I Became the Mother of Dragons

      Barristan's eyes widened in disbelief as he gazed upon the corpulent merchant. "Are you certain that it was Ser Stannis who ended Lord Renly's life?"

Ever since Slaver's Bay had intensified its intelligence-gathering efforts, news of Renly's demise had already reached their ears. However, beyond Daenerys herself, the cause of Renly's death remained shrouded in uncertainty.

Dany had once cryptically mentioned that the one who reaped the greatest profit was the true murderer. It appeared that Stannis, who had gained both the 20,000-strong Stormlands army and a claim to the Iron Throne after Renly's passing (for Renly held dominion over the Stormlands while Stannis's seat was at Dragonstone—the ancestral land of the Targaryens), had benefited the most. But neither Barristan nor Jorah Mormont found her speculations convincing.

"Ser Stannis is a man of unwavering principles," Jorah mused, his expression complex. "It's truly confounding that Eddard Stark didn't forge a bond with him."

Stannis had garnered a less than stellar reputation due to his strict adherence to laws, traditions, and morality, to the point of seeming inhumane. Had he not married and fathered a daughter, many might have likened him to the reincarnation of Saint Baelor, Barristan reflected—dubbing him the "Second Stag."

In the eyes of the Westerosi masses, Stannis was an indomitable figure, marked by his unyielding resolve and unflinching courage. Yet, Westeros recognized three unforgivable sins: the violation of guest rights, the breach of sacred oaths, and the spilling of kin's blood.

The corpulent merchant tightened his lips, speaking with unwavering certainty. "I bear word that Lady Catelyn Tully, wife of Lord Stark, witnessed Stannis's shadow cutting through Renly's throat, piercing through his gorget like it was made of mere silk."

"What manner of sorcery is this?" Jorah Mormont wondered, his gaze blank with disbelief.

Though he was hesitant to accept the Volantene merchant's account, Jorah understood the value of accurate information to gain Queen Daenerys's favor. After all, he played a role in Dany's intelligence network, tasked with collecting information from the western reaches of Volantis, particularly Westeros.

Almost every day, ships from the Seven Kingdoms docked in Volantis's port.

He continued, "Not long after Lord Renly's demise, his new bride, the Rose of House Tyrell, Margaery Tyrell, secretly wed Joffrey—a pact previously unknown to anyone. Highgarden, once Renly's staunch supporter, had now thrown in with House Lannister. Lord Tywin played his hand astutely! He turned the tide, seizing the initiative, and nearly singlehandedly ensured the Lannisters' dominance."

"Indeed," Dany interjected with a hint of disdain. "Renly's blunder led to his undoing. If only he and Stannis, the two Stags, had united their forces, combining Dragonstone's formidable navy with Renly's near-70,000-strong mounted host, who in Westeros could have opposed them? No matter who sat on the Iron Throne, they both would have emerged victorious.

"Alas, the Second Stag's folly, coupled with a Lannister's cunning, set them against each other," she mused, her tone dripping with contempt.

Thanks to Jorah and Barristan's persistent support for Stannis as one of the top three players in the Seven Kingdoms, the two Stags remained contenders. At the same time, Lord Tywin, defeated and ousted by Robb Stark on the battlefield, also held a place in the top three, according to Barristan's "cryptic" rankings. Barristan Selmy claimed the title of the foremost military commander, with Stannis second, Tywin third, Randyll Tarly fourth, and Brynden Tully (the Blackfish) fifth. He did not include Robert, as the late king was renowned as a warrior rather than a commander.

Upon hearing the disdain in Dany's words, Barristan frowned, challenging her assertion. "How many can resist the clarion call of the Iron Throne?"

"Very well," Dany reluctantly conceded, nodding to the hefty Faat. "Continue, please."

"With Stannis out of the picture, only Robb Stark remains," Faat continued, shaking his head in contempt. "That boy proved himself a fool, breaking a betrothal and leading to the slaughter of his family."

Mormont turned to the merchant and asked, "How many nobles perished in the North?"

"You're aware of it?" Faat asked in astonishment.

"Was it the Lord of the Twins, Walder Frey, who betrayed Robb Stark at the wedding feast?" Selmy inquired further.

Faat grew even more surprised but refrained from pressing for answers. He continued with his narrative, "Y-Yes, the Young Wolf regretted his betrothal but wished to retain House Frey's allegiance. Thus, he arranged for his uncle to wed one of Lord Frey's daughters. Though Frey agreed, he secretly conspired with Lord Roose Bolton and Lord Tywin. On the night of the wedding, not a single one of the five thousand Northmen inebriated at the celebration survived."

"Seven Hells!" Jorah Mormont exclaimed, slapping his own face in shock. "I always said that fiery-haired lad would bring ruin upon us all! And that Old Leech, Roose Bolton, have they no honor left, even to slay wedding guests!?"

Dany stared blankly at the disgraced knight.

"Ah, you hail from the North as well," Faat saw, his tone shifting to offer solace. "Don't be distressed. The Lannisters suffered their own retribution. Shortly after quelling the rebellions of the three kings, King Joffrey was poisoned at his wedding feast."

Jorah Mormont's eyes widened in disbelief. "What about the Kingsguard? Isn't the king's food carefully inspected by specialists?"

The merchant spoke with a heavy heart, "It is rumored that dwarf, Tyrion, poisoned the wedding banquet, and no one was prepared."

Dany expressed her sorrow, saying, "I never imagined that the princes of the Seven Kingdoms would descend to such depths—killing their own kin, violating sacred betrothal vows, and committing murder during wedding celebrations. Morality is shattered, traditions and honor lie in ruins..."

Barristan's blue eyes burned with hope. "Your Majesty, at this juncture, only you can salvage Westeros. Why don't we seize this opportunity to return to the realm?"

The corpulent businessman interjected, addressing Daenerys and her advisors. "The Allies are in the midst of organizing an expedition, and right now, returning to Westeros might not be the wisest choice, especially when Slaver's Bay has much to offer."

His words hung in the air, prompting a moment of contemplation among those present.

Daenerys couldn't help but laugh and turned to the Volantene businessman. "Faat, the information you've provided is quite valuable. How about a 15% discount on white sugar?"

Faat beamed with gratitude and exclaimed, "Many thanks, Your Majesty!"

Recognizing the opportunity, the corpulent merchant expressed his appreciation briefly and promptly bid his farewell.

Once all the outsiders had taken their leave, Daenerys furrowed her brow and turned to Barristan. "I care little for the Allies, but there are only a few months remaining in autumn, and after that, a few years of harsh winter will follow. If we were to return to Westeros, what would be your course of action, Ser?"

The old man's eyes bore the weight of a grieving mother who had lost her child, filled with confusion and pain. He spoke solemnly, "I-I don't know what the situation in the Seven Kingdoms is like now, but one thing I'm certain of is that they cannot be prepared for the coming winter. Eleven years of Long Summer typically heralds at least four years of brutal winter, yet war-torn Westeros has made no provisions for the cold season."

He paused, reflecting on Daenerys's rallying cry: "Prepare for 10 years of the Long Night." He had regarded it as a call to overestimate the enemy, not truly anticipating a decade of unrelenting winter.

Daenerys turned her attention to the somber Ser Jorah, who had recently lost his father, and whose family's fate was uncertain. Jorah's eyes emitted an inexplicable glimmer of hope. "Your Majesty, how long would it take to fly from Slaver's Bay to Bear Island?"

Daenerys crossed her arms and tilted her head, contemplating the distance. A Dragon could attain speeds exceeding 300 kilometers per hour, but long-distance travel was a challenge due to its limited endurance. Flying at a high altitude might maintain a speed of around 100 kilometers per hour, possibly lasting a day and night, but she had never attempted it. However, by alternating between bursts of speed and gliding, they could potentially achieve a cruising speed of 200 kilometers per hour.

She called Irri back into the room and retrieved a world map, determined to estimate the vastness of their world. Slaver's Bay lay 2,200 kilometers from Volantis, Pentos stretched over 4,000 kilometers away in a straight line, and Bear Island, separated by two continents and an ocean, was roughly 9,000 kilometers distant.

Daenerys laid herself down on the map, measuring distances with a ruler. "If Big Black doesn't have any significant physical issues, he could reach Bear Island in approximately four days," she declared.

The two Kingsguards, initially horrified, now brimmed with elation. "Four days?!" they exclaimed. "By the Gods, Dragons are a truly formidable force. It's no wonder the Valyrians once ruled the world."

Barristan, invigorated by the notion of returning to Westeros while the Allies remained unorganized, declared with renewed energy, "While the Allies have yet to assemble, let us make our way back to Westeros!"

"If we head to Volantis or even Qohor and Pentos, we may find a different reception than in Westeros," Dany pondered.

"Because of the sea routes?" Barristan inquired.

Dany approached the northern wall of the pyramid, where the golden morning sun bathed the scene in warmth. She observed the white sails adorning the blue sea. Ships were departing for Astapor, laden with goods like white sugar, bronze, liquor, olives, and oil. Though only a few ships came to purchase, the bustling trade within the harbor reflected the city's renewed vibrancy, akin to its rejuvenated spirit.

Despite the Ghiscari "United Nations" attempting to stymie maritime commerce in Slaver's Bay, their fleet dared not venture into the bay itself due to Dragon's formidable presence. The reason was twofold. First, a complete blockade would necessitate an excessive number of ships, which the Alliance could not sustain. Second, even if they did attempt a blockade, what could they achieve?

Most ships bound for Astapor originated in Volantis. As commodities like sugar and potent liquor entered the world market, Qarth sent its own merchants to Slaver's Bay to procure these goods. Since both Qarth and Volantis were key members of the Alliance, it would be unthinkable to plunder their vessels. As for stern verbal warnings...

For the sake of the slave trade, they would dare to confront the Dragons. But for the riches of Slaver's Bay, the merchants who reaped enormous profits held their tongues against their own rulers.

All these calculations hinged on Slaver's Bay being guarded by Dragons.

Barristan assumed that Dany was concerned about the possibility of the Dragons' prolonged absence, allowing the United Nations fleet to venture into Slaver's Bay.

After all, Westeros lay far away, and the journey there and back spanned weeks.

"Westeros poses unique challenges, not solely because of the need to secure the sea routes," Dany responded.