Dragonstone has changed hands, shaking the entire realm!"She took Dragonstone in less than an hour without losing a single soldier—how did the Dragon Queen pull that off?"Everyone knew how much the Lannisters sacrificed to seize Dragonstone. Ser Loras, the Knight of Flowers, was even disfigured.
Because of this, the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms were even more shocked by the terrifying sorcery of the Dragon Queen.
On the day Dragonstone fell, the council in King's Landing unanimously concluded that the demonic dragon sorceress had used evil and terrifying magic.
They sent ravens across the realm, informing the Citadel, the Faith, and all the great lords: the Dragon Queen had become a worshipper of dark gods. Just like how Stannis had taken Storm's End through surprise and blood magic, she had used sacrificial rites and blood sorcery to claim Dragonstone.
They called upon all heroes under the Faith of the Seven—knights and believers alike—to unite and protect the true religion.
The Dragon Queen made no response. But days later, a sea trader from Dragonstone brought back a piece of news: the great sept, which Stannis had converted into a Red Temple, now once again housed the statues of the Seven.
Indeed, after the Lannisters took Dragonstone, they didn't destroy the Red Temple. At that time, Cersei hadn't appointed a permanent lord for the island; Lucion was only acting as castellan.
As Barristan had once said, the seven wooden statues had been blessed by the High Septon—blessed by High Septon Dany herself.
Of course, even if the Dragon Queen now worshiped the Seven, that didn't erase the fact that she was a sorceress.
In truth, Daenerys had no interest in exchanging words with King's Landing. The day after she secured Dragonstone, she rode her dragon back to Slaver's Bay.
If it hadn't been for the Three-Eyed Raven's ambush, she would've already left Westeros to intercept the fleet departing from Qohor along the Rhoyne River.
Yes—the allied fleet transporting the scorpion ballistae.
Even though there wasn't enough time to destroy the scorpions, there were still many matters waiting in Slaver's Bay. She had no intention of wasting her time in the swamp that was Westeros.
Barristan and Little White remained at Dragonstone to defend against any potential attack from King's Landing. Dany took old Aemon and headed east to Slaver's Bay.
Dragonstone → Pentos → Dagger Lake (the central lake of the Rhoyne) → Astapor.
A journey of over 8,000 kilometers. Since the old man was elderly, they stopped to rest along the way. After flying for two days and one night, Daenerys finally returned to the familiar comfort of Slaver's Bay.
"Screee—"
"Screee—"
Over the azure sea, still over thirty kilometers from Astapor, two dragons—one large, one small, one green, one gold—flew toward them.
They tried to get close but hesitated, wary of the now slightly unfamiliar big black dragon.
Even in this short time apart, the elder brother seemed to have changed again.
The last time, when Big Black had learned magic, it had already left his two younger brothers terrified.
Now, there was an added holy pressure that made even dragons uneasy. They circled and screeched, unwilling to approach directly.
"By the Seven, these are your dragons? Beautiful! What a magnificent sight!" Old Aemon removed his flight helmet and gazed in awe at the dragons flying alongside them, as if seeing a dreamlike vision.
"Four dragons, Dany. You will be the greatest Targaryen in our family's history," the old man said, wiping tears as he smiled.
"No, five dragons. I left Dragonstone in a hurry because Little Red is about to be born. Though Dragonstone has no weirwood, it is still part of Westeros—Slaver's Bay is much safer."
She had already decided that unless they could achieve dragon-spirit fusion like Little White and Big Black, she wouldn't bring any of the others to Westeros.
In dragon-spirit fusion, a dragon's soul merges with the Dragon Queen's. Such dragons can't be taken away—not even by gods—because their soul has become one with hers.
To enslave the dragon's soul would be to enslave the Dragon Queen herself—but not even a god could enslave a Valyrian grand sorceress.
Although Dany had completed her Green Seer meditation technique, it didn't grant her the ability to divide her consciousness or control animal companions.
Her secondary soul was bonded to Little White, just as her primary soul was bonded to Big Black.
It seemed she was merely a mage who had mastered Green Seer meditation, but the technique did not bestow the innate talents of a true Green Seer.
Still, Dany was undaunted. She often found herself entering a state of oneness with the wind—a state known as hearing the Song of the Wind.
In that state, her Green Seer meditation technique continuously evolved in mysterious ways.
In the future, she might become the first of her kind—the original Green Seer who heard the Song of the Wind atop a weirwood.
"Little Green, come here!"
The wind whipped through Dany's tousled hair as she stood up on her dragon's back, waving to Little Green.
For some reason, even without being in a dragon-spirit state, Little Green understood her.
He glided sideways beneath Big Black, aligning their bodies just slightly apart.
To Old Aemon's astonishment, Dany lightly leapt from Big Black and landed squarely on Little Green's back, eight meters below.
Little Green sagged slightly under her weight, then quickly adjusted his altitude, flying ahead of Big Black with ease and excitement.
"Screee—" The not-yet-seven-meter-long Little Gold also flew over, seemingly wanting to mimic his third brother and play with their mother.
"You can't, you're too small." Dany waved him away.
"That was too dangerous, Dany. Promise me you won't do that again!" Old Aemon shouted against the wind.
Fortunately, they were nearing Astapor and Big Black had slowed down. Otherwise, even if he shouted until he was hoarse, Dany wouldn't have heard him.
"I am a spirit of the wind. I listen to the Song of the Wind. I can transcend," Dany said loudly, arms spread wide, speaking words Old Aemon could not understand.
She wasn't exaggerating—the Song of the Wind had enhanced her abilities in all aspects.
Most notably, her personal stats had changed—originally, her speed and strength had grown together. But now, her speed had surged dramatically.
Additionally, the special effect of the Song of the Wind assisting in cultivation had granted her the true qualifications of a "practitioner."
The blue sky, the clear sea, the white dock—workers, merchants, shopkeepers in short sleeves and silk trousers, sea traders from other city-states—all looked up as the black dragon swooped low overhead and shouted with joy:
"The Queen is back!"
"Long live the Dragon Queen! Long live the dragons! Long live the Black Dragon!"
"Long live Queen Daenerys!"
"Her Majesty has returned! The dragons have come home!"
Gradually, the cheers and commotion spread from the harbor to the streets, and from outside the city into its heart.
Countless newly freed people set aside their work, stepped out of their homes, and stood on the streets, waving and shouting at the dragons gliding slowly across the sky.
"Woooo—" A bison horn, newly mounted atop the Great Pyramid, was blown by an Unsullied soldier.
Immediately, Unsullied warriors and Dothraki handmaidens walked to the steps of the pyramid and knelt in welcome for their returning queen.
Looking down at the city erupting in celebration at the Dragon Queen's return, at the dragon banners fluttering in the wind, at the kneeling men, women, and eunuchs atop the towering Great Pyramid—
Old Aemon's eyes welled with tears, and in his heart, he understood:
—The Targaryens do not necessarily need the Iron Throne. This place—this is truly the Dragon Queen's home. Her real foundation.
The newly freed citizens, granted liberty by the queen, respected the dragons—but unlike the maesters of the Citadel, they did not hate them.
In Westeros, dragons conquered with blood and fire, bringing fear and death to both commoners and nobles.
In Slaver's Bay, dragons burned the chains and shackles of slavery, bringing freedom and rebirth to the enslaved. They became symbols of safety and hope.
Thus, in Slaver's Bay, dragons were sacred—not demonized monsters like in Westeros.
The people sincerely supported the true-blooded dragon family.
On this land, the Targaryens were the undisputed rightful dynasty.
"Screeech—" The three great dragons slowly circled 200 meters above Astapor, their long, high-pitched cries echoing back to the adoring masses below.
When the three dragons landed one after another atop the pyramid, Ser Jorah Mormont—his eyes red with emotion, chestplate glazed with white enamel and shoulders draped in a pure white cloak—stepped forward and said with excitement:
"Your Majesty, you've finally returned."
Behind him, the Unsullied, Dothraki handmaidens, and officials working in the Great Pyramid all knelt together.
"Welcome back, Your Grace."
"Rise, all of you," Daenerys said lightly as she dismounted her dragon and walked over to help old Aemon down.
"I was delayed a bit—things in Westeros were complicated, but I gained a lot from the trip."She removed her backpack and took a warm, damp towel from her handmaiden, Irri, to wipe her face. With their help, she removed her gray iron armor.
"Who is this?" Jorah Mormont looked at Aemon with some confusion, not recognizing him.
"You are the son of Lord Commander Jeor, I know you."
Know what about me?That I became a slave trader to pay my wife's debts, only for her to abandon me and disgrace me countless times?
Jorah stood in silence.
Old Aemon, wrapped in thick furs, began undressing as he affectionately studied the tall and imposing White Knight.
"Good, very good! Now this is how a White Knight should look!"
Jorah's burly frame and polished armor, white as snow, drew the old man's admiration.
Jorah let out a quiet sigh of relief—it wasn't about Lynesse.
After removing her armor, Daenerys felt an unprecedented sense of relief. She stretched her limbs and smiled, explaining to everyone:
"This is Maester Aemon Targaryen, my great-grandfather's older brother."
"Greetings, Maester Aemon," everyone greeted him respectfully.
"Ah, so you're Maester Aemon," Ser Jorah said in surprise."Your Grace, you went to the Wall? That wasn't part of the plan!"
Daenerys's expression darkened slightly. She hesitated before replying,"Let me freshen up first, then I'll tell you everything that happened in Westeros. The gains were great, but the experience was far from pleasant."
When she returned to Slaver's Bay, it was noon. Daenerys did not throw a grand feast. She simply ate enough to satisfy her hunger, bathed, and changed into silk robes, followed by a layer of light leather armor and chainmail.
Because of her return, the citizens of Astapor flooded in from the Great Pyramid after lunch. She had no choice but to stand on the first step and greet the newly freed people up close.
Old Aemon stood slightly behind Daenerys. Watching the crowd reach out their hands and cry "Mhysa" with passionate fervor, he said to Missandei with a complicated expression:
"I never imagined Her Majesty would be so beloved by the people here."
After introducing Aemon to the top leaders of the Great Pyramid, Daenerys entrusted Missandei to him, asking the old maester to personally train her.
At the same time, she entrusted Aemon to Missandei, so she could teach him the customs of Slaver's Bay and help him get familiar with this new Targaryen kingdom.
"The queen freed us and brought us a new life of peace and happiness. Of course we love her.You probably haven't seen what life was like for slaves—especially in Slaver's Bay. Otherwise, you wouldn't have any doubts," Missandei said earnestly.
In the sunlight, the crowd surged forward with the heat and energy of Slaver's Bay itself.
Young and old, men and women, all genuinely expressed their love and respect for the Dragon Queen.
Aemon remained silent.
(End of Chapter)
Want to read the chapters in Advance? Join my Patreon
https://patreon.com/Glimmer09