully. "I don't understand how, but Euron made it through our blockade without us noticing. He could be at King's Landing, the Iron Islands, anywhere."

"Even if we did, we don't know that she's alive," Jon said with a sigh, his brow furrowed in a moment of thought before shaking his head with a crestfallen expression. "We can't risk the men. Maybe when we focus south again. Assuming we could even salvage any of them, the Iron Islands' fleet won't matter against the Night King and we'll need the men we'd lose trying to get her back."

Daenerys saw he hated leaving Yara to her fate, but it was what he needed to do. Hearing footsteps she turned and saw Tyrion and Varys approaching with grim expressions. "What is it?"

"We took Casterly Rock," Tyrion answered.

"That's very good to hear," she said, surprised it left them dour. The hesitant look they exchanged made her grimace. "Isn't it?"

Tyrion took a moment before answering. "Casterly Rock was a feint. They left only a reserve to defend it."

"A reserve?" Daenerys asked, turning to them with Missandei at her side.

"Once they took the castle, Greyjoy's ships destroyed ours."

Missandei put a hand to her chest thinking of Gray Worm trapped at Castlerly Rock. "Euron Greyjoy," said Daenerys, her jaw shifting. "And where were the Lannister forces?"

Tyrion took a breath as if preparing himself for her anger. "They'd left, heading south to sack Highgarden. They destroyed the Tyrell garrison, likely captured Olenna and her grandsons if they weren't killed."

"You'll want to discuss this amongst yourselves," Davos began.

"You will stay," Daenerys said firmly, shaking her head as her blood boiled and she looked around them. "All my allies are gone. They've been taken from me while I've been sitting here in this castle."

"We still have the largest armies," Tyrion offered, watching her look to the water.

"Who won't be able to eat because Cersei has taken all the food from the Reach."

"Call Gray Worm and the Unsullied back," suggested Tyrion. "We still have enough ships to carry the Dothraki to the mainland. Commit to the blockade of King's Landing. We have a plan. It's still the right plan."

"The right plan?" Daenerys exclaimed, turning on Tyrion.. "Your strategy has lost us Dorne, the Iron Islands and the Reach."

He tilted his head, backing down slightly."If I have underestimated our enemies-"

"Our enemy?" Daenerys asked incredulously. "Your family you mean. Perhaps you don't want to hurt them after all."

Tyrion's lips thinned. "How can you question my loathing of Lannisters?"

"You are one," she said turning to look at the sea.

"It's called self-loathing," said Tyrion, earning him a sharp glare from Daenerys while Jon and Davos shared a silent smirk.