Chapter Thirty-Eight

Winterfell. The North.

Princess Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, soon to be the Lady of House Thrax, had tried to imagine what it would be like for her and her bother should they ever manage to safely return to Westeros. In all those musings she had never imagined that she would be sitting here in the home of the Starks as an honoured guest at a feast.

Dany had never really believed that her father had been mad, her brother had told her that this had been a lie spread by the enemies of her father, that they had spread these falsehoods that they created so as to justify their treason. Her Imperial tutors had told her otherwise, about how her father had indeed gone mad and how this was a result of inbreeding. Viserys had been treated for this madness and so would Dany if she started to signs on any instability.

Madness or not the rebels should not have killed her eldest brother's children. Rhaegar had died in battle, and while this was sad it had been a warrior's death not murder, unlike what her father had done to Robb Stark's uncle and grandfather. Daenerys couldn't help wondering why if her father had been mentally ill had no one tried to stop him in a more peaceful way. Perhaps an assassin's blade would have been kinder rather than starting a rebellion which had cost so many lives.

Her father's actions were something she very awkwardly tried to apologise for when Lady Stark managed to steer the conversation around to what the Targaryens would do if (in reality when) the Imperials put them on the throne. Naturally the Starks were worried about Viserys punishing House Stark for its actions during the rebellion.

"If anything it is House Targaryen that should be seeking some way to address the wrongs it has done to House Stark" Daenerys was saying "I know that my future husband wishes to keep The North out of any fighting".

Lord Thrax had explained to her that The North was simply too large to conquer and hold with the Imperium's limited resources here in this world. As such it was best to get the northern houses to bend the knee and then to let them get on with their own affairs with as little involvement from the Imperium as possible.

"Torrhen Stark bent the knee rather than see his people suffer in a war they could not win" said Lord Thrax "And when he knelt Aegon the Conqueror made Torrhen Stark one of the most powerful men in a united Westeros. I don't see why that arrangement can't be restored".

Daenerys had heard about how Torrhen Stark, known as the King Who Knelt, was the head of House Stark who reigned as King in the North until Aegon I Targaryen her noble ancestor invaded Westeros with his dragons. He was named Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North after submitting to Aegon during the War of Conquest.

"Should Viserys think of marching north he'll do so without my support" stated the ruler of the Stepstones "And I doubt any of the Lord Paramounts will want to send an army this way. Winter will be here soon and only you northerners could hope to fight in these lands during that season".

Daenerys was starting to see just how much was arranged unofficially at times like this rather than during proper meetings. Before sundown when the feast had started Robb Stark and her future husband had come out of a private meeting. Dany assumed that many of the details about the selling of the guns had been sorted out behind closed doors and that few would ever learn what words had been exchanged.

"The same holds true for Dorne" said Prince Oberyn "The deserts of my homeland would kill an invading army much as the snows of The North would. But since my brother and I don't want a New Doom to rain down on Sunspear it seems best to join with the Imperials under our own terms. I think that we will benefit greatly from this arrangement".

Daenerys had noted how Lady Stark looked down her nose at the Prince's consort and daughter who were all bastards. Robb Stark didn't seem to care about having those born out of wedlock dining in his hall and his two younger brother liked having such exotic guests to talk to. They'd not given the eldest daughter of the Red Viper a moment's peace since everyone had sat down to eat. The Sand had spent her time telling the two younger Stark boys all about growing up in far off Dorne.

"The Lord General can't be everywhere" said Lord Thrax "His attention is focused on Essos and he'll likely not turn his gaze at Westeros for at least another year. If the lords and ladies of the Seven Kingdom simply bend the knee and pay tribute then they'll be no need for an invasion".

Dany's future husband had explained to her how he planned to have Westeros under his control long before then. It was a shame that many of her people would have to suffer to get her brother on the throne, but at least the Lord Captain was making an effort to get the fighting over and done with as soon as possible.

"What about the Iron Islands?" asked Theon Greyjoy "Will you be selling your guns to my family?".

This feast was a rather sedate affair so it was easy for everyone to talk to each other.

"I have no intention of selling weapons to those raiders, rapists and pirates" replied Lord Thrax "As for the Iron Islands they'll have to pacified before long. Most likely the ruling nobles will be killed and men loyal to the Imperium put in their place. We don't want any more rebellions".

While Max, as Dany was allowed to call him, looked completely relaxed, the heir to the Iron Islands seemed ready to draw his weapon and leap across the hall so as to strike down the Rouge Trader. Not that he'd ever get that far. Thrax had several members of his battle harem close by and more would be around.

"You don't have the right!" Greyjoy yelled.

Now Thrax was amused.

"I have every right" he countered "I serve the God-Emperor and he is the lord of mankind, those who do not bend the knee must be destroyed".

That was a bold statement to be sure and yet no one felt like coming to the defence of the Ironborn since no one cared enough about them to try. Even Theon Greyjoy just stood there wanting to act, but knowing that it was pointless.

"Excuse me" said Lord Stark's ward.

Robb Stark whispered something to a guard. Dany assumed that their host was worried about the Greyjoy boy doing something stupid. Even the direwolves, that I'd not noticed until now, looked ready for something to happen. Thankfully nothing did other than Greyjoy stomping his way out of the room.

"He'll find a way to warn his father" said Prince Oberyn.

Max was unconcerned.

"We have enough ships to land entire armies right on his father's doorstep" said Lord Thrax "and if I wished I could unleash a New Doom upon the Iron Islands, so I have no reason to worry".

Daenerys felt no sympathy for the Ironborn who were basically just raiders and slavers. She knew that when the time came that Thrax would conquer the islands quickly and bring them to heel.