Dragon and the Wolf

Highgarden 

Daeron 

Daeron and all his advisors and generals gathered within Highgarden's Sept.

No other inside the large castle could hold all the Lords and commanders in his army, especially with House Tyrell joining the cause to return his family to the Iron Throne.

He stood in the center of a large table, a map laid on it with many pieces on the board. The lion and kraken at King's Landing, a dragon, rose, Unsullied and a horse at Highgarden. At Massey's Hook stands the skull of the Golden Company and in the Stormlands are two suns of Dorne.

Grey Worm removed a portion of ships from the board, it made him sigh and one of the Reachmen took away the stag from facing the flayed man in the North. Three twin towers were spread at Harrenhal, Riverrun, and the Crossing while a fourth stands at Winterfell.

His amethyst eyes scoured the men and few women that have joined him today.

Daario, Varys, Tyrion, Grey Worm, Cleon, Barristan. A few new faces have been included in the meeting, Lady Olenna for a start, Lord Dickon Tarly, Horas and Hobber Redwyne, Lord Warryn Beesbury, Lord Mathis Rowan, Lady Arwyn Oakheart, and Lord Orton Merryweather, the latter had just arrived.

There were other Houses and Lords who had arrived to defend Highgarden against him, bannermen of the Lords gathered in this meeting.

"We lost a considerable amount of ships because of Euron Greyjoy, his longships sailed fast and hard from the Iron Islands," Varys reported and he has to stifle a growl, turning to his spymaster.

"And here I thought you knew every move," Varys straightened and hid his hands in his sleeves, eyeing him and that made him narrow his eyes further.

"My little birds hear much, but there has been a change in several of them... They tell their secrets to another." That may be so, he closed his eyes and thought about what to do about the Lannister's new ally.

"I will burn the Iron fleet, every damned ship until they are but driftwood and ruins beneath the sea." He said in deciding to meet up with the remaining host of Golden Company and Dornish soldiers at Massey's Hook.

Tyrion shook his head and argued the decision, "Harry Strickland and Trebor Jordayne will handle the siege of King's Landing. We cannot have you or the dragons going into unnecessary danger." He itched his hand almost like a bad gnat had bitten it.

Aegon the Conqueror spent two and a half years making war across Westeros to unite it, he questioned and answered himself why he had to do that.

His ancestor was dealing with Seven Kings, taking Seven Thrones to each country. He used fire and blood to bring them into one with this 1000 sword chair aptly named the Iron Throne.

Even when he deposes the current owner of his throne, the North, Vale, Riverlands and the Iron Islands will still stand against him.

Aegon won his throne through negotiation and scaring his neighbors with fire, Westeros has known fire for three centuries and yet, some stand up to challenge it. He can't afford to win through negotiation and Lord Tarly wasn't scared of his dragons, not until his soldiers were on fire.

Maybe I was wrong. He thought and put two hands on the table, "What will we do? King's Landing has to be taken by sea and land, not half." He pointed it and it shows, the city cannot be seized without being attacked by what he said.

"It's not all, we start small." Tyrion said and picked up the Unsullied piece, "We cut King's Landing from food, starve them as your Ladyship had done when Renly made an attempt for the throne. While we make the march to King's Landing, Commander Grey Worm will go to Casterly Rock." Why? What was the man getting at, he thought.

"First you'll need to take Lannisport, and you'll need some ships." Olenna said and Horras and Hobber stood straight, "My nephews will go to the Arbor and Old Town, the fleet of the Reach will split, one to go North to Lannisport and the other to meet the remnants of your fleet at Dragonstone." The Queen of Thorns told him and he nodded to the woman and her two silent sons.

"Thank you." He said with appreciation, his eyes then came to Grey Worm, he cleared his throat, "Can you and your army do this, Grey Worm?" His friend put his hands behind his back and nodded.

"The Unsullied will do this for you, my King." He wished his friend good fortune and a safe return to him.

This meeting was coming to a close, he stared at everyone in the room. "We have had one setback, it will not stop us. I promise to bring an end to the wars that have plagued the Seven Kingdoms and will not rest until the land is peaceful once more." He said with a smile and everyone responded to his promise, all but Lord Dickon who stayed silent.

The lad must still be angry about his father, but, what happened could have been different if Lord Tarly had surrendered and joined his cause. He will not apologize for it.

Once most except for Varys, Barristan and Tyrion left the room, his expression turned a little sour as his eyes landed back on Varys.

"There were days passing by since this Euron set sail, you couldn't have heard a whisper?" He growled and Varys sighed, "Keep me informed on any movements from House Lannister and Greyjoy, all of them." He ordered and his Master of Whispers nodded, saying that it will be done.

"There is one thing, after his defeat, Stannis lost a number of captives. One in importance was Lady Asha Greyjoy, Balon's last living child after Theon was executed." Varys continued on, "She has met up with at least four ships and was last seen passing Old Wyk." A revolt of sorts? He thought and put one of the kraken pieces on the Iron Islands.

"Send an invite for her to come to the Arbor, see if she is willing to fight for me." He requested, "Is there anything else?" He asked of the eunuch but Tyrion would answer.

"Also in the North, a small number of Stormland, Crownland and quite a few Northern Houses have pledged to fight for Shireen Baratheon." Tyrion explained further, "Shireen was Stannis's daughter through her marriage to House Florent, a poor child who was plagued with Greyscale as a babe and nearly died. Perhaps the child is willing to surrender her crown and bring the rest of the Stormland and the Narrow Sea families back to the fold." A Queen in the North, a Lady Pirate going to the Iron Islands and Queen Mother Cersei in King's Landing, controlling her puppet King.

"No more talk of the North, we shall deal with that when the time comes, right now it's just Cersei and Euron." He felt exhausted, sitting down and Barristan was a little concerned.

"My King, are you feeling alright? Should we get the Maester?" His protector asked but he shook his head, standing back up.

"I am alright, don't worry about me." He told Barristan and the Knight shared concerned looks with Varys and Tyrion. "I just need some rest is all, just some rest." He added and the Knight eventually backed down.

He didn't even get to leave before the doors opened. A Tyrell soldier walked in, bowing to him.

"Your grace, you are needed in the throne room." He tilted his head at the man.

"Why?" He wanted to rest, he's been thinking and planning all day and a night of good sleep is what he wanted.

"Lord Baelish is here, he brought the Lady Stark and Queen Margaery." Everyone in the room became as silent as the statues within the Sept.

Sansa

She was shocked to have met the eyes of one of her best friends from her imprisonment within King's Landing.

"Margaery?" The rose looked the wolf with a surprised expression, she didn't stand still too long before Margaery ran and embraced her on the road as she was getting out of the wheelhouse.

Margaery and her family were the only ones besides Shae and Tyrion who had been kind to her, they wanted to get her out of the capital and somewhere safe. It made her remember when Margaery told her about this place.

Rose fields and flowers as far as the eye could see. Andal towers and walls, except for the one made by the First Men in the Age of Heroes. It was covered in groves of vines and the white stone of the past thousands of years wore on the castle.

She wanted to see the Briar Maze, Loras had told her that it was a scary place but more entertaining than frightful. What she really wanted to see was the Three Singers. It is a Weirwood that hadn't been cut down, Olenna's son had mentioned that it seems like a single tree with three faces carved into each side.

"Why are you here? You left so suddenly at my wedding." Margaery choked, she was sad and she didn't know why.

"Lord Baelish had me spirited away in the... Mess. He took me to the Vale where I stayed for a time." She said and Margaery's golden brown eyes scanned the house behind them and saw Littlefinger stepping out.

Sansa almost didn't notice the Queen had cut her hair, "Margaery, your hair?... " Her friend grabbed brought her right hand to her head, feeling where her long brown hair would have been.

Margaery told her everything, all that has happened to her and her father and brother. She was horrified about the Sept, how it was destroyed and her brother, father, mother and many noblemen and most of the religious faction, the Sparrows and their leader the High Sparrow.

To think Cersei would go so far, or was it the Dragon King? She sighed and led Margaery to the wheelhouse.

"Queen Margaery, a pleasant surprise to see you, again." Petyr addressed Margaery who gave him a cold stare, she watched Petyr's grey-green eyes jump a little, he was wary as she'd seen only once and that was when he thought she was going to tell the Lords Declarant about him throwing her aunt through the Moon Door.

"You'll be content at home, away from that woman." She assured Margaery who turned from Petyr and to the large camp of soldiers around Highgarden.

Margaery spotted many sigils but one clear banner held them both in suspense and fear, it was the three-headed dragon of House Targaryen. She noticed other banners, a black one with strange warriors, one with skulls dipped in gold and suspended by a spear, four crows crossed by lightning bolts.

The golden rose of House Tyrell, a few she spotted with the speared sun of House Martell. The rest belonged to the Reach.

They were escorted down and into Highgarden's inner walls, there she saw many men and women moving about the castle, one of them being a broad-shouldered man wearing the red archer on his chest. He noticed them once they got out of the wheelhouse and more specifically, the man noticed Margaery.

"Your grace?... Margaery?" The man said with awe, he approached and got to one knee, "When we heard, your grandmother thought you died with Ser Loras and Lord Mace and Lady Alerie." Margaery sighed heavily, being made to think about her brother.

"Lord Dickon Tarly, I must offer my sympathies for Lord Randyll." Petyr Baelish stole the conversation and Dickon's face stiffened from the softness when he looked on Margaery, "Can we trouble you to announce our arrival, the King will want to meet the Lady of Winterfell and the wife of Tommen Baratheon?" Dickon reluctantly went inside the castle and moments later, she and Baelish and Margaery were brought into the throne room of Highgarden where was finally able to look upon the Dragon King.

He looked as handsome as Joffrey had been, he had lighter hair and it was put into a bun. He had a strong jaw and hardened purple eyes, his skin seemed almost white.

The King was wearing doublet of black with a red dragon stitched into it, a red cape was tied to his outfit with a silver dragon clasp keeping it tied around his shoulder. She took a deep breath and held her head high, seeing more than one familiar face on those beside the King.

Margaery ran to her grandmother while she and Lord Baelish remained still, waiting to be announced.

The herald cleared his throat to speak, "Lord Petyr Baelish, Lord of Harrenhall and Lord Protector of the Vale. Lady Sansa Stark, Lady of Winterfell- " Tyrion cut the man off, saying that he can handle the rest.

"My Lady, my Lord. May I present to you the Father of Dragons, Daeron Seaborn of the House Targaryen. The third of his name. King of the Andals, Rhoynar, and the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm." Sansa took a deep breath as the King looked at her with indifference and Petyr with suspicion.

Petyr walked forward with his scheming smile, he didn't get so close before two strange men in furs and curved black blades stepped forth to stop him.

"I think that is far enough," Daeron stepped up from his chair and continued, "I am glad some Lords and Ladies are coming to me of their own free will, the Vale is one of the Seven Kingdoms. Would I be right in saying that House Arryn and their armies will be joining me?" Petyr chuckled, she remained silent.

"I have. In the many Small Council meetings, your name was often on the tongues of the Hand and his two grandsons." Daeron cracked a smile and tilted his head slightly.

"I am sure they have had plenty of good to say about me," Daeron stepped closer to Petyr but turned his head to address her, "Lady Stark, it is an honor to meet you. I heard your father was a good man, despite his choices of King. I also heard the Young Wolf was a brilliant commander, unfortunate that he was betrayed in such a fashion." The Dragon King offered his condolences and she hesitated before accepting them.

"Thank you, your grace. My father and brother were honorable men, I miss them both and many of my family terribly." Her response earned her little in the way of an expression from the King who started walking back to his seat, stopping and turning his head around.

"Lady Olenna will give you both rooms in the castle, we will talk shortly about pledging your allegiances to me."

She wanted to scoff, he was being a little stiffer than the other Kings she had known.

It's true, he isn't a monster like Joffrey or at least she doesn't know quite yet. He isn't a drunken pervert like the King, that would have earned him nothing in the way of respect. He also doesn't seem soft as Tommen, the poor boy she heard is all but locked in his chambers within the Red Keep.

Margaery took her hand and showed her to her room, it wasn't far from the former Queen's who is now possibly just a Lady once more, the heir to Highgarden.

Her room had a balcony and she sighed and looked out of it, seeing the army of Daeron Targaryen and the Reach merged into one camp though there seems to be a section for each side of the camp. She wanted to see flowers and the large garden, the most she can see is the Mander.

"Sorry that your first time here was during a time of war." A voice compelled her to turn and see Olenna and Margaery standing outside the door, offering her sympathies. "Sansa, we have a few things to speak about." Varys came right behind

Tyrion 

He almost suggested killing Littlefinger the moment that soldier sent by Dickon told them about his arrival.

Daeron held himself well in the face of the man who betrayed not one, not two, but three Kings since he was named Master of Coin.

"He sounded genuine, smiled a bit too much for my liking," Daeron commented as he moved a piece on the board of Cyvasse, a smirk appeared on his lips as he took the King's knight from the field.

"Yes, he is a wicked man who makes many uncomfortable." But they need him for the Vale, now, after the war is over... Then they will deal with him.

Petyr Baelish is from a small family at the edge of the Vale, he rose to prominence after the Rebellion and in the years that followed he was invited to the capital by Jon Arryn and fell in comfortably within the city. He had taken over a number of brothels and became the new Master of Coin.

He is a dangerous man, behind the smiles and friendliness he is a schemer and plotter, his spies are many and he wouldn't be wrong to think some of Highgarden's servants are under his payroll, getting secrets and information.

"You said he betrayed Stark for the Lannisters. Framed you for the attempted murder of Lord Starks son." He nodded to each fact, his black and green eyes looked his King in the eyes and moved his own knight to pounce on Daeron's King.

"All of it is true, I would even say that he was the catalyst that began the War of the Five Kings. He is a dangerous person and I advise to keep a dozen close eyes on him." He said to Daeron who nodded, Varys will get it done for them.

Varys failed Daeron for not watching their enemies, Euron's appearance in the war has stirred quite a bit in the battle of King's Landing. No need to worry, though, the Redwyne and Hightower fleets will be making short work of the Ironborn. He thought and was shocked when Daeron outmaneuvered his knight with a simple soldier, moving his King forward.

"What do you know of Sansa Stark, I noticed she was staring at you a few times." Daeron did notice, he smirked and sipped from his wine where Daeron waited for him to answer.

"We were married, a happy couple until our separation from one another." He explained sarcastically and Daeron was surprised, "What? An Imp cannot marry?" Daeron used an expression to apologize, "We never consummated the marriage, so we aren't wed no more... She's still a virgin, a maid and beautiful." He hinted to Daeron who scoffed.

"She is a pretty thing, her hair is very red. But shouldn't I wait? She isn't the only powerful woman in Westeros." That is true as well, there are quite a few but powerful? Not so much.

"It makes sense, Daeron. She is heir to the North with her brothers dead, she is the cousin of Robert Arryn in the Vale and the niece of Edmure Tully in the Riverlands. You would be getting the loyalties of three Kingdoms for the price of marrying Sansa Stark." Daeron sat back, thinking about it all and he smiled, a job well done for him.

Margaery Tyrell would bring much to the table, but the Tyrells have already joined so doing so wouldn't make much of a difference. Arianne Martell was a botched idea, no use suggesting that once again. Asha Greyjoy isn't possible, the fact that she's a self-made pirate doesn't sit well with him. Shireen would eliminate the threat of House Baratheon from having a claim to the throne, that is unless she renounces it and becomes Lady of Storm's End.

"Talk with her, get to know her. She might just be the thing that you need." He continued to advise and Daeron smirked, he, on the other hand, cursed when the King took his King, ending the game with his Queen.

"... Dany should be here but she isn't. Missandei should be here but she isn't. A third times a charm, right? Maybe you are right."

Daeron left an hour later, the night was still young and the King needed his rest. As for him he sat down and watched the moon rise and fall, thinking about his plans for the future of his King's reign... And maybe on where he can put his winery within the Westerlands.

The Imps Delight once again makes an appearance in his mind.