A Field of Fire

The wind howled as it rushed across the open field south of the Rook's Rest. Flags flapped violently in the wind as sand and grass were pelted against armour and leather. Soldiers shifted, opening a path as Daenerys moved through the lines, coming to a stop at the head of her army, staring out across to the army opposite her.

It was larger than her own, thirty thousand compared to her twenty thousand, the flag of the crowned Direowlf mixed in with the dozens of other flags belonging to the houses of the Westeros.

Despite being allied to them, Daenerys was nervous, her hands clenching around the reigns of her horse anxiously. She had a role to play in this war, a task to fulfil and she was nervous that she would fail. Peace could be achieved if she succeeded, but if she didn't she could make an entirely new enemy and one that Daenerys knew from her own interactions and observations, was every bit as dangerous as the stories made him out to be.

"We could cripple Robb Stark here, your grace." Ser Barristan noted, he coming to a stop beside her. "If his plan is what I think it is, these thirty thousand men will play a pivotal role. Taking them out would be a crippling blow."

Her advisors though, while aware of the danger Robb Stark posed, still offered advice on how to defeat him. Daenerys might have been convinced at one point, but she knew that would not be the case. There were times when she awoke to find Robb, not beside her, he instead at the table and moving the pieces about. At first, she had no idea what he was doing, but over time, when it happened night after night, she began to realise what he was doing.

He was preparing for every variable.

Coming up with plans that he would enact should an enemy act in a certain way. Instead of being left reeling, Robb would already have something in mind that he could use to once again twist things in his favour. She knew from watching him, that her betraying him, was also something he had considered.

At times, she was even caught watching him, his Direwolf, Grey Wind looking directly at her and soon after, Robb would do the same. Her advisors didn't know this, she had not shared it with them, but Robb was already prepared for her to betray him. Already no doubt preparing letters to be dispatched should she not complete her task.

"No." Daenerys shook her head. "We shall bring an end to this war quickly and decisively. I do not wish to add thousands more to those already dead. I do not wish to further the suffering of the people of Westeros."

Ser Barristan bowed his head, though he still shared her concerns. "We should send our own riders to remove any prying eyes watching this field. And send a rider to inform Ser Dickon that he should move his soldiers back. Your Dragons are not..." He was hesitant to say it, but Daenerys shared his concerns.

They were unruly and ill-tempered, especially Drogon and he influenced the other two, Rhaegal and Viserion. "We shall just have to see if they can be controlled," Daenerys replied firmly, looking over her shoulder at the three Dragons in the back. She couldn't allow them to keep acting out in such a fashion, she needed them under her control, she needed them to secure her power here in Westeros.

They were her children and she would not allow them to keep acting as they were. She was a Dragon, just as they were and she would not allow them to be unruly. They should be regal and poised, powerful and strong.

"Send the riders, I shall meet with my children," Daenerys ordered, turning her horse back around. Ser Barristan watching her go, concerned for her safety, but nonetheless noting something different about her. He had not seen the woman Ser Jorah had described when she first hatched her Dragons, nor the Khaleesi that had inspired such loyalty amongst the Dothraki that still accompanied her.

He had not seen that, but he had seen strength within her.

It was often masked though, behind a need to hide who she was in order to suit others. But he had seen glimpses of the Dragon she referred to herself as glimpses of the woman Ser Jorah and Ko Rakharo had told him about. Yet ever since coming to Westeros, none had seen a glimpse of that woman, she seemingly gone and replaced with a child who seemed meek and timid.

Ser Barristan could understand why. Daenerys had come expecting to liberate Westeros and was instead faced with a kingdom facing war and one figure, Robb Stark beloved by many. If she were to take over, Daenerys would not be seen as a liberator, but as a conqueror. It was not what Daenerys had been told nor did she want.

Yet things were different now as if her time spent in Robb Stark's company had changed something within her. She was more confident, no longer hiding who she was as much as she had in the past. The strength that only appeared in fleeting moments, was now on display much more often.

Ser Barristan was pleased with this change within his Queen.

-X- Line Break -X-

Standing beside Daenerys' bloodriders, Tyrion watched as the Dragon Queen dismounts from her horse and walked confidently towards the three chained Dragons. He was nervous, but even still, after witnessing these creatures on a number of occasions, he was in awe of them. They were truly magnificent creatures, unparalleled by any other.

And Daenerys walked towards them without fear, hands clasped in front of her, back straight and staring directly at all three of them. Yet her gaze centred mostly upon the largest and strongest of her children, Drogon.

She understood it now.

There was a connection, a bond between her and her children. They were reflections of her, extensions of her will. They were Dragons and so was she and a Dragon did not obey, nor did it submit to the will of others. That was precisely what she had been doing, submitting and conforming to the will of others.

She changed who she was to make herself more likeable to them, more approachable. Her children, especially Drogon did not like that. A Dragon did not obey and it did not submit, to them, she was no Dragon.

It's funny that it was her newest husband, Robb Stark to make her realise that fact.

She had gone to visit him, only to overhear his conversation with Arya. The lessons he imparted onto her, she listened to intently and they struck a chord with her. She shouldn't doubt herself, because if she did, she would never succeed. A Dragon never doubted, it was powerful, it ruled the skies and all that lay beneath it. A Dragon never doubted because there was nothing that could challenge it.

Moving forwards, Daenerys never bowed her head or felt her heartbeat rise as her children growled and cried out as she drew closer. She never once broke eye contact with Drogon who stared at her, the warmth of his breath washing over her.

Her children were unruly because she had tried to force them to become something that was not a Dragon. Just as she had begun to become something that was not a Dragon. Well, it was time to change that, Daenerys would become the Dragon and her children would be first to learn that she would not submit.

Robb Stark would be King, but she would be his Queen and all would know it, including him.

Reaching out, Daenerys inserted the key into the lock and twisted, undoing the chains surrounding Drogon. Then, she turned, presenting her back to him but it never faltered or lowered. It remained firm and strong, a Dragon did not cower and Drogon did not strike. It rose up, shaking its neck, but did not move and instead went silent. Rhaegal was next, he too did not make a sound, only rising up and shaking its neck. Finally, it was Viserion and all three Dragons were released, yet they did not make a sound nor did they fly away.

"I have been misguided and lost," Daenerys said, moving forwards and extending her arms out, the three Dragons lowering their heads towards her. "I make no apology for that, but your words have been heard. Now my children, let us return to the skies and show the world the power of a Dragon."

At her words, all three Dragons rose up and released a cry to the world, Daenerys watching on with a smile. 'I thank you for that lesson, Robb, even if it was not meant for me.'