Burning away
Daenerys POV
Stepping onto my ship, the Royal Dragon, I looked over the fleet accompanying me. It was magnificent. Hundreds of ships stretched across the horizon, with black banners featuring a red three-headed dragon or a golden kraken proudly flying atop them. This was my power, mine and Theon's.
It left me a bit concerned that I stood on equal footing with Theon only because of my dragons. I didn't dislike it or hate it, but it made me feel somewhat small in comparison. He was a man who had risen to greatness, while I still felt like just a girl beside him. Sure, I had loyal men, but that could not compare to Theon's support. So, I didn't dwell on it. Instead, I tried to focus on what I knew and allowed Theon to do what he did best.
And that's why I wanted to kill that bastard for thinking such a foolish and dangerous thing. There was no need for him to act that way; we had an army, dragons, and the most powerful fleet. Not to mention the gold we possessed and the support from Dorne. All we needed to do was take back what was rightfully mine.
"My queen, if you aren't feeling well, we can delay our departure," Ser Barristan said, looking at me with concern. "In the end, we will still land in different places. A day or two of delay will not change the tide of war, but your health is a concern for everyone, even our enemies."
"If the wind is favorable, at best we would arrive in three weeks," Ser Jorah remarked. "But that would require optimal conditions. More likely, we shall see the Mountains of the Vale in six weeks. It isn't a short voyage by any means, your grace. So, I share Ser Barristan's concerns. We can't have you lose your vigor before the war even begins."
"Sers, I am furious right now, so if you do not silence yourselves and bury your concerns deep in your hearts, I will have you swim the rest of the way," I snapped, growing annoyed by their needless worries. "Don't fret, I will tie you to the ship so you won't drift too far from me."
They all believed they knew best. Well, certainly Theon did not. That madman was simply bored and didn't want to win a war in the normal and tedious way. He just had to show off with his actions. He could easily do what Euron did to him, or simply kill that one-eyed creep and be done with it. But that was too easy, too simplistic.
I had three to six weeks to think of a way to deal with the man I call my husband. How dare he explain his plan the night before departure and think I would agree to it? Who in their right mind would agree? Even his band of lunatics didn't. And if he was going to leave me, he at least could have taken his new friend.
I can't believe I let him go, either. It was hard to say how much choice I had. I was starting to suspect that Theon didn't listen to me much and did what he wished; it was only a coincidence that we wanted the same thing most of the time. But once our thoughts differed, it was clear that Theon would do what he wanted.
All this frustration with my unreliable and uncontrollable king made me hungry. And worse, there was little to distract me on the ship. As massive as it was, with hundreds of men, I found it quite restrictive. We had just departed from the harbor, and the men were already busy running around, making sure the ship was sailing as intended. I guess there was some form of entertainment in the chaos and hectic activity.
"The dragons seem happy," Missandei commented as a shadow fell upon us.
"They are children meant for the skies," I replied. "Ever so free, they will not rest until they explore the endless sky. Or until they grow hungry."
Perhaps there was some mercy in Theon choosing to do as he pleased. While he indulged himself, it was time for me to prove myself, to step out of his shadow and make an impression on the Seven Kingdoms. As the Queen, I must not be looked down upon by anyone, neither my friends nor my enemies.
…
"Keep rowing!" Ser Jorah's voice was the only sound the men in the ship could hear above the howling wind. "We must hurry, put your backs into it. Don't stop! Keep rowing through pain and your vomit."
Even when stationed below deck, his voice echoed throughout the entire ship. Yet, the thunder that shook everyone instantly silenced it. For a moment, the night was illuminated by a blue hue left behind by the lightning. Everyone paused to stare at the darkened sky before redoubling their efforts to escape before it was too late.
"Your grace, it is better to stay inside," Ser Barristan said before returning to his duties. "You! Keep the fires burning! Helmsman! Keep us close to the other ships! Don't dare to separate from them."
Was it a warning? Just four days into the voyage, dark clouds had entrapped us. The wind was uncontrollable and unpredictable, changing direction every few seconds. The waves battered the ship, shaking it in the fury of the sea. And this was only the beginning. The start of a long night that could consume us all, with nothing we could do to prevent it.
I could see it only as a warning. But to whom? To me? Was this the beginning of my failure? I understood that storms could shatter any fleet into pieces; mine was no exception. Lightning could strike us. A wave could capsize the ship. And people could fall overboard. Their screams wouldn't even be heard as the sea swallowed them.
"Drop the sails!" Ser Barristan yelled.
"They stuck!" One of the sailors panicked as he tried to undo a tie. Ser Barristan didn't waste time and drew his sword to cut the ropes. He looked weary as the wind picked up more and more. The sails were soon taken down, and the ship's speed slowed considerably. It was clear now that we could not outrun the storm. Now we could only brace ourselves and prepare in these precious few moments we had left.
I could only watch as men tie everything to the center of the ship to balance the weight and make sure nothing goes flying. And then the rain fell. There was no warning aside from the dark clouds. It just came down on us like a wave of arrows. Cold droplets pierced through my clothing as if it didn't exist. Was this the beginning of my end?
"Do not worry, your grace," Ser Jorah came up to me and put his cloak over me. "As much as I despise them, the Ironborn know how to build ships. And this ship is one of a kind; it will ride the storm and will not bend under the waves."
"What about the others?" I asked, as it had become impossible to see anything outside our ship.
"The lanterns! Protect the lanterns!" Ser Barristan was losing his voice. "Your grace! Please get inside."
"I will once I am unable to handle it." This time, I promised the worried and weary white knight. "For now, I will watch over you and face this storm with you by my side."
"Very well," Ser Barristan didn't argue, but I knew he would pull her inside when he deemed it too dangerous.
"We're losing sight of other ships!" one of the sailors yelled.
The lanterns were the only thing we could see in the darkness, but with each passing moment, more of these lights disappeared. The winds knocked them down, the rain extinguished them, or the ships were simply gone. I had no way to tell. Soon, fear will fill our hearts as our lights go out.
"For fuck's sake," the helmsman cursed as he frantically looked around. "I lost control of the ship. We need…"
The thunder once again silenced everyone, and blue lightning lit up the skies and the sea. Just for a moment, we could see the rising tides and other ships struggling to survive. The ship shook, and the few lights on it became even fewer. The cloak that had protected me from the rain a moment ago now weighed heavily on me.
"We need a light," Ser Jorah said as he placed his hands on my shoulders to keep me steady on my feet. "Others are panicking, not knowing what is happening with the fleet. There is no way of communication outside the light. And once it is gone, we too will vanish from others' eyes."
"No fire can survive this rain," Ser Barristan replied. "We can only trust in our ships and pray to our gods to see us through this storm."
"A light will be there soon," a deep voice interrupted the knights. "The fire of salvation will be seen soon, and it will guide us through the darkness, like a beacon of hope."
The red priest Moqorro stood beside us, unbothered by the wind and rain that battered him. Like a mountain, he faced the darkness, staring back at it without wavering. I decided to match him and look out into the same darkness, but my eyes were drawn to the light glimmering in the distance.
"What is that?" Ser Jorah exclaimed in disbelief. "It can only be a whole ship ablaze to create so much flame and survive in the storm. But whose ship is it? Did they do it on purpose?"
"A beacon?" Ser Barristan echoed Moqorro's words. "Keep your eyes on the fire. It shall center the fleet and prevent anyone from straying. But it won't last long."
Then the sky was lit once again—but not by the blue of lightning, but by the red of fire, as my children's roars drowned out even the thunder. The storm did not deter them; they would soar over the dark clouds and, with a roaring fire, return to us. And now I understood: this might have been a warning, but it would not stop me. Nothing would.
…
The morning after was serene. As dawn broke, the storm and any signs of it disappeared, as if it had never happened. But what was left behind was noticeable; rather, what was gone was very noticeable. So far, twenty ships were missing, and we were still counting. It was indeed a significant loss, but what had our men in a frenzy was Theon's missing ship.
"Your grace, Lady Asha is approaching by boat," Ser Barristan informed me.
I watched as the boat with half a dozen men, including Theon's sister, boarded next to our ship before a rope ladder was thrown for them, and they climbed it with expertise. It seemed simple, but I knew I could not do it as easily as she did. It wasn't her first time boarding a ship, nor the tenth.
"My Queen," Asha bowed slightly as she walked up to me. "There is no sign of Theon's ship. Euron is still searching, but it doesn't seem we will be able to find it."
So, he pursued his plan. That selfish, inconsiderate prick. The storm was the perfect moment to execute his scheme. And Euron probably awaited something like that too. It will let him believe that his plan was successful. Now, Theon was dead, leaving the fallout for us to deal with. Hopefully, this plan of his is worth it, or I will have him locked in my bedroom for the rest of his days. And he shall be nothing but a tool, I will relish each night. For that will be all he is good for.
"Was it the one that was set ablaze?" Ser Jorah asked.
"That's what we suspect at the moment. Its location matches, but in that chaos, it could have been anyone's ship. It is impossible to confirm. But it seems likely that Theon and his ship are at the bottom of the sea. Now the question is how we shall proceed?"
Theon cared little for this. Of course, we move forward, but what we do next does not matter to him. He has his plans, and we aren't necessary for them. He only gave me a warning, but I'm no fool and cannot just let things fall apart. I need the Greyjoy fleet and cannot afford to let someone like Euron use this situation to start something. So, I will have to strike first.
"We shall proceed with the plan," I said. "Theon is presumed dead for now. We shall not waste time searching the sea for what may or may not exist."
"There are those who might disagree and want to follow their King," Asha warned me. "My brother's death is a loss far more damaging than you can imagine. Your words alone will need to be enough to gain control over them."
"Will you not keep your word?" Ser Jorah asked. "You promised her your support, and now you shall deny it?"
"I will do what is best for my House," Asha replied simply. She didn't know about Theon's plan. Yet, she stood strong and prepared to take action in her brother's stead. "And I am only warning her grace, because she will need some good words to win over the Ironborn."
"Very well." I accepted the challenge as I knew it was coming and prepared for it. "Tell your men that it is fine if they don't want to help me claim the Iron Throne."
"Your Grace, what are you saying?" Ser Barristan's tone was heartbroken and furious. "I will not let you make such a foolish decision. Not now when we are so close."
"Do not interrupt me again, Ser Barristan." I looked at him like Theon would at his men. "I have tolerated your insolence many times, but do not test my limits. I do not need a knight by my side who doesn't trust me. For I will not be able to entrust my safety and that of my child to him."
"Child?" Asha asked.
"Yes," I smiled back at her. "I am heavy with Theon's child. So, tell the Ironborn that it is fine if they don't want to help put me on the Iron Throne. But are they willing to let down their King's legacy? The Iron Throne belongs to the Black King's heir, so they better understand their position and whether they are willing to follow me."
The lie was a risky move, but it had its advantages. Those fanatics might grieve over their king's death, but they will do everything to uphold his legacy. There was no way for them to confirm it was a lie; after all, I am Theon's wife, and we have been together for some time now. When it's all over, I will only need to say I miscarried. It will have its complications, but with Theon back, I won't need to worry about their loyalty.