[Dragonstone - Bay]

Daenerys Targaryen, Tyrion Lannister, Varys, Missandei, Quentyn Martell, and Grey Worm sat in a rowboat, their eyes fixed on the castle ahead. Ships dotted the water behind them. Above, Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion soared through the sky.

[Dragonstone - Beach]

The group stepped out of the boat. Daenerys moved ahead, knelt, and pressed her hand into the sand. She gazed up at the castle, then walked further along the beach. The others trailed behind.

They reached the steps leading to a gate guarded by two dragon-head statues. Two Unsullied pushed the gate open, revealing a path to the castle. Daenerys, Tyrion, Missandei, Grey Worm, and Varys walked through.

Inside the foyer, a tapestry of the three-headed dragon sigil hung to the side. Daenerys paused to admire it. Her niece had made it. She had reclaimed their family's ancestral home. But her niece's last letter had warned her—Stannis' widow and daughter were still on the island. They had surrendered after Stannis' death. Shireen was now under Alysanne's care until she could rule Storm's End.

Daenerys approached a set of doors. Two Unsullied opened them. She entered the throne room, the others following. Varys and Missandei stopped. Grey Worm started to move forward, but Missandei placed a hand on his chest to hold him back.

Daenerys walked toward the throne, her eyes locked on it. Tyrion glanced around the hall. She climbed the steps but walked past the throne into the Chamber of the Painted Table. Tyrion followed.

[Chamber Of The Painted Table]

Daenerys ran her fingers along the table's edge. Tyrion stood across from her, studying the dragon carvings on the wall. Daenerys stood at the head of the table, staring down at the map of Westeros. Tyrion looked at her.

"Shall we begin?" Daenerys asked.

The storm roared outside. Rain hammered the beach and the castle. Lightning split the sky. Thunder shook the air. Inside the Chamber of the Painted Table, Daenerys Targaryen, Tyrion Lannister, Grey Worm, Missandei, Quentyn Martell, and Varys stood, watching the chaos through the windows.

"On a night like this, you came into the world," Tyrion said.

"I remember that storm. All the dogs in King's Landing howled through the night," Varys added.

Daenerys turned from the window. She walked to the table. "I always thought this would feel like coming home. It doesn't. I hoped my niece would be here to greet me."

Quentyn looked up. "My cousin flew north to help the Starks take back Winterfell."

"After everything they did to our family?" Daenerys asked.

The room fell silent. Tense.

"We won't stay on Dragonstone for long," Tyrion said.

"Good," Daenerys agreed.

She studied the figurines on the table. "Not so many lions."

"Cersei controls less than half the Seven Kingdoms," Varys explained. "The lords of Westeros hate her. Even before you arrived, they plotted against her. Now..."

"They cry out for their true queen? They drink secret toasts to my health?" Daenerys stepped closer to Varys. "People used to tell my brother things like that. He was foolish enough to believe them." She picked up a dragon figurine. "If Viserys had three dragons and an army, he'd have attacked King's Landing already."

"Conquering Westeros would be easy for you," Tyrion said. "But you're not here to be Queen of the Ashes."

"No," Daenerys said. She set the dragon down.

"We can take the Seven Kingdoms without turning it into a slaughterhouse. If the great houses support your claim—and Alysanne's—against Cersei, the game is won. With the Tyrell army and the Dornish on our side, we have strong allies in the south."

Daenerys fixed her gaze on Varys. "I never properly thanked you for that."
"They joined our side, my queen, because they believe in you," Varys replied. "And your cousin. Elia Martell was supposed to be Queen alongside your brother..."

"And the Lannisters murdered her... and her children." Daenerys added.

Tyrion tensed at the mention of the callous act his father had ordered.

"Yes. All but Alysanne. The Martells see this as an opportunity to right that wrong. If Elia could not be Queen, her daughter will be."

"You served my father, didn't you, Lord Varys?"

"I did."

"And then you served the man who overthrew him?"

"I had a choice, Your Grace—serve Robert Baratheon or face the headman's axe."

"But you didn't serve him long. You turned against him."

"Robert was an improvement on your father, to be sure. There have been few rulers in history as cruel as the Mad King. Robert was neither mad nor cruel. He simply had no interest in being king."

"So you took it upon yourself to find a better one."

Tyrion chimed in. "Your Grace, when I was ready to drink myself into a small coffin, Lord Varys told me about a queen in the east who—"

Daenerys cut him off. "Before I came to power, you favored my brother. All your spies, your little birds, did they tell you Viserys was cruel, stupid, and weak? Would those qualities have made for a good king in your learned opinion?"

"Until your marriage to Khal Drogo, Your Grace. Like your niece, I knew nothing about you, save your existence and that you were said to be beautiful."

"So you and your friends traded me like a prized horse to the Dothraki."

"Which you turned to your advantage."

Daenerys stepped closer. "Who gave the order to kill me?"

"King Robert."

"Who hired the assassins?"

"Your Grace, I did what had to be done to—" Varys began.

"To keep yourself alive."

Tyrion defended him. "Lord Varys has proven himself a loyal servant."

"Proven himself loyal? Quite the opposite. If he dislikes one monarch, he conspires to crown the next one. What kind of servant is that?"

"The kind the realm needs. Incompetence should not be rewarded with blind loyalty. As long as I have my eyes, I'll use them."

Varys spoke plainly. "I wasn't born into a great house. I came from nothing. I was sold as a slave and carved up as an offering. When I was a child, I lived in alleys, gutters, abandoned houses. You wish to know where my true loyalties lie? Not with any king or queen, but with the people. The people who suffer under despots and prosper under just rule. The people whose hearts you aim to win. If you demand blind allegiance, I respect your wishes. Grey Worm can behead me or your dragons can devour me. But if you let me live, I will serve you well. I will dedicate myself to seeing you on the Iron Throne because I choose you and Alysane. Because I know the people have no better chance than you both. Westeros has not seen one queen, let alone two. If you work together as you have planned, the people might have a chance."

Daenerys narrowed her eyes. "Swear this to me, Varys. If you ever think I'm failing the people, you won't conspire behind my back. You'll look me in the eye as you have done today, and you'll tell me how I'm failing them."

"I swear it, my queen."

"And I swear this—if you ever betray me, I'll burn you alive."

Varys smiled faintly. "I would expect nothing less from the Mother of Dragons."

Grey Worm interrupted. "Forgive me, my queen. A red priestess from Asshai has come to see you."

[Dragonstone - Throne Room]

Melisandre stood alone in the throne room. Daenerys entered, flanked by Tyrion, Varys, Missandei, and Grey Worm. They approached her. Melisandre spoke in Valyrian.

"Queen Daenerys, I was once a slave. Bought and sold. Scourged and branded. It is an honor to meet the Breaker of Chains."

Daenerys replied, "The Red Priests brought peace to Meereen. You are welcome here. What is your name?"

"I am called Melisandre."

Varys switched to the Common Tongue. "She once served another who wanted the Iron Throne. It didn't end well for Stannis Baratheon, did it?"

"No, it didn't."

"You chose a good day to arrive at Dragonstone," Daenerys said, glancing at Varys. "We've just decided to pardon those who served the wrong king."

Varys bowed his head. Daenerys turned back to Melisandre.

"The Lord of Light doesn't have many followers in Westeros, does he?"

"Not yet. But even those who don't worship him can serve his cause."

"What does your Lord expect from me?"

Melisandre spoke Valyrian again. "The Long Night is coming. Only the prince who was promised can bring the dawn."

Daenerys replied in the Common Tongue. "The prince who was promised will bring the dawn. I'm afraid I'm not a prince."

Missandei interrupted. "Your Grace, forgive me, but your translation isn't quite accurate. That noun has no gender in High Valyrian. The proper translation is 'the prince or princess who was promised will bring the dawn.'"

Tyrion quipped, "Doesn't really roll off the tongue, does it?"

"No, but I like it better," Daenerys said. She turned back to Melisandre. "And you believe this prophecy refers to me?"

"Prophecies are dangerous things. I believe you have a role to play, as do two others. Your niece Alysanne."

"And?"

"The King in the North, Jon Snow."

"Jon Snow? Ned Stark's bastard?" Tyrion asked.

Daenerys looked at him. "You know him?"

"I traveled with him to the Wall when he joined the Night's Watch."

Varys asked Melisandre, "Why do you think the Lord of Light singled out Jon Snow? Aside from the visions you've seen in the flames?"

"As Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, he allowed the Wildlings south of the Wall to protect them from great danger. As King in the North, he united the Wildlings with the northern houses to face their common enemy."

"He sounds like quite a man," Daenerys said.

"Summon Jon Snow. Let him stand before you and tell you what he's seen with his own eyes."

Tyrion added, "I can't speak to prophecies or visions in the flames, but I like Jon Snow. I trusted him. And I'm an excellent judge of character."

Daenerys smiled at Tyrion. "If he rules the North, he'd make a valuable ally. The Lannisters executed his father and conspired to murder his brother. Jon Snow has even more reason to hate Cersei than you do."

She paused. "Very well. Send a raven north. Tell Jon Snow his Queen invites him to Dragonstone... and to bend the knee."