Chapter Twenty Four

                                    

                                          
Lighting and thunder crash and flashing light illuminates Dragonstone beach. 
As the storm rages the residents of the castle are standing in the Chamber of the Painted Table, staring out. Daenerys and Alyssays stand next to each other and watch the rain beat down on the land and sea. Tyrion, Grey Worm, Missandei and Varys stand watching them.
"On a night like this, you came into the world." Tyrion reminds the mother of dragons. 
"I remember that storm." Varys remarks. "All the dogs in King's Landing howled through the night."
Dany sighs. "I wish I could remember it." She turns away from the window and walks over to the table. "I always thought this would be a homecoming. It doesn't feel like home." 
Alysssys gives her sister a surprised look from over her shoulder. She already loves Dragonstone, there is a beauty to its desolate surroundings and fierceness. 
"We won't stay on Dragonstone for long." Tyrion assures Dany. 
"Good." She nods and looks at the figurines placed on the table. "Not so many lions." She remarks of the Lannister forces. 
Varys gestures to the table. "Cersei controls fewer than half the Seven Kingdoms. The lord of Westeros despise her. Even before your arrival, they plotted against her. Now..." 
Daenerys interrupts the former spymaster. "...They cry out for their true queen? They drink secret toasts to my health?" She smirks and walks closer to Varys. The whole exchange fascinates Alyssays. Her sister's mood is on edge lately. 
"People used to tell our brother that sort of thing, and he was stupid enough to believe them." Aly comments from her spot near the balcony. 
Daenerys picks up a dragon figurine from the table. "If Viserys had four dragons and an army at his back, he'd have invaded King's Landing already."
Aly turns around and narrows her eyes at her sister. "Conquering Westeros would be easy sister. But you are not here to rule over ashes." Alyssays reminds her. 
"No." Daenerys agrees and puts down the dragon figurine.
Tyrion tells her. "We can take the Seven Kingdoms without turning it into a slaughterhouse. If the great houses support your claim against Cersei, the game is won. With the Tyrell army and the Dornish on our side, we have powerful allies in the south." He shifts a glance at Alyssays. "And perhaps in the north as well?"
Aly gives him a cool look. Neither she nor Daenerys had given much information about her purpose in coming to the seven kingdoms ahead of them. All any of them knew was that it had something to do with Aly's visions and the North. 
Daenerys looks at Varys instead of addressing Tyrion's remark.  " I never properly thanked you for those Southern Ally's.".
Varys inclines his head slightly. "They joined our side, my queen, because they believe in you."  
Both Aly and Daenerys look at Varys in consideration. Like Dany she isn't sure what to make of the man. There is a calm acceptance about him that she admires but she's not sure she entirely trusts him. 
"You served my father, didn't you, Lord Varys?" Daenerys asks. 
"I did."
"And then you served the man who overthrew him?" She points out.
Varys weighs his words carefully. "I had a choice, Your Grace. Serve Robert Baratheon or face the headman's axe."
"But you didn't serve him long. You turned against him." Daenerys points out. As she speaks she is slowly moving closer to Varys.