Dany had expected more of her ancestor's city. Ser Willem Darry, the elderly knight who had lived with her and her brother in Braavos, had told her stories of her family and their city of King's Landing. The Dragonpit was a ruin, but still reminded all those who loved in the city why House Targaryen ruled Westeros. The Sept of Baelor was a truly beautiful cathedral to behold, hiding the fanatics and greedy priests within. Then there was the Red Keep itself, still filled with banners and ironwork portraying lions and stags.
The city was supposed to be alive day and night with people from everywhere in the world. Merchants would be selling their wares. The harbor would be filled with ships from the other cities in Westeros and from Free Cities. Gold cloaks would patrol the streets, respected and admired by those they protect.
What Daenerys found was a half-starved city on the brink of madness and rioting, with its citizens dressed more like beggars than civilized people. The city watchmen were no better than uniform thugs who did nothing but drink and spend their time with whores. It was a depressing sight for the young queen.
"Your grace, is all well?" Ser Barristan asked, standing at attention. The older man looked resplendent in his white armor and flowing white cape.
Dany nodded. "Yes, sorry. What is it you want?"
"The Small Council is meeting, your grace." Ser Barristan replied easily.
Daenerys nodded and gestured for the old knight to lead on. Together, the pair strode out of Maegor's Holdfast and reached the council chambers within a few minutes. Ser Barristan had been a protector to four kings and knew the red castle like the back of his hand.
Inside, seated around a large table, was Dany's makeshift council. Lord Ardrian Celtigar, Lord of Claw Isle, and Master of Ships sat across from Prince Doran Martell, the Master of Whispers. Varys the Master of Whispers, sat across from the Hand of the King, Jon Connington, and the Master of Coin Gorys Edoryen, the paymaster of the Golden Company. Rounding out the table was Dany's betrothed and nephew: Aegon.
Dany still wasn't sure to think of her nephew. She had been shocked when the Golden Company had arrived in Pentos, the young man at its head wearing black armor and wearing a cape with the Targaryen sigil. He certainly looked like family, with silver-blonde hair still tinged blue and blue-purple eyes.
With the advice of Varys, Ser Barristan, and Jon Connington, the two had announced their plans to wed each other when they had taken Dragonstone, declaring that they would not be wed until Westeros was theirs once more.
"I am sorry for my lateness, my lords." Dany apologized, taking her seat at the other end of the table with Ser Barristan taking the seat to her right. As of right now, both she and her nephew had different groups of sworn swords. His was made up of sellsword knights while hers was made up of those who had served her for the past year or more.
"Quite alright," Aegon said with a bright smile. "We were just about to discuss what we should do with our prisoners."
"I would hear the thoughts of our counselors as to what should be done with them," Dany said, opening the floor for others to speak as well.
"I thought the matter was quite simple," Aegon said, his smile not quite as bright. "They are traitors who served the usurper and his supposed son. Death is the only sentence."
Dany raised an eyebrow. "For some, that seems acceptable. But what about Tommen Baratheon? He's a boy."
Aegon hesitated. "Fair point. My lords, let us have your thoughts."
"Your graces, for Cersei and her eldest son Joffrey, execution fits the crime." Prince Doran replied easily. "His kingsguard should be sent to the Wall."
"Perhaps not all." Varys countered regretfully. "Sandor Clegane is an interesting case."
"He was found with Sansa Stark when we took the castle." Ser Barristan added. "It seems he abandoned Joffrey to protect the girl."
Aegon shrugged. "So what?"
"Sandor Clegane is known as the Hound for a reason, sire," Varys explained. "He has also been, for reasons unknown, Sansa Stark's defender. He saved her without orders during a riot and also was the first to clothe her in his cloak after she had been beaten by Meryn Trant."
"She's probably bedding him," Connington said dismissively.
Varys shook his head. "My little birds have been watching Sansa Stark ever since the death of her father. She is nothing but a frightened girl far from her home and her family. The only people who seemed to care about her were Tyrion Lannister and Sandor Clegane."
"Are we taking Clegane's head off or not?" Aegon snapped impatiently. "More to the fact, what are we doing with the Stark girl."
"She will not be harmed," Dany said instantly, gazing sternly at her nephew. "If Clegane is no longer loyal to Joffrey, then I see no reason why he can't act as he sworn sword for the time being."
"Your grace, Sandor Clegane is the brother of the Mountain." Jon Connington argued. "He's possibly the only man capable of killing his brother."
"All the more reason to keep him alive," Dany said easily. "Once we have our hands on the Mountain, why not have his brother fight him? If the Hound dies, then so does a traitor. If he kills the Mountain, then Elia Martell's death is avenged. All the while, no warrior loyal to us dies because of that beast."
Dany resisted the urge to notice Prince Doran's sneer when his sister's killer was mentioned. According to his brother, Prince Oberyn, the Mountain was now the Stark's prisoner, along with Amory Lorch, giving the northern king three men who were instrumental in her family's downfall.
"Forgive me, your grace, but what will be done with the Stark girl?" Lord Celtigar asked, the old man looking bored out of his mind. "Her brother has been proclaimed king by four kingdoms."
"Five." Ser Barristan corrected quietly. "He now has the armies of the Vale on his side as well."
"His sister can be used as leverage to take the man's crown," Aegon said with a dismissive wave. Ser Barristan shifted in his seat, clearly not agreeing with the young king. Aegon noticed this and leaned forward.
"Unless you feel differently, Ser Barristan?"
"Your grace, the lannisters didn't even attempt to trade the girl for the Kingslayer when he was captured," Varys said, helping the old knight. "If he's not willing to give up one man, I doubt he'll be willing to give up his kingdoms."
"Not even for his family?" Dany asked curiously.
Varys shook his head. "I can not speak for Robb Stark, but I do not believe his lords will agree with the trade."
"Perhaps we should table the discussion of the Starks for the time being." Prince Doran offered. "What of Baelish, Pycelle, and the Imp."
"They can die with Cersei and the boy," Aegon said. The young man had led the charge in the taking of the Red Keep, yet his bloodlust has yet to be sated.
Varys tilted his head. "Pycelle and Baelish can. I would hold the headsman sword with Tyrion Lannister."
"Why is that, Lord Varys?" Dany asked.
"While Joffrey and Cersei have committed horrible atrocities, Pycelle is a loyal agent for the Lannisters, and Baelish is simply better dead than alive, Tyrion Lannister is the only reason why the city hasn't already fallen to fire and ruin," Varys explained. "He did his best to make sure that the people of the city were fed. He replaced the command of the city watch with a man who did a very good job at cutting away the corruption in the higher ranks. He protected Sansa Stark among others."
"His family helped the usurper take our throne!" Aegon growled.
Varys tutted. "His father and brother played their part, but he was a young boy when that all happened."
Aegon looked ready to attack Varys, but Dany quickly stepped in. "Perhaps it is best if we decide the Imp's fate at a later time." She offered. "But Baelish and Pycelle shall join Cersei and her son on the block."
"I believe Prince Doran's idea of sending the former kingsguard to the Wall is a sound idea that might win us favor with the Starks." Ser Barristan added. "They are disgraces to the cloaks, but they are still knights nonetheless."
"Sound idea." Jon Connington said. "Now, Varys, what should we know about the city?"
"It's in a dire state I'm afraid." The spymaster answered. "Food is scarce. It's on the brink of rioting every day. The queen's unsullied have done an excellent job of keeping the peace, but they will only do much against starved and frantic commoners who see that the only people eating are those in the Red Keep."
"What would you have us do?" Connington grumbled angrily. "The Reach and the Riverlands are sworn to the Stark boy."
"Tyrion Lannister had a rather brilliant idea," Varys said slowly. "We could open trade up as soon as possible, lowering import taxes for the ship captains who bring in hard rations from the Free Cities."
"Easier said than done, I'm afraid." Prince Doran replied. "Myr, Tyrosh, and Lys are quite angry with the king and queen for taking all the mercenary companies."
"See if Pentos and Braavos will be willing to help us," Dany said, looking at Varys. "I will also put Ser Jorah to the task of rebuilding the gold cloaks."
"I will have to ask Illyrio for more money, but I will see what I can do," Varys promised.
"Is there anything else that needs to be discussed?" Aegon asked, looking as bored as Lord Celtigar now that the prospect of death was no longer being talked about.
"I believe that is all, your grace," Connington said, glancing at his reports.
"Good," Aegon said, getting out of his seat and striding out of the room without another word.
Connington tried to cover for the boy. "We will meet again in a few days, my lords, thank you." He said before following after the king.
"Varys, would you please accompany me," Dany asked, catching the spymaster before he could leave. The eunuch simply bowed and began to walk with the queen, Ser Barristan following close behind.
They walked for a few moments before they found themselves in the Godswood. Beastial sounds, smoke, and the smell of burned meat came from the other end of the wooded area where Dany's three dragons lived. After seeing the caves in the Dragon Pit, she had decided that the Godswood would be much better for her children.
"Is everything alright, your grace?" Varys asked finally as they sat down on a stone bench close to a small pool.
"What can you tell me about Robb Stark, the King in the North?" Dany asked.
Varys folded his hands inside of his sleeves, sighing. "I wish I could tell you that he's a bad man who is cruel and terrible, but he's the exact opposite. His men love him. He's respected by every lord under his banner. Even the smallfolk are on his side because they see him as a savior of sorts."
"Savior?"
Varys nodded. "Stannis Baratheon made sure that the realm knew of Joffrey's parentage just as the war between the Starks and Lannisters was heating up. His bastard status, combined with the acts that were committed in his name, he and his mother practically drove the commoners to Robb Stark's cause." The spymaster explained. "According to my little birds, Robb Stark is his father's son. Brave, honorable, and good."
Dany frowned. "His father was a traitor." She said flatly.
Varys arched an eyebrow and looked at the queen. "Ned Stark was many things, your grace, but he had his reasons for fighting."
"Reasons I have no wish to hear about." Dany snapped irritably. "Will Robb Stark give up his crown if we ask?"
Varys shook his head sadly. "I don't believe so. He has the army, the name, the wife. King Aegon's idea to leverage Sansa Stark is wishful thinking. He's won regardless of everything that's been thrown at him. Traitorous lords, ironborn raiders, he went toe-to-toe with Tywin Lannister and almost won the first time if not for the dornish cavalry."
Dany folded her legs and gazed into the clear water, thinking deeply. She had been expecting to return to Westeros to a hero's welcome, commoners and nobles alike ready to flock to her banner and fight against the Lannisters and Baratheons. She knew that there would be resistance and anyone with power is always unwilling to give it up without a fight, but she had not expected this.
Five kingdoms, a sixth nearly conquered save for one castle, have already pledged themselves to a new monarch. Even houses that have always been loyal to House Targaryen such as House Darry, Velyaron, and Grafton were unwilling to fight for Dany and her nephew.
All Dany had was a mismatched army of sellswords, dornish, unsullied, crownlanders, and Dothraki. None of whom had ever fought together before. Now they might have to face an army who had fought and bled together under the command of a man who had beaten Tywin Lannister on the battlefield.
It also helped that the Stark army had the means to feed itself and other allies across Westeros to call upon.
"Thank you for your honesty, my lord," Dany said finally.
Varys stood and bowed to the queen. "I understand that this is not what the homecoming you expected, but I do believe that if we can bring Robb Stark to the table, we can work out a way where both parties are happy and Westeros does not have to endure any more bloodshed."
Dany gazed at her spymaster. "Do you think that we can not win if we fight the Stark boy?"
Varys shook his head. "Not at all, your grace, but the people are tired of war. The Lannisters were roundly hated by all. But House Stark has always been loved. If we can get them to agree to peace, then it will heal the wounds created by the rebellion twenty years ago."
Dany nodded slowly. "I will think about it."
Varys smiled and bowed before leaving. Dany stayed where she was, gazing at the pool. Ser Barristan was her silent shadow, as he had been since they had taken Dragonstone. He had always been a figure of quiet strength and sage wisdom. '
"Do you think I should give up my ancestor's kingdom all because the smallfolk don't want war?" Dany asked, not looking at the knight.
"I agree with Varys, my queen," Barristan answered, moving forward to stand beside the bench. "The Starks are loved by many. If we can forge an alliance with Robb Stark, then Westeros could finally heal as one."
"Or it would give Robb Stark time to rest his army before wiping us off the face of the continent," Dany said bitterly.
Ser Barristan shook his head. "I do not believe that he would do that," the knight answered thoughtfully. "From my experience with his father and what Varys' informants, Robb Stark does not seem like the kind of man to judge a person on the reputation of their family."
"So you love the man too." Dany sighed. "Perhaps I should have sought the advice of my nephew and his Hand."
"Lord Connington and the king have their view colored, my queen," Barristan said. "Life as a sellsword can do that. I believe that cooler heads might provide a better solution than war."
Dany sighed held her anger in check. All she wanted was for someone to say that Robb Stark had no right to wear a crown, but none had. From the tone Varys and Barristan spoke in, they sounded like Stark deserved the crown more than she did. She wasn't sure why she wanted to be told that Robb Stark was her enemy. Perhaps Aegon was rubbing off on her.
"Come, Ser Barristan," Dany said, rising gracefully and walking out of the Godswood. "We have a wolf to prepare for."