Northern Conqueror

Chapter 54: King's Gambit

Chapter 54: King's Gambit

Sansa felt much as she had years earlier as a prisoner within the Red Keep despite being treated as a guest, only this time she shared her room with Daenerys Targaryen.

The first few days they were left to themselves, given their meals and largely ignored which they preferred to their occasional guests.

Daario was the first to seek them out, finding the women sat at a table speaking quietly when he entered. They clutched each other's hands and glared at the sellsword, who smirked dismissively at their anger while he approached.

"I hope you find the room suitable, my queen," Daario said to Daenerys.

"Why have you done this?" she asked, disappointment on her face.

"Isn't it obvious?" he asked arching his brow. "For you."

"So you've kidnapped me and helped another man take my throne to help me?" She asked with a scoff.

"I did as you asked, let Meereen settle themselves," he said defensively. "I couldn't leave you here to suffer beneath some bastard king when you deserve to be a queen with a throne of your own."

"Did you plan to betray Cersei and now Euron?" Daenerys asked, keeping her voice even despite the coldness of her gaze.

Daario shrugged. "You don't have to be queen here."

Daenerys shook her head. "Did you ever care about me or was I just another achievement?"

Seeing her disappointment Daario scoffed at what he felt was ingratitude. "What's the difference?"

He tried to win her over with flowers after that, but she took each and threw them into the hearth without a moment of consideration. In time his visits became less frequent, only stopping in to check on them but finding no warmth when he did. There was even less when Petyr Baelish visited with one of his guards.

"Once things have settled I'll get us from here, I promise," he told Sansa.

"Your promises are worth less than the contents of a chamber pot."

"You'd prefer I leave you here?" He asked stepping toward the table where she sat. "Let the ironborn and their monstrous king have you? Maybe you'd like to end up like Yara Greyjoy. Locked in the dungeon, drugged senseless and little more than a jester to amuse her uncle."

"How would that be any different from going with you?"

"Because once you come with me we can began making you a true queen," he answered. "You'll marry Harrold and gain the Vale. Then we can reclaim the North and Riverrun and begin taking each kingdom until they are all ours. We will be true conquerors of Westeros, freeing it from monsters and undead kings. Songs will be written of our journey to the throne."

"Our journey?" Sansa scoffed. "I'd kill myself before I ever marry one of your pathetic puppets or even looked at a worthless worm like you." Rising to her feet she met his eyes with a glare as cold as the winds beyond the Wall. "When Jon comes I'm going to look down on you with a smile as you beg for mercy." Daenerys wore a pride smile as she looked up at Sansa from her seat beside her.

A knock on the door drew the guard's attention, though Petyr maintained Sansa's glare until the door opened and another guard stepped inside. "My lord, King Euron called you to the Great Hall."

"Did he say why?" Petyr asked glancing over his shoulder.

"Targaryen banners were spotted south, approaching the King's Gate," the guard answered.