Chapter 349: The Plan

Viserion and Rhaegal's roars echoed throughout the pit, but to Daenerys, they seemed distant and muffled.

She clung to Samwell, her arms wrapped tightly around him, her body pressed close to his as she inhaled his scent and felt the warmth of his embrace. She lost herself in his kiss.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally parted.

Still nestled against him, Daenerys tilted her head up and said softly:

"Hizdahr zo Loraq wants me to marry him."

"Who?"

"The most powerful noble in Meereen."

"Would you really marry a slaver?"

Daenerys pouted slightly, unhappy with his response. Then, as if trying to provoke him further, she added:

"Quentyn Martell of Dorne also wants to marry me."

"Quentyn Martell is in Meereen?" Samwell asked, his tone contemplative.

Daenerys gave a small huff of annoyance. "Jorah Mormont has wanted to marry me for years, too."

Samwell burst into laughter, easily understanding her intent. But instead of addressing her point, he teased:

"The Dragon Queen is very popular, it seems. I met Xaro Xhoan Daxos in Astapor—a member of Qarth's Thirteen. He told me he proposed to you fifty times."

"Fifty? It was probably more than that," Daenerys replied with a sniff. "Xaro is a shameless merchant who thinks marriage is something to haggle over."

She fixed her violet gaze on Samwell, unable to suppress the question burning inside her any longer:

"Who do you think I should marry?"

Feigning deep thought, Samwell finally grinned and said,

"Hizdahr, perhaps. He's a local powerbroker."

The moment he spoke, he felt her body tense against him.

When Daenerys saw the playful glint in his eye, she realized he was teasing her and retorted:

"Fine. I'll agree to marry Hizdahr, then. He's eager to have me, after all."

"Be sure to invite me to the wedding," Samwell said with a sly smile. "I've always wanted to witness a Ghiscari wedding. I hear they bind the bride and groom's wrists with golden chains, symbolizing eternal unity."

Daenerys arched a brow. "You'd come just to watch?"

"I'd also steal the bride," Samwell said, his grin widening. "And burn all the attending Meereenese nobles to ash while I'm at it."

Daenerys blinked, realizing he wasn't entirely joking.

"Are you really planning to kill all the nobles of Meereen?"

"Yes," Samwell said bluntly. "That's exactly what I did in Astapor—wipe out the old nobility and replace them with new ones who are loyal to us. Slavery can't be abolished yet, but we can ensure it's controlled by people we approve of. For now, we eliminate the cruelest practices, like the training of the Unsullied.

"This is the best we can do at the moment. When we've grown strong enough to dominate all of Slaver's Bay, then we can think about permanently ending slavery and guiding these people toward a new way of life."

This time, Daenerys didn't argue. She had come to realize her own limitations as a ruler—stubbornly insisting on her ideals only led to chaos.

"Alright. We'll do it your way," she said, nodding obediently.

Samwell smiled in satisfaction, kissed her again, and said,

"When we've dealt with Slaver's Bay, I'll take you back to Westeros."

Daenerys rested her chin on his chest, her expression soft and playful as she asked,

"And what will my role be when I return with you?"

"You'll be my queen," Samwell promised. "If you're willing to marry me."

But then he added cautiously:

"Though you already know I have a queen."

"Yes, Margaery Tyrell," Daenerys said with a slight scoff. "Our ancestor, Aegon Targaryen, married two wives, so I don't mind sharing you with her."

And I cannot have children, Daenerys thought with quiet sorrow. Let Margaery bear him heirs.

Samwell silenced her thoughts with another kiss, long and deep.

Before they parted, he said,

"When we go back out there, we need to have an argument."

"An argument?" Daenerys blinked, then quickly understood.

"Oh, you want the Meereenese to think we're not on the same side, don't you?"

"Exactly. When we leave, I'll criticize you for imprisoning the dragons, and you can retaliate by accusing me of restoring slavery. We'll have a loud argument, and then I'll storm off on my dragon in anger. After that, you summon Hizdahr and agree to his marriage proposal."

"Understood." Daenerys nodded, then gave him a teasing look. "But if you don't come to stop the wedding, I might really marry Hizdahr."

Samwell laughed. "Don't worry. I've got plenty of experience stealing brides."

Daenerys narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Was your first wife stolen, too?"

"You'll have to guess."

…

In the Temple of Graces, Hizdahr zo Loraq walked down a silent corridor, accompanied by the Green Grace.

"With Caesar here, our chances look slim," Hizdahr muttered.

"It's just one man and one dragon," the Green Grace replied calmly. "The Unsullied in Astapor won't arrive anytime soon."

"Just one dragon?" Hizdahr snapped. "Have you seen that dragon? It's bigger than all three of the Dragon Queen's dragons combined! And Caesar… he's far more dangerous than Daenerys."

"Daenerys might not even get along with Caesar," the Green Grace said. "Astapor has resumed the slave trade, and Caesar has allied with Qarth's Thirteen. Surely the Dragon Queen can't tolerate that."

"You're right," Hizdahr said with a sneer. "She's the most naive woman I've ever met—so obsessed with freeing slaves. Without slaves, how does she think she'll maintain her luxurious lifestyle? What a fool."

The Green Grace nodded in agreement and added,

"I've also heard she's losing control of her dragons. The black one has even flown off and disappeared."

Hizdahr's sneer deepened.

"I'll have a few more children burned to death and send the charred bones to the Dragon Queen. Let's see how she reacts."

"No need. Too many incidents will raise suspicion. It's better to spread fear of the dragons using the last girl's death, making the people of Meereen hate the Dragon Queen more."

"Fine."

As they reached the temple's entrance, a servant ran up to Hizdahr, out of breath.

"Great Master, the Queen summons you."

Hizdahr raised an eyebrow. "How did her talk with Caesar go?"

"Terribly. They had a huge argument, and Caesar left in anger on his dragon."

Hizdahr and the Green Grace exchanged a triumphant glance, both smirking knowingly.

"Very well. I'll see the Queen now," Hizdahr said.

After he left, the Green Grace returned to the inner sanctum of the temple. She was about to kneel in prayer when she suddenly froze in place.

Beside the statue of the Harpy stood another harpy—alive.

Its head was half-missing, with only one glowing, electric eye remaining.

Chains dangled from its claws, chains identical to those used in Astapor to imprison the Harpy creature.

The Green Grace remembered a rumor she had recently heard. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed to her knees.

"Dragon… girl… must… die," the Harpy rasped in a metallic, grating voice.

The Green Grace prostrated herself, trembling as she stammered:

"Your will… shall be done."

(End of Chapter)