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Published:2020-04-25Updated:2026-04-06Words:409,591Chapters:71/?Comments:5,535Kudos:6,016Bookmarks:1,658Hits:466,752
The Stormborn and the Stormbringer
SkilledWarriorKiwi
Chapter 7: The Yellow City
Chapter Text
Daenerys found herself fitting back on the saddle of her zorse as easily as if she'd never left. She'd missed riding, having spent months more in a saddle than upon the ground with Drogo, and felt almost as if she'd gone back there in their trek through the great grass sea. Urging her striped one through the plains with her bloodriders following close behind, the smell of horse and heat thick in her nostrils she could almost think she was simply a typical khalessi.
However she never could due to Ghidorah, the golden dragon following her above with his scales sparkling like freshly polished coins in the warm Essos sun as he soared along with her riding. No khalessi had ever had a dragon, much less one for a child, and she would never be the unsure violet-eyed wife to a Khal again. Instead she was the Mother to the last dragon in existence, regardless of how easily she settled back upon the saddle of a horse.
Especially as the small childish part of Daenerys, that part that which still longed for the house with the red door and the lemon tree, that wanted to simply find a peaceful simple life to live, grew more and more excited each day as Ghidorah was slowly and steadily getting larger than her steed. He was already far longer than the zorse but now he was rapidly getting large enough to ride.
Of course Daenerys knew nothing about dragon riding. The books Jorah had gifted her were precious and offered insight to her family history to augment what Viserys had told her, but there had been nothing about riding a dragon. She wasn't sure where to start and if she should wait until he was larger. And how would she do it? Simply climb onto his back? She did notice he had two lines of spikes along his central neck, the sharp spines long and thick enough she could use them as grips but his spine was also littered with more of the pikes.
But still. Dragon riding.
Daenerys flushed, nearly squirming in her saddle as she cantered through the lines of Unsullied. She'd taken to doing so as a means to familiarize herself with her new army along with letting them see their new queen. She wanted to show them she wasn't going to be some distant force or someone who would punish them for the slightest mishap but rather someone who would treat them fairly like any decent ruler would. There was also the freedmen who accompanied them from Astapor who Daenerys was slowly familiarizing herself with along with the logistics of running an army and campaign.
But always her thoughts would go back to Ghidorah. Back to the potential of riding him and being the first dragon rider in centuries. She'd always dreamed of riding dragons, of flying through the clouds and above the fields. When she and Viserys were hiding from assassins she could dream of dragons, of leaping upon ones spiked back to take to the air where none could harm her. Where she could lavish fire upon those who sought to kill two frightened children.
Now she had a dragon, one of three heads and golden scales who breathed storm not fire. Out of all the Targaryens since the Last Dragon died she alone managed to hatch one. That Ghidorah chose her. Because she knew he had, could feel it through their bond whenever they touched. Dragons were no mere beasts so she knew that if she was to ride him she wouldn't approach him like a horse or other stock. It was something she brooded upon as they marched, in-between learning more of her army and meeting the Unsullied commander Grey Worm who she welcomed into her council.
There was also the freeman army, being nearly seven thousand but barely armed and without training. She placed several dozen Unsullied throughout their ranks to teach weaponry and implement training though not as harsh as the Masters had been. Of the Unsullied the additional six hundred were those in training so she would not be sending them into battle soon.
Yunkai, from what Jorah told her, would be like Qarth. Most likely they would barricade themselves inside to wait her out. Chip away at her army throughout the days as they languished in the open plains.
She did not want to arrive in Westeros with half her army dead and the rest weak. Ser Barristan warned her about sieges and the double edged sword they represented.
Too bad all the songs about the glory of battle failed to take into account the logistical nightmare behind them all. Especially the travel time. As beautiful as the landscape of Essos was along with the fair weather it was arduous in their journey.
Even if each day Ghidorah grew more, his muscles grew thicker and his form became longer as his wings grew wider. When he flew above her when the sun was directly above her zorse was thrown in shadow. It made her think of the tales of Balerion, who's massive silhouette supposedly threw entire towns into darkness when he soared over head. She wondered if Ghidorah would ever get that large.
Missandei stayed close by her side as well, the scribe taken as her handmaiden. Daenerys was careful not to scare the other woman, not blind to the almost tentative nature Missandei directed towards her. Though she'd killed the Masters Daenerys knew a single act couldn't erase years of slavery and abuse. Her khalasar welcomed Missandei, especially the likes of Lessa who'd been previously a slave before willingly following Daenerys and interacted with the scribe easily enough. Her khalasar still remained close to her, with her bloodriders still keeping control of her little calvary which gave her kos prestige among her army.
Due to the scribe's intense knowledge of various languages, she helped Daenerys tidy up the tongues she spoke. While she was fluent in the Westeros common tongue, Valyrian and Dothraki she still occasionally had hiccups in her knowledge. Missandei gently corrected her upon improper word usage in Dothraki which Daenerys still had issues with. Valyrian come so naturally for her. Daenerys took pains to not scold the scribe, accepting the woman's careful prompts and aid in braiding her hair and dressing. The only times Daenerys saw fit to do so was when correcting Missandei when the woman incorrectly assumed Ghidorah was nothing more than a pet. It was an innocent observation, one Daenerys felt was borne from the woman's times as a slave where she was treated less than, but it reminded her of Qarth when Jorah tried to rebuke her claimant of Ghidorah as her child. Missandei instantly accepted the correction, apologized for the mistake and acted accordingly.
Ghidorah, after some suspicious hissing and sniffing, seemed unbothered by Missandei. He would typically settle in the tent whenever Daenerys had her daily bath, his scales rustling over the ground and ignoring Missandei as the woman carefully avoided stepping upon his tails or wings when she bustled about the tent. Her baths usually turned into an impromptu language session which Daenerys didn't mind even if she enjoyed speaking Valyrian the most.
It also became the language she predominantly used to talk to Ghidorah. The three headed dragon had the habit of crawling into her tent at night, much like when she had her dragon dream but he was deceptively warm despite his scales. Any who called a dragon a 'lizard' had clearly never touched one. Same with her readings, grown substantially now she had access to gold and ships, as she remembered reading about the Blackfyres. She also knew Ser Barristan was the one to kill the last Targaryen seed, Maelys Blackfyre, who the knight had felled during the War of the Ninepenny Kings. The seed was also known as Maelys the Monstrous, due to his size and disturbing secondary head affixed to his neck. Daenerys had to ponder at how her life may have changed, if the last Blackfyre had been alive when she and Viserys fled to Essos.
There were things she told to Ghidorah, important aspects of the Targaryen history. Her connection with him was strongest when touching and most nights she fell asleep with her fingers stroking the golden scales of his heads. Numerous times she dreamt, not the vivid dream of the place of ice with the terrible man of blue eyes but of flight. Of flying high above the plains or even as Rhaegar and flying over the green of the Trident to blast her enemies to dust. When she spoke of the three Targaryens who forged the Seven Kingdoms she visualized them upon the backs of their dragons. Of Balerion with his scales and wings as black as night and who cast whole towns in darkness as he passed. Of Meraxes with her scales of silver and eyes of molten gold. Of Vhagar with her scales of bronze struck through with veins of blue with her eyes as green as emeralds.
Ghidorah seemed fascinated by the stories of dragons and a part of Daenerys lamented that he was the last of his kind. While she may be the last Targaryen she wasn't the last human in the world. Ghidorah had no such comfort and she knew dragons lived far longer than humans. The notion that her child would end up alone felt like ice in her chest.
Then common sense came to the forefront of her mind, reminding her of all the perils of her current course. She wasn't oblivious many wished her dead, even with the Usurper gone. But still, being the last of a species wasn't a burden she wished upon her child. She thought of the ruins of Old Valyria to the south, among the Smoking Sea and wondered if there was anything left. Any eggs such as the ones she was granted upon her wedding that perhaps were fossilized through the Doom. Daenerys wasn't sure and she'd heard of the horrors that lurked in the ruins. Something to ponder a different time.
As it was when they arrived at Yunkai, close enough to be noticed but not close enough to be attacked, Daenerys ordered Grey Worm to deliver the city her terms of surrender. She ignored Jorah's suggestion that she ignore the city. She would not tolerate the Masters and woe to any who dared stand before her.
The Wise Masters, as it was, answered her summons.
Grazdan mo Eraz came carried upon the backs of slaves, lean of statue with eyes cold. His tokar was edged in golden Myrish lace despite the almost plain appearance, the fabric swirling around him as he stepped into her pavilion.
Daenerys was seated comfortably among the plush pillows of her lounge chair set upon a small rise, dressed in a flowing dress of white to stave off the Essos heat. To the sides her Queensguard awaited while her bloodriders remained at the front of the pavilion. Ghidorah was settled behind her, long enough he nearly stretched the length of the tent with necks curled around; one was resting upon the pillows, another upon her lap while the middle watched the Wise Master approach with glittering crimson eyes.
Ghidorah hissed, sparks snapping around his jaws when the Wise Master got too close and the slaver wisely halted even as Missandei finished the man's titles. She resisted the urge to curl her lip at the one of 'Noble House' until Missandei finished which the master's offered terms of peace.
Then the scribe introduced Daenerys, her voice calm and clear as she said, "Noble lord you stand in the presence of Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen. Queen of the Andales and First Men, Khalessi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Ghidorah."
Daenerys blinked once at the shift in the last title but otherwise her violet stare didn't budge from the Wise Master. He was watching Ghidorah apprehensively even as Daenerys continued to stroke the horned head settled across her lap. The weight was putting her legs to sleep but she ignored the sensation to instead beckon the man.
"You may approach. Sit."
Lessa darted in, swiftly placing down a stool before just as quickly retreating back to her position at the side of the pavilion. Then Missandei stepped forward with a goblet and flagon, politely offering the slaver refreshment which he accepted. Daenerys didn't drop her stare, knowing Grazdan's slow drinking was some petty power place on his behalf. Her fingers idly brushed Ghidorah's horns as his tails rasped across the ground.
When Grazdan finally spoke his voice was almost raspy, "Ancient and glorious is Yunkai. Our empire was old before dragons stirred in Old Valyria. Many an army has broken themselves against our walls. You will not find an easy conquest here."
The Wise Master faltered when Ghidorah moved, wings rustling as he shifted so all three heads were watching the slaver. A long forked tongue flicked out before Ghidorah hissed with all heads at the slaver, his serpentine necks bracketing Daenerys like an honour guard. She stroked the nearest neck until his glare lessened.
"Good. My Unsullied need practice, I was told to blood them early," Daenerys said tartly. Ghidorah let out a low growl, as if in agreement.
"If blood is your desire then blood shall flow, I pride myself on my knowledge of the savage senseless west where you are from." Grazdan said, leaning forward as a nasty tone entered his voice. Then he seemed to gather himself, venomous expression slipping away into something faux polite as he continued with, "and yet, why should we speak thus harshly to one another? It is true that you committed savageries in Astapor, but we Yunkai'i are a most forgiving people. Your quarrel is not with us, Your Grace. Why squander your strength against our mighty walls when you will need every man to regain your father's throne in far Westeros? Yunkai wishes you only well in that endeavour, and to prove the truth of that, the Wise Masters of Yunkai have a gift for the silver queen."
At his gesture the slaves moved, carrying two large chests with them. They couldn't hide their fear of Ghidorah even as Daenerys continued to stroke her child's neck. She could feel the dragon's irritation even if it shifted to curiosity as the slaves opened the chests to reveal them full of solid gold bars. Ghidorah twisted around his right most head so he could nose at the nearest chest. The sparkling gold matched his scales. Daenerys eyes flicked over to Jorah, and could tell with a glance the knight knew the gold was pure, before flicking back to Grazdan as he continued to speak.
"There is more of this awaiting you on board your ships."
A pale eyebrow arched, "My ships?"
"Yes Khalessi. As I said, we are a generous people. You shall have as many ships as you require."
"And what do you ask in return?"
"All we ask is that you make use of these ships. Sail back to Westeros where you belong and leave us to conduct our affairs in peace. Gold given freely is better than plunder bought with blood, surely? So I say to you, Daenerys Targaryen, take these chests and these ships, and go."
Daenerys frowned, watching the slaver closely. It was a good offer, she knew. The gold gifted to her already was not a small amount and then add in the ships and more gold waiting for her. They wanted her gone and were certainly not above bribing it that way.
Then her gaze shifted to the slaves who where bowed down on either side of Grazdan. She could see the heavy collars around their throats, marks of whips across their skin and scarring at their wrists. While Barristan had stated that Yunkai trained bedslaves, not soldiers, the Wise Masters still had need of labourers.
"I have a gift for you as well," Daenerys spoke, fingers tightening upon Ghidorah's scales at the way the slaver perked up at her words before finishing with a much colder, "Your life."
At Grazdan's confused look she elaborated with, "But I also want something in return. You will release every slave in Yunkai. Every man, woman, and child shall be given as much food, clothing, and property as they can carry as payment for their years of servitude. Reject this gift and I shall show you no mercy."
The Wise Master instantly got to his feet, offence colouring his words as he spat, "You're mad. You shall rue this arrogance, whore," Grazdan mo Eraz threatened her, "That little lizard will not keep you safe, I promise you. We will fill the air with arrows if it come within a league of Yunkai. Do you think it is so hard to kill a dragon?"
Before Daenerys or anyone else could respond, Ghidorah was already moving. His middle head was lowered like a bull, slamming right into Grazdan's sternum and knocking the Wise Master right over. The slaves scattered to avoid being bowled over by Ghidorah's outstretched wings even as he screamed right in Grazdan's face with all three heads while the slaver cowered on the ground.
Daenerys grabbed Ghidorah's nearest tail, it already thicker than her thigh, with her nails digging into the golden scales. She wouldn't particularly mind him killing the slaver but he needed to be her messenger.
Still, Ghidorah's impromptu attack had resulted in the Wise Master soiling himself and Daenerys' nose twitched as Ghidorah tucked his wings back and returned to her side. Grazdan struggled to get to his feet, fingers scrabbling on the ground of the pavilion as he scrambled backwards towards his litter.
"Perhaps a change of clothes?" Daenerys suggested mildly.
Two groups of sellswords had apparently been brought in to bolster the Yunkai army awaiting her.
The Stormcrows and the Second Sons they were called. Though her parley with them only went mildly better than her interaction with the Wise Master. A part of her was grateful Ghidorah was out hunting for the evening when that particular meeting took place. As it was Strong Belwas offered to cut Mero's tongue from his mouth due to the man's crass insults to her. Something she severely contemplated allowing the longer he remained in her presence.
She wasn't oblivious to the way the flamboyantly dressed Tyroshi captain was looking at her, though it was with less leering and more genuine interest compared with the Titan's bastard or the two other Stormcrow captains. The sellsword was gaudy even by the standards of Essos with his beard and hair dyed blue and clad in glittering gold and bronze. However the Stormcrows rejected her offer but the Second Sons did accept her gift of a wagon of wine.
Which she later told her council was intentional, in the hope the Second Sons would be drunk during the night when her army attacked. The battle plan she'd brooded upon throughout the day and while shuffling through all she'd learned, both from her books and from Jorah and Barristan. A surprise attack upon each flank by her Unsullied, Grey Worm and Jorah taking charge. Then her bloodriders, using their calvary to drive a wedge through the armies centre. Barristan and Strong Belwas were to stay at her podium as guards during the fight.
As they went through the details as a council a part of her entertained the idea of learning to ride Ghidorah so she could fly him into battle but at the same time she knew his scales weren't fully hardened. They were flexible and tough but certainly not the plates of armour like a fully grown dragon. She could still remember Grazdan's threat and wasn't about to put Ghidorah in battle until he was large enough to shrug off arrows and bolts. That and she'd had no practice riding him and no idea how to start. An imminent battle would be a poor place to first learn dragon riding so she resolved to keep Ghidorah by her side until Yunkai was hers.
Then, perhaps after, she could think upon learning to ride him.
They were waiting for midnight to come to pass when a message come to her through one of the Unsullied captains. One of the Stormcrows was caught attempting to sneak into her camp.
Daenerys returned to her podium, settling into her chair to receive the prisoner even as Ghidorah landed outside with a cloud of dust before crawling inside. Her knights moved to avoid touching the golden dragon as he settled behind her, much like he'd done so when she met with the Wise Master.
It was Daario Naharis, the gaudy Tyroshi of the Stormcrows who came bearing the severed heads of his fellow captains. A gift to her he grinned, uncaring of his bound arms. Along with the gift of the Stormcrows for the coming battle. Ghidorah certainly didn't mind the gift of heads, stretching out one neck to start gnawing upon the nearest one. She ignored the sound of flesh and bone breaking to carry on her staring of the sellsword who didn't seem to mind the scrutiny.
"This is unwise, my queen," Jorah said, eyes not leaving the bloodstained mercenary before them, "Keep him under guard and watch until the battle is decided."
"If he can give us the Stormcrows then surprise is certain," Daenerys said levelly. The man flashed her a smile that, if her control was any less, would've made her blush. Instead she simply narrowed her violet eyes at him.
"How can you know such?"
She swept a hand to her side where Ghidorah was chewing upon the bloodied offering the sellsword had brought to her, "I believe that is proof of his sincerity. Daario Naharis, have your Stormcrows ready to strike the Yunkish rear when my attack begins if you are genuine. Can you get back safely?"
At her gesture Grey Worm stepped forward to cut away Daario's bonds and his weapons were handed over to him. Neither Jorah nor Barristan dropped their hands from the hilts of their swords though Belwas was less concerned, chewing upon a charred goat thigh though she did note he had a more loose grip upon the weapon tied at his waist. Daenerys wondered if the man ever stop eating.
Daario rubbed at his wrists before stepping forward. He paused when Ghidorah's middle head swung around to regard him, the dragon's ruby eyes narrowing slightly. Daenerys' fingers brushed along Ghidorah's wing membrane but after a moment the dragon went back to tearing at the bloody meat upon the floor. He obviously didn't view the Tyroshi as much of a threat.
"I make of slaughter a thing of beauty and many a tumbler and fire dancer has wept to the gods that they might be half so quick, a quarter so graceful," Daario said, easily twirling his swords in calloused hands even if his eyes never left hers, "I would tell you the names of all the men I have slain, but before I could finish your dragon would grow large as a castle, the walls of Yunkai would crumble into yellow dust, and winter would come and go and come again. Let me pledge myself to you and I shall slaughter your enemies in your name."
"Draw your sword and swear it to my service." Daenerys said, her gaze leaving her child to focus upon the sellsword.
Without hesitation Daario dropped to one knee, his blue eyes bright as he spoke without falter, "The Stormcrows are yours. My sword is yours, my life is yours, my love is yours. My blood, my body, my songs, you own them all. I live and die at your command, fair queen."
The attack worked flawlessly. With Daario's contribution they also knew how to crack Yunkai from the inside out as the Tyroshi stayed true to his oath. During the fighting the captain of the Second Sons, Mero, fled while the rest threw down their arms once faced with overwhelming odds. Drunk from the wine she'd gifted as well, a plan that worked quite well for her side.
Jorah disapproved of using the sellsword and said so before the battle when the Tyroshi left back for the Stormcrows but Daenerys quite curtly informed him she wasn't so foolish to instantly trust Daario. It irked her at times, as it seemed he still saw her as the young girl alone and afraid at her wedding to Khal Drogo rather than the Dragon Queen. A peril of having him as a friend first rather than an advisor.
Barristan meanwhile accepted her reasoning for accepting the sellsword, understanding that Daario was a means to an end. Belwas didn't seem to care either way. She did find herself chewing on some of the horse jerky the hefty pit fighter offered her, when her army had left for the battle. Ghidorah seemed intrigued by the fighting they could hear in the distance but chose to stay close to her side during the night which she was grateful for. She didn't want him harmed and, despite having overwhelming numbers, a tiny part of her had panicked she would lose.
But then the Yunkai army broke and the sellswords of the Second Sons surrendered, Yunaki itself was cracked open by the handful of Stormcrows who used the chaos of battle to slip into the largely undefended city to open the gates. And Daenerys knew the instant the gates opened a siege was all but over.
Only a dozen of her troops were lost in the fight.
When daybreak occurred she rode in upon the back of her zorse with Barristan and Belwas at her side and Ghidorah flying above her. She was greeted by Jorah, Daario and Grey Worm at the gates, bloodied but victorious and then she commanded her troops to free all the slaves within Yunkai and given their gift of as much wealth as they could carry as compensation for their past slavery.
After some contemplation she left the city unsacked, replenishing only the supplies needed for her continued march to city of Meereen. Much like with Astapor her army of freemen grew, with more ex-slaves choosing to following her than remain in the Yellow City. The Second Sons, now under the command of Brown Ben Plumm due to Mero fleeing during the fight, chose to pledge themselves to her as well and followed her march.
As she rode her zorse past the newly freed slaves of Yunkai she heard them call out to her, crying the same word over and over.
Mhysa, they said.
Mother.
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