The "Rightful" Heir

Drogon landed in front of what was left of the Red Keep. Daenerys Targaryen stepped down from him. She took a deep breath. Her dream had finally turned into reality but there were tears in her eyes, difficult to tell whether of joy or sadness. She stepped inside the so-called castle, which was nothing more than ruins now and started walking towards the iron throne, her heart, pounding. All her journey, every pain which she had endured, and each humiliation which she suffered, playing through her head. It was all for this. It was all only to reach this iron throne. This was her destiny. 

Her head was filled with voices, the voices of the dead, her own voice, and her entire journey were flashing before her eyes. Drogon followed her quietly. "After fifteen years in the pleasure house, I imagine just seeing the sky makes you happy." "-You are the moon of my life…" "-I am Daenerys Stormborn of the blood of old Valyria and I will take what is mine, with fire and blood I will take it." "-All men must die. But we are not men." "-I love you. I will always love you." "-And I have seen you ignore your counselors… Because there was a better choice. One that only you could see." "-You are in the great game now, and the great game is terrifying." "-You are small men. None of you fit to lead Dothraki. But I am." "-How about my queen? I'd bent the knee, but…" "-Winterfell is yours, your grace." And before she knew she was standing in the great hall, the iron throne right in front of her. 

She stood there gazing upon the throne which held the power to rule the seven kingdoms. All the voices stopped suddenly. There was harrowing silence. She started walking to the iron throne, it was the longest journey of her life. All she could hear was the sound of her footsteps. All she could see was the throne. She climbed the stairs and without even waiting for a second sat on the throne. She inhaled, and smirk formed at the corner of her lips. Drogon stood behind the throne. She could feel the power surging through her veins. She could now hear Missandie's voice echoing in her ears "Queen Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Protector of the Realm, Lady of Dragonstone, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, Breaker of Chains, Mother of Dragons and the Queen of the seven kingdoms."

"Stooop! Get back! Get back! Stay…" Jon Snow was desperately trying to stop the massacre, trying to save as many innocents as he possibly can! But it was of no use now. The situation was way beyond his control. He felt like Daenerys had cheated him. He knew that Daenerys had betrayed the very people she had sworn to protect. He wanted answers. He knew that it was only at her command that this genocide would stop. He knew that he needed to find her, to confront her. And he knew where she was going to be! Killing the solider in front of him, he started finding the way through the chaos for Red Keep. 

Tyrion Lannister was still shocked by the horror which had befallen upon King's Landing. The city where he had stayed for so many years had never been so helpless. It was crying out for a savior. There were burnt bodies and bloody faces and fallen buildings and agonizing survivors. The mighty city has turned into dust and rubble. It had been reduced to ashes. It was no longer a city, just a huge graveyard. As Tyrion was walking towards the Red Keep taking the shortest route possible he stumbled upon a hand, whose body, whose face he dreaded to see. With his hands shivering he tried to move the boulder which was covering the body. It was his brother Jamie Lannister. His dead body was lying next to his sister. Both were holding hands. The condition of the bodies was almost unrecognizable, covered in blood and buried in dust. Tyrion sat there helpless, crying, almost losing himself to grief. But there was a sudden explosion which brought him back to his senses. Wiping his tears, he again started walking towards the Red Keep and he knew what exactly he was going to do!

After some time, Tyrion finally managed to reach the castle and went straight for the iron throne. As he entered the room the first thing which he saw was Daenerys sitting on the throne and Drogon to her left side. As he approached to talk to her, his eyes stumbled upon an unlikely sight, under Drogon's paw laid a helpless bloody Arya Stark while there were some scratches on Daenerys as well. "She was here to kill me," Daenerys said indifferently. "It makes her a traitor." Drogon tightened his grip and Arya let out a scream. Tyrion didn't know how to react to this. He wanted to save Arya, but he didn't know how. "Jon…" he tried to speak "Choose your words wisely," said Daenerys "It is after-all treason to support a traitor." 

"Jorah told me that you have a gentle heart. Please don't kill her." Tyrion said almost begging. "Is that why you came here? To tell me… Not to kill her!" Daenerys asked in a plain tone. "Don't worry she is not going to die now, at least not today!" she said before Tyrion could say another word. Few of the unsullied soldiers entered the hall. "Put her in prison. We will decide what will be done with her in the court hearing. I am a just queen and so her punishment will be decided through a fair trial. After all, an example should be made from such traitors." Tyrion stood there trying to grasp the situation. 

"Send ravens to all the lords of the seven kingdoms. Tell them their queen has summoned them. Whoever fails to show up would be considered as a traitor." Daenerys said to the soldiers and within a few moments, the soldiers dragged Arya Stark out of the hall. Daenerys now looked at Tyrion "My queen…" Tyrion said humbly "I once told you that I'd given up on life until Varys convinced me that you might be worth living for… In the last conversation we had, he said he doesn't believe in you. But I told him that I do because you are my queen! I had faith in you and came and told you everything, whatever may be the consequences!" He removed the brooch and placed it on the ground. "In his last moments, he hoped that he would be wrong…" Tyrion almost chocked "I… I don't think that I can serve you any longer." Tyrion turned his back and started walking towards the broken door of the great hall. 

"I can execute you right here, right now!" Daenerys said with an enraged voice. "My queen you are free to do as you like to like you just did! Anyways I have given up on life again." Saying this Tyrion waited for a moment or two with his fist clenched for waiting for something to happen. "I hope you will rule as the queen you always wanted to be!" And then without even turning back, he exited the hall. Daenerys Targaryen sat in the hall with Drogon by her side with her eyes closed, fists clenching the throne, grasping the reality, inhaling the chaos, enjoying the madness. 

After a few moments, Jon Snow entered the hall fuming. He stopped, seeing Daenerys sitting calmly. He felt disgusted. "Tell your men to stop!" he yelled at her. "Tell your men to stop right now!" Daenerys opened her eyes "Are you ordering your queen?" she said arrogantly "-Look, people are dying on the streets, innocent people!" Jon Snow said trying to control his anger "Please your grace tells your men to stop." "-That's better. Don't worry I will tell them to stop, but let this city suffer some more. Let the screams of terror reach to the ears of every lord in Westeros. Let the fear spread." Daenerys said firmly "This city likes the taste of blood, it murdered the person I loved, and it is the killer of my child." Daenerys' loathe towards the Kings Landing was obvious.

"The people of this city are innocent. They are the victims of its tyrants, just like you. Please tell your army to stop. You have won this war. Please don't lose your people." Jon Snow was pleading. "The dead have to be avenged. Blood will pay for blood." Daenerys stood up from the throne "The dragon has been awakened and now it will burn everything." Jon was speechless for a few moments. He was not finding even the glimpse of the woman he had fallen in love with. There stood before him the mad queen!

"You said to me Dany, that you are not your father…" Jon started walking towards her. "You once said that you will answer injustice with justice. You wanted to break the wheel…" Jon had started climbing the stairs "Please don't become the person you wanted to destroy…" Daenerys stood there staring at him "Do you know what I heard when Cersei rang the bells. I didn't hear peace, I heard Missandie's voice. I heard her last words. I heard 'Dracarys'. I am answering injustice with justice. All the injustice must die, only then justice can be born. Some sacrifices must to be made!" Jon was now standing in front of Daenerys. "This city should be burned to ashes so that it can rise like a phoenix," Daenerys said looking into his eyes without even a hint of regret. 

"But you didn't come here to be the queen of ashes! Please stop… Stop this madness… Please be the woman I love… Please be the queen to whom I had bent the knee…" saying this Jon held her in his embrace and kissed her. He then held her cheeks between his palms and said to her "I know you're hurting but the city has fallen. It's almost dead, please be the queen who is not only feared but respected and loved." Daenerys looked at Jon "I think it's little late for that…" she said casually "It's never too late!" Jon said with hope. Daenerys Targaryen thought for a moment at this time, the last thing she wanted was Jon going against her. "Alright!" Daenerys said nodding. She and Jon sat on Drogon and flew out of the window where Daenerys declared the Last War had ended. 

The ravens bearing summons as well as the news of the fall of the Kings Landing reached all the Lords of Westeros, who were alive, within no time. There was an atmosphere of fear, there was the terror of mad queen in all the seven kingdoms. Robert Aryyn, Yara Greyjoy, Gendry Baratheon, the rest of the Starks along with Brienne of Tarth, Samwell Tarley, etc. reached Kings Landing one after another. They all were left speechless by the pathetic condition of the powerful city. "I told Jon not to trust her…" Sansa Stark said to Bran Stark while walking on a random street. "The worst is yet to come." Bran Stark said calmly. Sansa gave Bran a confused look. "Flee bottom was never pretty but this… But compared to this, it was true beauty before…" Gendry Baratheon said on his way to Red Keep. Yara Greyjoy was skeptical over her decision to support Daenerys Targaryen. 

Soon all the Lords reached the Great Hall where ferocious queen Daenerys Targaryen was sitting on the iron throne. On her left-hand side stood Grey Worm, on her right side stood Jon, behind the throne was Drogon and the hall was filled with Dothraki and unsullied soldiers. The condition of the hall was much better, but the damage done to it was evidently visible. The hall was filled with known unknown faces. Gendry, Sir Davos, Yara Greyjoy, Brienne of Tarth, Samwell Tarley, Sansa Stark, Bran Stark were only a few to name. But a familiar face of Tyrion Lannister was missing as well. After all the Lords settled down Daenerys Targaryen spoke. "Welcome all my dear Lords. I hope your journey wasn't tedious. We have gathered here to celebrate. You all have supported me, fought with me. I thank you all for that!" 

Everybody's confusion was apparently visible. "However, I have summoned you all to discuss two important issues at hand today, first I must form the council, appoint a new hand of the queen and settle all the pending issues. And secondly there is someone who tried to kill me, that traitor must be punished. So, shall the court begin?"

Daenerys Targaryen started talking as if nothing had happened "So, first of all, I would like all my Lords that you bend the knee and swear your loyalty to me." She said in a plain yet authoritative tone. "And what if we don't want to!" Sansa Stark said in a low but firm voice. Daenerys looked down at her and said with a smirk "Refuse and die…" Drogon let out a screech sending tremors down the spine of every Lord sitting in the great hall. "So, what is your decision Lady Stark? Are you going to be Warden of North or would you like to be dead?" Sansa pressed her lips together. She looked at Jon with 'I-told-so' look. Jon stared at his feet. After taking a pause for a few seconds she said with a reluctant attitude "The Winterfell is yours. My queen…" 

"Very well… Smart choice." Daenerys said with a snigger. The proceedings continued. Samwell Tarley was declared as the Master and the hand of the Queen. He didn't quite know whether to be happy or sad. However, he reluctantly accepted that post. The Kingsguard consisting of Greyworm, Jon, some trusted Dothraki and unsullied was also formed. All Lords bent their knee to Daenerys Targaryen and swore loyalty to her for perpetuity. "And now turning to the second issue at hand…" Daenerys said as the appointments ended. "As I said before, somebody has committed treason, somebody has tried to kill me, and that person needs to be punished. Bring her in…"

All the eyes turned towards the door of the great hall. Everybody wanted to know as to who was so brave and foolish to have attempted to murder the queen. The soldiers came in with chained Arya Stark. Jon's eyes remained wide open. Everybody's jaws were dropped down. Sansa looked furiously at Jon. Jon looked quizzically at Daenerys. Gendry was devastated looking at the pitiful condition of Arya. "You fought valiantly in the Great War…" there was silence in the courtroom "Do you have any valid reason for your actions?" Daenerys asked Arya as a mere formality. Arya inhaled. She didn't want to die a coward's death, begging for mercy. She wanted to die with honor, just like her father so she smiled and said "Reason…" she snorted "My reason of coming to the Kings Landing has always been to execute the mad queen." She said looking right into Daenerys' eyes. "Very well then… I Daenerys of…"

"My queen!" Jon said getting hold of himself "Please, there has to be some mistake…" 

"-You heard her. She said she came here to execute me." Daenerys said looking at Arya. "My queen… She… Must… Consequences…" Samwell Tarley was lost for words. "-Please say clearly… Are you advising me to forgive a traitor?" Daenerys rolled her eyes "No my queen…" Sam took control of himself. "I am advising to forgive the hero of the battle of the Great War. If it weren't for her, we all be dead by now…" 

"-My queen… I beg you… Please pardon her." Jon said almost begging to her. "If you trust me then please forgive her…"

"-Asking forgiveness for a traitor is treason in itself." Daenerys said indiscriminately "Are you committing treason?" Sansa Stark stood up "My queen I sincerely apologize on behalf of my sister. She has always been this stupid, she thinks that cutting people's throats is a solution for every problem. I can take her responsibility." Sansa knew it was practical of no use pleading for Daenerys, but still, she took her chances. 

"So even you are committing treason!" Daenerys said with a wicked smile. "No my queen…" But before Sansa could complete her sentence… 

"-My queen…" Gendry Baratheon stood up "I am grateful for you making me the Lord of Storm's End, but I would like to renounce the title. Just spare the life of Arya." 

Arya stood there looking at Gendry. "That makes it three or four?" Daenerys said looking at Samwell. With a cunning smile on her face, she said "Interesting, more and more people keep standing up for you… Anybody else?" Daenerys Targaryen asked loudly. "Anybody else who would like to stand by this traitor?" 

Brienne of Tarth and Sir Davos Seaworth came ahead. There was silence in the great hall for a few moments. "These people are pitching for you to live. Let's see how many of them are willing to die for you." 

"Anybody who supports this traitor will commit the treason himself or herself. So they will face the same consequences as that of this traitor. So anybody who wants her to live please come and stand beside her. You will die by her side!" Daenerys said looking at every person who tried to defend Arya. Sansa stood there frozen. As Brienne of Tarth stepped ahead, Sansa pulled her behind "It's of no use!" Sansa murmured. "I need you by my side…" she urged her to stop. 

"So this is how it ends…" Daenerys said as Jon came and stood in front of Arya and so did Gendry. "Any last wish…?" Daenerys asked as a formality. "You should become the king! Don't die for me… Don't die here!" Arya said to Jon "And you…" she said looking at Gendry "Go back. I didn't ask for your help. You are the Lord of Storms End. If you say sorry she will pardon you." But both didn't even flinch "I don't want my family to die because of me." Arya was almost in tears. 

"I said to you that if I would be your family, then you would be my Lady! What kind of honorless Lord lets his Lady die in front of his eyes…" Gendry said smiling at Arya. 

"I Daenerys of House Targaryen the first of my name, breaker of chains and mother of dragons" Drogon angled his face at the three helpless people who stood at bottom of the stairs. "Sentence all of you to die." And so many things happened in those few seconds "Dracarys…" As the fire came blasting out of Drogon's mouth, almost every person who stood there was blinded by the sight. When the fire-spewing stopped, Gendry was lying outside the range of the attack. It seemed as if Arya had pushed him. And after the flames cooled down every person was astounded by the sight. 

Jon Snow had embraced Arya Stark. Arya Stark had minor burns, but she had survived with almost no harm. Jon Snow's clothes were burnt to the ashes, but he stood there unburnt. There was a smile on Bran's face and Samwell took a sigh of relief. Greyworm, as well as all the other soldiers, stared in awe. Daenerys Targaryen was stupefied. Her game was over. 

Every person had so many questions in their minds. Only a few of them had answers. There were hushed mutters. Every person is desperate for an explanation. Gendry was just happy that Arya had survived. "What are you going to do now?" Bran asked in his usual calm voice. "Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for the time, but it will not go away. It will come out with every dawn." 

"Tell them, tell them the true identity of Jon." Sansa said "Or else I will… They deserve to know the truth." Daenerys stood there silently. She felt her world comes crashing down! She realized the only dream, the only mission which she had was slipping out of her fingers. The false hope which she had of Jon's identity being untrue had vanished into thin air. The whole world was going to turn against her. And there was nobody who loved her alive. I can't be defeated… I was born to rule the seven kingdoms! She tried to get a grip over herself. She sat down on the throne. "Silence…" she said in a loud commanding voice. "This is the order of your queen!" 

She was trying to get the situation back under her control, she was trying to get her overwhelming emotions back under control. "There are other ways to execute the traitors." She said in a confused mind "Grey Worm!" she said him. Grey Worm pointed his spear at Arya. Gendry sprang himself in middle. Brienne of Tarth drew her sword. Sir Davos stood drawing his sword as well. There was silence. "Jon's name… His real name is Aegon Targaryen. He is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, the true heir to iron throne." Sansa said loudly. All the people stood exactly where they were! 

"You shouldn't have done so…" Daenerys said being enraged. "This is why I told you not to tell anybody about this…" Daenerys said looking at Jon. All eyes turned to seemingly naked Jon. It all happened so quickly that nobody had time to let it settle down. "Fire didn't harm you, you are a dragon…" Sir Davos said dumbstruck. "It all makes sense now!" Sir Davos immediately bent his knee and said "Blood of my blood… Jon… I mean Aegon Targaryen the king of the seven kingdoms…" All the Lords who stood there bent their knee to John. "Aegon Targaryen ruler of the seven kingdoms…" All of them started chanting his name. 

Daenerys felt truly alone at that time. She had become the loser even after winning the game of thrones. The iron throne which had the power to rule the seven kingdoms was nothing more than a chair to her. She was confused, she felt betrayed, and at that time she lost the faith in herself. "You all have committed treason against me. All of you…" She said being hassled "I sentence all of you to death right here… Dracarys…" Drogon started spewing fire everywhere. All the Lords started taking cover. Gendry pushed Arya to get her further from attacking range. Grey Worm threw the spear at Sansa which barely missed her. Sir Davos killed five unsullied soldiers one after another. "Stop…" Jon yelled at Drogon, but Drogon continued his relentless attacks. Samwell threw a sword at Jon and he caught it. Meanwhile, Yara Greyjoy broke the chains which were holding Arya hostage. 

Gendry gave her his sword and she rushed into the Action. Yara Greyjoy and Sansa then brought Bran out of range of attacks. Brienne of Tarth cut Grey Worms throat. While Gendry picked up the sword lying next to a dead body and started killing Daenerys' soldiers. She started slaying Dothraki and unsullied. Both Arya and Jon started running towards the iron throne, killing every person who comes in their way. As Daenerys saw both approaching her, she climbed on Drogon, but it was too late. Jon had already caught up with her. 

He pulled her down from Drogon and raised his sword at her. He was at the verge of killing her when Drogon intervened and threw Jon away with his tail. Daenerys again tried climbing on Drogon but this time Arya held her foot and pulled her down. Daenerys tossed the sword out of Arya's hand and both tumbled down the stairs. Arya was holding Daenerys by neck. Drogon was running towards Arya. Both Daenerys and Arya were inches away from death. When Drogon opened his mouth for spewing fire Jon stabbed him in his eye and Drogon screeched. Daenerys tried to shook off Arya in vain as she saw her child in pain. 

Jon ducked down and then again stabbed another eye. Drogon was now blind and vulnerable. He started spewing fire everywhere burning Daenerys' army. Jon climbed on Drogon "I am sorry… I didn't want to end it this way…" He whispered in Drogon's ears and he jammed his sword, with all the strength he had through Drogon's neck. Drogon fell down screeching. Daenerys freed herself from Arya and ran towards Drogon, Arya followed her. On her way, Arya picked up the sword. There were tears in Daenerys' eyes. All her children were dead.

But before she could reach Drogon, Arya got her and cut her throat and the battle at the Great hall ended. Daenerys was lying there dead. Jon went near her and closed her eyes. "I… You would always be my queen." He said as he kissed her forehead. On the other hand, Arya Stark was only searching for Gendry in the crowd. When at last she saw him alive she let out of a sigh of relief. She went to him painting "If you ever die for me…" she said "-Then… Then what?" Gendry asked with a smirk "I'll kill you first!" saying this she kissed him.

Finally, there was peace in Westeros under the rule of its rightful king who was just and acted in the interest of the people, who were wise and ruled well. The king who never wanted the throne. The king who ruled under the advice of his trusted advisors like his Hand Samwell Tarley. His council included wise men like Bran Stark and Tyrion Lannister. 

Sansa Stark returned to the north and became the lady of the Winterfell like she always wanted. Brienne of Tarth and Podrick came with her to the North and severed as the first lady Knight of the seven kingdoms. Gendry gave up his title of Lord of Storms End and both Arya and Gendry roamed Westeros being nobody happily ever after.  

Daenerys woke up at an unknown yet somewhat familiar place. She heard a boy playing, he must have been seven years old… He came and held Daenerys hand and said "Mother… Let's play… Come on…" The sun was setting in the east, the seas were dry, and the mountains were blowing like leaves. "My moon…" she heard the voice of Khal Drogo. He was smiling at her. There were Missandie and Grey Worm and Jorah… Everyone was smiling at her. Everyone loved her… Death wasn't so bad after all for Daenerys Targaryen.